Safety and productivity have always been the key drivers for any successful mining operation, but it's even more important when that operation is underground. Longwall, room & pillar and hard rock mining applications all have their own unique challenges, but increasing productivity while maintaining a safe environment for mine site personnel is a unifying factor that all mines share. At MINExpo 2012, we had a chance to talk about underground mining technologies with Mike Leonard, engineering supervisor at Longwall Products for Caterpillar.
Extracting ore reserves that are deeper underground with lower seam heights and increased environmental hazards make today’s underground mining operations even more challenging to operate.
Safety is the number one concern for every mining operation and accounting for all personnel on a mine site at any given moment can be a challenge. Nowhere is that more true than in longwall coal mining operations. Technologies are changing the way mines are facing those challenges by accounting for everyone who works in and around the face of the mine. Camera systems monitor the working face, locating personnel in remote locations, and provide a real time look at the progress of the operation. Mines are also using Radio-frequency identification (RFID) tagging systems to identify general location and information of tagged workers at the face. These technologies work with the longwall system to tell it how to react to tagged personnel on site, based on job roles, and ensure workers are a safe distance away before advancing on the coal face.
Technology is also the reason why many mines are able to enhance safety and increase production at the same time. Semi-autonomous and tele-remote technologies enable the operation of load-haul-dump mining equipment without human operators on-board the machines. This type of technology has made its home in underground mines across the globe to keep miners out of hazardous environments. But safety isn't the only factor in using these technologies for underground applications. Mining companies are experiencing a number of added benefits from autonomous load-haul-dump (LHD) systems, including increased productivity, higher equipment utilization and less machine damage. Some mines are even experiencing speed-efficiency increases, which lead to shorter cycle times and production increases of up to 25 percent by using autonomous technologies.
Overall, autonomous technologies are allowing mines to increase production while keeping their operators out of harm’s way—and that alone gives mine operation managers peace of mind for planning the future of their operation.
Automation is one way for mines to improve safety and productivity, but equipment availability is also key to every underground mining application—no matter what the hazards may be. Unplanned downtime can slow down or stop any operation, and equipment monitoring technology is helping operations track the health of their equipment. Proactive equipment management allows mine operators to review fault codes, track maintenance records and plan scheduled maintenance. In underground applications like room & pillar this could mean the difference between a continuous miner in full production or a complete shutdown. Every application is unique, but machine-monitoring technologies are allowing operations to manage people, equipment and service like never before.
Do you use automation in your underground mine? How could automation improve your operation? Share your experiences with us on Facebook or Twitter.
For more information on how Cat MineStar can improve your underground mine, contact an expert.
