Enhancing productive operating time of mechanized combine complexes of potash mines

This article presents basic information on the operation of mechanized combine complexes (MCC) widely used at potash ore mining and processing plants in the Russian Federation. The relevance of finding solutions to increase MCC operational productivity is substantiated. A theoretical study of the operation of MCC during chamber-and-pillar mining of productive seams is conducted. A standard algorithm for calculating MCC operational productivity in each of the four sections of the mining chamber with characteristic operating modes is analyzed. A number of factors not considered by the standard methodology, but influencing the amount of mining machine downtime, are identified. The article presents the results of experimental studies to determine the productive operating time of MCC machines using portable operating parameter recorders. The values are determined and dependencies are plotted for changes in the productivity coefficient of the miner and mine car over time when operating with the full cross-section of the cutting head, as well as during undercutting. It has been shown that when working with a blind face, the productivity of the MCC is limited by the capacity of the mine’s shuttle-wagon over most of the stope. Furthermore, a significant reduction in MCC productivity is associated with external factors: shutdowns of main conveyors, maintenance and repair of machinery and equipment, and auxiliary operations. Solutions have been proposed and substantiated that can favorably influence the intensification of the delivery of spent ore by a sinking and cleaning combine from the site of work in the face to the unloading points of mine self-propelled wagons on the conveyor transport line. 

Losev D. А., Gribov D. S., Shishlyannikov D. I., Sitnikov D. A., Kartavcev V. K. Enhancing productive operating time of mechanized combine complexes of potash mines. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2025;(12-3):68—84. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2025_123_0_68.

The research was supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (project Supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (project NO. FSNM-2023−0005).

Losev D. A., group leader of the mining department of JSC «VNII Gallurgy», 190103, St. Petersburg, 22, 10th Krasnoarmeyskaya St., literature A, e-mail: transporteur@inbox.ru;
Gribov D. S., head of the Mining Department of JSC «VNII Gallurgy», 190103, St. Petersburg, 22, 10th Krasnoarmeyskaya St., literature A, e-mail: dmitriy.gribov@mail.ru;
Shishlyannikov D. I., professor, Department of Mining Electromechanics, Perm National Research Polytechnic University, 614990, Perm, Komsomolsky prospekt, 29, e-mail: dish844@gmail.com;
Sitnikov D. I., laboratory assistant, Department of Mining Electromechanics, Perm National Research Polytechnic University, 614990, Perm, Komsomolsky prospekt, 29, e-mail: stdm2023@mail.ru;
Kartavcev V. K., assistant, Department of Mining Electromechanics, Perm National Research Polytechnic University, 614990, Perm, Komsomolsky prospekt, 29, e-mail: vkartavtsev@yandex.ru.

Losev D. A., e-mail: transporteur@inbox.ru

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