Longwall mining, while efficient for coal extraction, faces multifaceted challenges spanning geological, operational, environmental, and safety domains.
Below are some challenges:
- Armoured face conveyor (AFC) Creep: This is the migration of the AFC towards the main gate or tailgate. Some factors include: direction of push, gradient, misalignment, poor face management. It is quite common. Some operational problems are binding of supports, broken equipment, loss of roof control, inability to cut out at ends. It has a small risk to people. Training and good face management are mitigation techniques.
- Excessive Water: Beyond normal requirements create mud, pools, free running water. Leaking pipes and hoses, strata water, inefficient water sprays, broken pumps poor water management. It is quite common. Bogging of machinery, damage to electrical equipment. Stumbling and slipping accidents, drowning. Training and good water management plan is a good mitigation plan.
- Horizon Control: “That which everything else must follow”. Operator error, lack of training, blunt picks, poor drum design, poor management. Damage to AFC dog bones and drive frames, inability to advance AFC, potential for drum contacting support canopies. Small. It is quite common. Training, new technology (auto steering), cowls, good face management.
- Dust: Particles of matter, the result of disintegration. Blunt picks, transfer points, poor ventilation, poor suppression. Risks to machinery is small. Risks to people is high through respirable dust. Respirable dust is well controlled but nuisance dust (particles you can see) are still common in most coal mines. Effective dust monitoring, well maintained equipment and effective dust suppression.
- Attitude: Tendency to respond positively or negatively to an idea, object, person, which influences ability to succeed. Interaction between people, management and workforce and invariably the other shift is always at fault. It is quite c A good teamwork will greatly lead to better attitude.
- Stopping: The state of inactivity following an interruption. Statistically, roof falls are most likely to occur after a shutdown. Coal clearance problems, planned shutdowns, unplanned shutdowns, poor maintenance, poor mine management. Risks to machinery high. Risks to people:Low (except where a roof fall occurs). Frequency: Very Common. Remedy: Good longwall management. A longwall is at less risk if run “24/7” (Top Ten Longwall Problems, 2004)
Have you ever experienced longwall mining? What challenges did you face? Comment below!
Reference:
Top ten longwall problems. (2004, March 1). https://www.miningmonthly.com/international-coal-news/news/1295483/longwall
