On April 30, the predictive management technology for underground pressure monitoring on the fully mechanized coal mining face in Yujialiang Mine of Shendong Coal was upgraded again, enabling direct transmission of data to the ground and real-time display of the pressure on smart phones. The accuracy rate reached 90 percent, marking a new advance in the intelligent transformation of the mining face.
The 43102 fully mechanized long-wall face in Yujialiang Mine measures 340.5 meters in length, with a designed mining height of 1.4 meters. It is a typical thin seam mining face. To strengthen real-time dynamic monitoring of the mining face and ensure production safety, the No. 2 longwall team of Yujialiang Mine made an innovative move of using finite element data analysis technology based on the mining and seam conditions. Thanks to several rounds of endeavor for technological breakthroughs and continuous production practices, the team is now capable of obtaining accurate pressure data of the work face when it passes the coal pillar, worked-out section and thin basement rock, providing highly-efficient and smart IT support to safe and rapid advancement of the work face.
“In the past, the miner on duty observed the pressure data and recorded them on their smart phone before the data were extracted for analysis,” said Chen Xizhu, head of the No. 2 Team. “Now, we use the finite element simulation software to build a model for analysis. The model adjusts with the constant feeding of real data, realizing prediction for the pressure when the work face passes special covering conditions. Moreover, when the work face approaches pressure, we can know from our smart phone at home. It is no longer necessary for four or five workers to keep close eyes at the site.”
“With automatic analysis and comparison of data from the model and data from intelligent monitoring, we can predict the pressure one week, or even one month, in advance, which helps us manage the roof of the work face,” Zhao Yunfei, the team’s technician, added.
Intelligent management of the work face roof is part of No. 2 Team’s efforts in intelligent transformation and “predictive” management. To strengthen the management of advancement zones where safety risks are higher, the team set up an emergency response squad, specifically dealing with the advancement in dangerous areas. In addition, to give full play to the role of intelligent management of production safety, the No. 2 Team has formulated detailed plans for talent training, focusing on professionals for mine pressure management, measures formulation, the use of simulation software and data analysis. This provided a solid talent reserve for intelligent management and ensured science-based team management.
With accelerated pace of intelligent transformation, Yujialiang Mine has fully automated the operation of its main conveying system. So far, its 43 mine pits have adopted the 5+2+X production model. The use of the automated flame-proof water curtain for production, conveying, and coal lane substantially improves the level of smart technology application.
