Feasibility of high recovery highwall mining equipment. Final report

Technical Report · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:6859514

Three equipment systems exhibited significant promise: the RSV Miner, a surface longwall using standard underground equipment, and the variable angle auger. Other equipment systems showing considerable merit were the surface shortwall, and the two extended depth augers. Of the three most significant systems, the RSV Miner exhibits the greatest versatility and adaptability. It may be used competently in many surface mining applications and readily adapts to geologic anomalies and changing seam heights. The machine employs steering and guidance equipment and provides the necessary capabilities for extended depth operation. Safety is good, as no men are required to work underground. However, most important is the system's recovery factor of approximately 75% to 80% of the in-situ coal reserve within reach. The surface longwall system using standard underground equipment (preferably a ranging drum shearer in conjunction with shield supports) is most suited to either a trench mining or a modified area mining application. Both applications would allow the length of the face to be held constant. Another important consideration is legal requirements for a tailgate entry, which would necessitate additional equipment for development in a modified area mining application. When compared to surface shortwall, surface longwall exhibits higher productivity, a far greater equipment selection which allows system tailoring to geologic conditions, and greater roof control due to the significantly smaller section of overburden that must be supported. Recovery should approach, and possibly exceed, 90% of the coal in-place. The variable angle auger, which is currently only a concept, fills a very real need for which no other equipment is available at this time.

• Research Organization: Skelly and Loy, Harrisburg, PA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC01-79ET11268
• OSTI ID: 6859514
• Report Number(s): DOE/ET/11268-9
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
012000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Mining
AUGER MINING
COAL MINING
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CONTROL
CONVEYORS
DATA
EQUIPMENT
HAULAGE EQUIPMENT
INFORMATION
LONGWALL MINING
MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT
MINING
MINING EQUIPMENT
NUMERICAL DATA
PRICES
PRODUCTION
RECOMMENDATIONS
REGULATIONS
REMOTE CONTROL
SHORTWALL MINING
SURFACE MINING
UNDERGROUND MINING