Underground coal mining technology: An overview and a look ahead

Journal Article · Fri Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · Mining Engineering (Littleton, Colorado); (USA)

OSTI ID:5662100

Singhal, R K ^[1]; Fytas, K ^[2]; Lama, R D ^[3]

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1. Canmet Coal Research Lab., Devon, Alberta (CA)
2. Laval Univ., Quebec City, PQ (Canada)
3. Kembla Coal and Coke Proprietary Ltd., Wollongong, NSW (AU)

Underground coal mining systems have kept pace with developments that have occurred in other types of mining. A diversified group of machines are now available with high horsepower motors, built-in microprocessor technology, and numerous options to satisfy miners' needs in various geological environments. The results will be a greater degree of mechanization and recovery of coal from inclined seams, thins seams, and seams mined in lifts from shallow as well as deeper deposits. This article is based on a general survey carried out by the authors to determine the current status of mechanization and systems development in underground coal mining. It indicates that the next two decades will see increasing use of longwall mining, which has already reached a high degree of sophistication.

• OSTI ID: 5662100
• Journal Information: Mining Engineering (Littleton, Colorado); (USA), Journal Name: Mining Engineering (Littleton, Colorado); (USA) Vol. 41:9; ISSN MIENA; ISSN 0026-5187
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
012034* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Underground Mining-- Automation
Monitoring
& Control-- (1987-)
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
990210 -- Supercomputers-- (1987-1989)
AUTOMATION
COAL MINES
COMPUTERS
CONTROL
DOCUMENT TYPES
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
LONGWALL MINING
MICROELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
MICROPROCESSORS
MINES
MINING
QUALITY CONTROL
REMOTE CONTROL
REVIEWS
ROBOTS
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
UNDERGROUND MINING