Underground
Our underground health and safety, productivity and environment initiatives include strengthening ventilation and gas management technology, minimising risks from fires and explosions, advancing emergency response technologies, reducing operating costs and improving reliability of subsidence predictions.
Mining Technology and Production (64 Reports)
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| C15014 | 01/05/2007 |
| Author: Bob Trueman | Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre |
In an earlier project a robust methodology and “offline” software was developed for interpreting the shield leg pressure sensor data coming from a longwall face in the context of support strata interaction using a novel characteristic load cycle analysis concept. It is .... read more |
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| C19016 | 01/06/2013 |
| Author: John Vazey | BMT WBM |
This study aims at understanding the cause of Armoured Face Conveyor (AFC) pans "lifting" or "surfing" through the cut coal rather than following the floor of the cut. This has been an ongoing problem for underground coal mining operations, and has crippled the operation of .... read more |
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| C19008 | 05/09/2012 |
| Author: Mark Colwell, Russell Frith | Colwell Geotechnical Services |
The aim of this project is to provide the Australian coal industry with a roof support design methodology for longwall installation roadways (ie faceroads) that can be utilised by colliery engineers who have sufficient experience and training in relation to underground coal mine strata .... read more |
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| C11040 | 01/02/2004 |
| Author: Y Cai, Bruce Hebblewhite, U Onder, B Xu, Mick Kelly, Barry Wright | CSIRO Exploration & Mining, University of New South Wales |
The aim of this project was to provide the Australian underground coal mining industry with an up to date, state of the art summary of the Longwall Top Coal Caving (LTCC) mining system and its potential for application in Australia. In supporting the project, ACARP requested that the .... read more |
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| C26049 | 01/12/2017 |
| Author: Jonathon Ralston, Chad Hargrave, Mark Dunn and Robin Burgess-Limerick | CSIRO |
This report describes the outcomes of a six month research project to establish the rationale and functional requirements for an assistive guidance system for underground shuttle cars. The need for more effective coal clearance systems has been identified as a major component in ACARP's .... read more |
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| C22014 | 01/02/2015 |
| Author: Jonathon Ralston and Andrew Strange | CSIRO |
This report describes the outcomes of an 18 month ACARP-funded research project that focussed on improving the performance of sensing technology for automated coal mining horizon control. Achieving effective horizon control is fundamental for improving mining safety and productivity. However .... read more |
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| C25061 | 01/10/2017 |
| Author: Winton Gale, Mahdi Zoorabadi, Barry Wright and Bruno Reumueller | SCT Operations, Sandvik Mining & Construction Australia |
The first Sandvik ABM20 bolter miner was introduced into the Australian underground coal industry in 1991 at Tahmoor Colliery, 25 years ago. From this initial machine, the bolter miner has continued its evolution down the path of improved ergonomics, simplified and more reliable engineering, .... read more |
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| C6036 | 01/10/1998 |
| Author: Mark Colwell, Russell Frith, Christopher Mark | Oceanic Coal, Colwell Geotechnical Services |
The aim of this project is to provide the Australian coal industry with a chain pillar design methodology and computer based design tool that can be utilised by engineers and geologists who have sufficient experience and training in relation to underground coal mine strata mechanics. .... read more |
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| C22015 | 01/11/2017 |
| Author: Mark Dunn, Peter Reid, Michael Vowles, David Reid, John Malos, Jeremy Thompson, Chad Hargrave, Jonathon Ralston, James Beyers | CSIRO |
This report describes the outcomes of a 24-month ACARP-funded research project that focussed on the development of a practical self-steering guidance system capability for a continuous miner (CM). This project directly contributed to ACARP's broader CM2010 initiative which aims to .... read more |
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| C3058 | 01/07/1995 |
| Author: Frank Roxborough | University of New South Wales |
The Coal Augering R & D project has been progressing in excess of two years and has reached a point where it has proven the technical feasibility and practicalities of the concept and has identified a number of applications. .... read more |
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| C4016 | 01/04/1998 |
| Author: Stan Coffey | Coal Augering |
This project set out to demonstrate the application of an underground auger in coal operations. Its primary objective was to move the prototype to a commercial system. This was achieved, and after a .... read more |
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| C17022 | 01/10/2009 |
| Author: Mark Dunn | CSIRO Exploration and Mining |
The aim of this project was to develop an industry based conformance process for specification and acceptance testing of LASC compliance devices and applications. This compliance process will ensure that industry retains the flexibility of interchangeable components that are compatible with .... read more |
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| C29028 | 01/07/2022 |
| Author: Jonathon Ralston, Craig James, Samantha Thompson, Andrew Strange, Hayden Clarke, Trent Smythe, Jeremy Thompson, James Beyers, Mark Dunn, Peter Reid, Kevin Saric, Max Ferguson, Camrin Peacock | CSIRO |
This report describes the process and outcomes of a project that aimed to accelerate the development of remotely operated longwall systems. The need to achieve fully remote longwall operations has been of major importance for industry in order to meet ongoing safety, productivity, operational, .... read more |
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| C25069 | 27/09/2019 |
| Author: Richard Griffiths and Peter Stepien | ResTech |
This document reports on an extension of the work covered by ACARP project C25069, published in November 2017, and describes and analyses a demonstration and trial of adaptive protection. The aims of the adaptive protection system originally proposed were: .... read more |
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| C17005 | 24/08/2009 |
| Author: Mohamed Abdelkrimi | NSW Department of Primary Industries |
The currently published tables for maximum capacitances within the intrinsic safety standard (IEC / AS/NZS 60079-11) are believed to be erroneous at least as far as Group I is concerned. This ACARP Project aims to define by testing the correct and reliable capacitive discharge .... read more |
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| C25064 | 01/06/2018 |
| Author: Jonathon Ralston, Andrew Strange, Zak Jecny and Chad Hargrave | CSIRO |
This report describes the outcomes of this project which developed radar-based sensing for measuring the coal-to-stone seam interface depth on a longwall floor. The motivation was to advance the maturity of real-time geosensing to support the development of new geologically-responsive .... read more |
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| C4019 | 22/04/1996 |
| Author: Peter Georgiou | Vipac Engineers & Scientists |
Idler bearing failure on underground conveyors is a significant problem in the Coal Industry. Trunk conveyors in underground coal mines have around 5000 idler bearings per kilometre. With a normal life of about 5 years, .... read more |
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| C14028 | 01/12/2009 |
| Author: Julian Greenwood, Terry O'Beirne, Dale Howard | SkillPro Services Pty Ltd |
A programmable engine control unit (ECU) has been developed that has potential to be used by diesel engine and/or vehicle suppliers for underground coal mines. It has been retro-fitted to a modern common rail engine, replacing the manufacturer's (tamperproof) ECU, and tested extensively in .... read more |
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| C24021 | 01/06/2016 |
| Author: Jonathon Ralston and John Malos | CSIRO |
This report describes the outcomes of a 12 month ACARP-funded research project that explored the relationship between longwall equipment position requirements and the associated sensing specifications. This project was motivated by the fundamental need to achieve safer and more effective .... read more |
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| C14039 | 01/08/2008 |
| Author: Alison Freeman, Duncan Chalmers | University of New South Wales |
This project was funded in two stages - both published reports are sold together and summarised below: - C13025 Permitted Explosives for 21st Century - C14039 Permitted Explosives for 21st Century: Stage 2 C13025 Explosives in the 21st Century: .... read more |
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| C13025 | 01/05/2005 |
| Author: Duncan Chalmers, Karen Freak, Alison Freeman | University of NSW |
This project was funded in two stages - both published reports are sold together and summarised below: - C13025 Permitted Explosives for 21st Century - C14039 Permitted Explosives for 21st Century: Stage 2 C13025 Explosives in the 21st Century: .... read more |
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| C7021 | 01/12/2001 |
| Author: Michael Kelly, Xue Luo, S Craig | CSIRO Exploration & Mining |
Although longwall mining is the principal source of coal from Australian underground mines, the geomechanics of rock failure around an operating longwall has not been clearly understood. In recent years, there have been significant events at many longwall mines associated with this knowledge .... read more |
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| C11041 | 16/09/2020 |
| Author: Paul Buddery, David Hill | Strata Engineering |
Underground augering has the potential to recover isolated, irregular pockets of coal that would ordinarily be discounted from reserves as being uneconomic or impractical to extract using the main mining system. A key design issue is the stability of narrow coal webs between auger holes and .... read more |
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| C5015 | 01/10/1997 |
| Author: Russell Frith, Michael Creech, Andrew Williams | Strata Engineering (Australia), Oceanic Coal Australia |
This project has conducted fundamental research into the weighting behaviour of thick and massive strata units in close proximity to longwall extractions, the effect on mining, and means of effective control (primarily restricted panel widths). The impetus for the project .... read more |
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| C21012 | 26/02/2014 |
| Author: Saiied Aminossadati, Ben Yang | University of Queensland |
This project aimed to develop a fibre optic-based distributed temperature sensing (DTS) system to monitor the temperature change of malfunctioning idlers for heavy-duty conveyor belts in underground coal mines. The main objectives of the project were to investigate various installation options .... read more |
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| C12007 | 01/04/2005 |
| Author: Bob Trueman | JKMRC, University of Qld |
Powered supports account for the majority of the capital expenditure for a longwall panel and are fundamental to the success of the operation. The adequacy of the support capacity for the geotechnical and geological conditions that will be met during mining and the set pressures can .... read more |
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| C21021 | 01/02/2018 |
| Author: Ron McPhee, Peter Reid and John Malos | CSIRO |
The aim of this project was to develop and obtain Ex d certification for a 360° panorama view flameproof enclosure incorporating both new and long established flameproof manufacturing techniques. The development of a panorama flameproof enclosure promises to provide the Australian coal .... read more |
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| C5017 | 22/07/2015 |
| Author: M Kelly | CSIRO Exploration & Mining |
Longwall geomechanical research being carried out by CSIRO's Exploration and Mining and Strata Control Technology has resulted in a better understanding of rock failure mechanisms .... read more |
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| C15008 | 01/11/2007 |
| Author: David Reece, Greg Rowan, Gideon Chitombo | The Safety Managers, CSIRO Exploration & Mining, University of Qld, SMI |
The objective of this project was to conduct an in-depth scoping study to identify the requirements of future high capacity and sustainable underground coal mining in Australia, with a 15MTPA operation from a single underground longwall system as the target (abbreviated as L15). .... read more |
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| C9025 | 01/10/2001 |
| Author: George Kirk | Ampcontrol |
This project concluded the Australian Coal Industry was lagging general industry in the wider use of higher voltage and energy equipment. There were regulatory impediments to the introduction of higher voltages and poor face equipment performance utilisation and voltage regulation. It .... read more |
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| C13022 | 01/12/2006 |
| Author: David Hill, Rob Thomas | Strata Engineering (Australia) |
Longwall face recovery is the most involved recurring geotechnical problem faced by operators, with major loss potential should problems occur. However, unlike most geotechnical aspects of coal mining, very little research has been undertaken on the issue of conventional longwall .... read more |
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| C28017 | 01/12/2020 |
| Author: Jonathon Ralston, Hayden Clarke and Samantha Thompson | CSIRO |
This report describes the process and outcomes of a project that explored the development of a longwall creep control system. This project set out with an ambitious goal of developing an integrated closed loop control system to manage longwall creepage with the following objectives: .... read more |
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| C9011 | 19/06/2002 |
| Author: Andre DeKock, Jim Birch, T Tang | SIMTARS |
Intrinsic safety is an explosion protection method applied to electrical apparatus. The basic concept behind intrinsic safety relies on energy limitation to ensure that an ignition of an explosion cannot occur by either spark ignition or thermal ignition. Generally intrinsically safe .... read more |
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| C29037 | 01/12/2023 |
| Author: Lance Munday | CSIRO |
With the desire to achieve higher levels of automation in all aspects of underground coal mining, and particularly on the longwall face and in roadway development areas, there is an urgent need for more sensing capability to improve longwall control, machine localisation, roof bolting, .... read more |
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| C16017 | 12/05/2009 |
| Author: Ron McPhee, Graham Eyre and Andrew Castleden | CSIRO Exploration & Mining |
In this project, a new style of lighting system was developed for use on underground machinery, such as longwall shearers, continuous miners and mobile vehicles. A 'light engine' constructed from multiple, high power light-emitting diodes was developed and mounted within a .... read more |
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| C11036 | 01/02/2008 |
| Author: Peter Lugg, Zhiqiang Guan, Bart Pienaar | CRCMining |
Evaluation of the downtime statistics of two longwall mines studied as part of the Landmark Automation Project showed that AFC (Armoured Face Conveyor) and BSL (Beam Stage Loader) chain related failures accounted for 27% of all downtime. Virtually all of these failures were caused by .... read more |
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| C27055 | 01/06/2019 |
| Author: Jonathon Ralston, Craig James, Chad Hargrave, Mark Dunn and David Hainsworth | CSIRO |
This report describes the outcomes of a strategic review of current Australian longwall automation practice, capability and requirements, providing the longwall community with an updated assessment of current and emerging industry priorities to help inform ongoing automation development and .... read more |
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| C34019 | 05/03/2024 |
| Author: David John, Karsten Hoehn | Mining3, CSIRO |
This project examined the potential of using fibre optic sensing technology for enhancing the monitoring and maintenance of longwall shearer operations, concentrating on the Bretby Cable Handling system. Recent developments in fibre optic technology have increased its accessibility and .... read more |
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| C9015 | 01/06/2001 |
| Author: Daivd Reid, David Hainsworth, Jonathon Ralston, Ronald McPhee | CSIRO Exploration & Mining |
The principal objective of the project was to demonstrate that inertial navigation techniques could be used to accurately and independently survey the three-dimensional path of a longwall shearer throughout the mining process. This objective was successfully achieved and the significance for .... read more |
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| C4018 | 01/09/1999 |
| Author: David Hainsworth, Ron McPhee, Jonathon Ralston | CSIRO Exploration & Mining |
Objectives: The objective of this project was to evaluate the use of ground probing radar (GPR) to identify the interface between coal and roof/floor material in order to establish .... read more |
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| C13018 | 01/05/2006 |
| Author: Patrick Humphries, Brett Poulsen, Ting Ren | CSIRO Exploration & Mining |
This project has utilised several proprietary and commercially available modelling packages along with field observations and expert opinion to investigate the assessment of LTCC for Australian coal mining conditions. The project conducted detailed investigations into the various .... read more |
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| C26052 | 01/04/2019 |
| Author: Peter Reid and John Malos | CSIRO |
The objective of this project was to design, manufacture and certify a flameproof enclosure that is suitable for housing 3D laser and video-based sensors underground within an explosive atmosphere. All of these objectives were achieved with the result being the Type 2550 Ex db Transparent Dome .... read more |
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| C14030 | 15/12/2009 |
| Author: Winton Gale | SCT Operations Pty Ltd |
This executive summary is written to summarise the key outcomes, however it is difficult to transfer the context of those outcomes with the executive summary. It is essential to read the report to understand the action and limitations of face supports within the mining environment. .... read more |
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| C3065 | 01/04/2022 |
| Author: Ross Seedsman | Coffee Partners International |
This report presents the analysis of a market study, commissioned by ACARP. The aim was to establish the current industry view of the performance of current transport systems, and point to possible development opportunities by defining market needs. The aims of the .... read more |
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| C9007 | 01/12/2000 |
| Author: Baotang Shen, Mary Fama, J Boldna, D Adhikary, A Maconochie. Appendix III - David Hill | CSIRO Exploration & Mining, GeoTek Solutions. Appendix III - Strata Engineering |
This report describes the results of ACARP research project C9007. The project was established to assist an innovative roadway development trial at Kenmare 2, South Blackwater Mine. A continuous highwall mining system (CHM) was used to develop the roadways for a proposed punch longwall .... read more |
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| C13015 | 01/10/2006 |
| Author: Terry Medhurst | AMC Consultants |
This main aim of the project was to investigate issues associated with longwalling in weak mining conditions and in particular, ground response when mining through faults. The objectives of the project were: - By combined longwall support and microseismic
.... read more |
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| C11034 | 09/01/2007 |
| Author: Andre De Kock, M Gido | Simtars |
The aim of this project was to develop an alternative assessment and testing method to be used when certifying active intrinsically safe (I.S.) power supplies for use in potentially explosive locations. The work was to provide testing Authorities and institutions with a procedure .... read more |
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| C21022 | 01/01/2018 |
| Author: Ron McPhee | CSIRO |
The objective of this project was to source a suitable material and develop engineering techniques required to manufacture a radio transparent (dielectric) flameproof enclosure for use in underground coalmines. The project explored how new materials and manufacturing techniques such as 3D .... read more |
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| C7019 | 26/04/2000 |
| Author: Russell Frith, B McKavanagh | Strata Engineering (Australia) |
Industry concern regarding the potential hazards of longwall extraction beneath massive strata units is not just a recent phenomenon. It can be traced back to the initial attempts at longwall extraction in Australia in the early 1960's and has been in part linked to the continued increase in .... read more |
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| C7020 | 05/09/2001 |
| Author: Winton Gale | SCT Operations |
This study was commissioned to provide a greater understanding of the ground caving process and the implications to longwall support operation and design. The major focus of the study was on the caving events which cause rock falls on the longwall face or which cause operational problems. .... read more |
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| C7025 | 01/06/2001 |
| Author: Roussos Dimitrakopoulos | WH Bryan Mining Geology Research Centre University of Queensland |
Fault uncertainty and risk have widely recognized adverse impacts on the exploration and mining of underground coal deposits, especially longwall mining. Geological uncertainties may cause significant delays in production schedules, impose substantial changes to mine plans, reduce expected .... read more |
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| C10025 | 01/08/2002 |
| Author: Paul Cuddihy, George Poropat | A Tripple R, CSIRO Exploration & Mining |
This project report consists of two separate reports, one prepared by A Triple R and one prepared by the CSIRO Division of Exploration & Mining. The CSIRO report provides a technical description of the equipment, techniques and procedures utilised in the project while the A Triple R .... read more |
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| C12022 | 03/03/2015 |
| Author: Russell Smith | WBM |
Longwall coal mining utilises hydraulically operated roof supports. The roof supports are often separated from the pumping hardware by more than 500m. It is perceived throughout the mining industry that the long hoses connecting the pumps and the roof supports .... read more |
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| C3059 | 01/12/1998 |
| Author: Stan Ostle, M Rataj, Bruce Hebblewhite, Jim Galvin | ANI Arnall, University of New South Wales |
The control of coal mine rib stability is an increasingly important issue, particularly with a trend towards narrower roadways, greater depths, more rapid development and the need to accommodate fast moving abutment stresses from retreating longwalls. Rib control management is a priority .... read more |
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| C34017 | 01/06/2023 |
| Author: Matt van de Werken, James Beyers, Joe Perkins, Lauren Hanson | CSIRO |
This project addresses the issue of reflector obscuration in longwall mines, which hinders the performance of optical and infrared sensing systems and compromises safety and automation. The objective was to develop a low cost, robust, and reliable self-cleaning reflector for underground coal .... read more |
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| C34003 | 30/12/2021 |
| Author: Mark Levey | OKA Rock Bolt Technologies |
The industry priorities of improved safety, productivity, and efficiency of underground roadway development processes are all able to be satisfied with the development of an industry acceptable self-drill roof bolt. There are several self-drill roof bolt concepts and prototypes that .... read more |
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| C16020 | 01/08/2009 |
| Author: Peter Lugg | CRCMining |
The nature of the coal reserves will largely define the capacity and format of future powered roof support structures. The productivity of future longwall mine installations will depend on the level of automation and reliability of the electro hydraulic components and systems. .... read more |
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| C16021 | 28/11/2008 |
| Author: Peter Lugg, Dewen Liu, Rebecca Hill | CRC Mining |
This report investigates the impacts of the skills shortage on the productivity of longwall faces. The scope is limited to the supervisors and crews that operate, maintain and procure the longwall face equipment. Using a combination of face-to-face interviews and written .... read more |
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| C5016 | 01/08/2000 |
| Author: George Klenowski | Australian Mining Engineering Consultants, Oaky Creek Coal |
The aims of this research project have been to document recorded mine inflow rates, particularly where flooding of underground workings has occurred; to monitor the upward propagation of subsidence cracking; to conduct .... read more |
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| C23012 | 01/05/2015 |
| Author: Daniel Carpenter | BMT WBM |
Towing of heavy and light equipment is a vital part of coal mining and occurs regularly. The principle risks involved with the failure of towing components include: · Uncontrolled release of energy when components fail: o Safety Alert 156 Towing of Longwall chocks .... read more |
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| C6038 | 01/11/1999 |
| Author: Bruce Hebblewhite, Jeff Rowlands | University of NSW, CMTE |
In Australia, single pass longwall is the most favoured method of extracting coal from 4.5m to 6m thick seams. More than six billion tonnes of measured underground mineable coal reserves in Australia exist in thick seams (more than 4.5m) in difficult geological conditions. Often, mining .... read more |
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| C23020 | 01/07/2016 |
| Author: Scott Adam, Joel Kok, David Barry, Dihon Tadic | CRCMining |
Drilling and installation of secondary support is considered to be a critical yet low-productivity aspect of underground coal mining. It presents a major obstacle to the vision of rapid roadway development. Rock bolt drills are considered to be high-risk equipment, with key operational risks .... read more |
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| C21018 | 01/08/2013 |
| Author: Dihon Tadic, Scott Adam & Joel Kok | CRCMining |
Cable bolt drilling remains a hazardous and labour-intensive task in underground roadway development, primarily due to the manual handling of drill rods and subsequent operator exposure to machinery and unsupported rock mass. A novel technique for continuously drilling cable bolt holes using a .... read more |