Enhancement of energy efficiency in fully mechanized longwall mining

Improvement of productivity and performance in coal mines is achieved by transition to longwalls up to 500 m long, and by increase in the rated capacity of mechanized longwall mining systems. In this case, however, the size of consumption and the unit rate of electric energy grow, which necessitates enhancement of energy efficiency of longwall mining. The analytical procedure is developed for the specific energy consumption calculation for longwall mining systems as interlinked process equipment with regard to operating regimes during production and maintenance schedules. The case-study of mechanized longwall in Kostromovskaya Mine of MMK-Coal, equipped with Joy longwall shearer 4LS2 has proved that in shuttle operation of the shearer, the longwall energy consumption is lower than in one-way operation scheme by 15–20%, and makes 2.56–3.29 kW h/t as against 3.02–4.12 kW·h/t, respectively. The largest contribution to the specific energy consumption in the longwall is made by the shearer (27.6–43.5%), scarper conveyor (13–20%), high-pressure pumping station (13–20%) and by the sprinkling pump (4.1–10.0%). Specific energy consumption of the shearer is independent of the longwall length and equals 1.0–1.1–kW h/t, while specific energy consumption of the other equipment grows with increasing length of the longwall. It is shown that stabilization of unit load of transportation system in the longwall can enable reduction in the specific energy consumption in the longwall by 31–36, 14.5–17 and 7.5–11.5% in shearing of coal with cuttability of 300, 200 and 150 kN/m, respectively. Higher values of reduction in the specific energy consumption describe operation of the shearer in the longer longwall. The use of a highpressure pumping station with constant pressure control in the hydraulic system of the longwall mining system ensures reduction in the specific energy consumption of the pumping station by 34–40% in one loading–unloading cycle.

Babokin G. I., Shprekher D. M. Enhancement of energy efficiency in fully mechanized longwall mining. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2021;(9):122-134. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2021_9_0_122.

G.I. Babokin, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Professor, Mining Institute, National University of Science and Technology «MISiS», 119049, Moscow, Russia, e-mail: babokinginov@yandex.ru,
D.M. Shprekher, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Assistant Professor, Tula State University, 300012, Tula, Russia, e-mail: shpreher-d@yandex.ru.

D.M. Shprekher, e-mail: shpreher-d@yandex.ru.

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