Coal Age

NOV 2012

Coal Age Magazine - For nearly 100 years, Coal Age has been the magazine that readers can trust for guidance and insight on this important industry.

Issue link: https://coal.epubxp.com/i/95257

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 37 of 67

minexpo highlights continued positioned upwind with less dust and noise exposure; achieving consistent extraction heights and cutting methods between shifts; and allowing the ability to manage shearer speed while easily accessing valuable system performance data at the mine surface. "Joy ASA productivity features, such as gate-end turnarounds, are the result of very specific software enhancements, new sensor technologies, and the sharing of data between the shearer, powered roof sup- ports, and face conveyor sub systems," said Jeff Ley, technologist for JoyGlobal Controls & Automation the initial cutting profiles and extraction heights are defined by the use of a software utility called the Graphical Offline Planner. With this configuration, said Ley, the shearer automatically replicates the face profile until seam conditions change—at which time, the operator has the ability to override control of the roof drum which records the changing roof horizon. By using this new roof horizon data, the remainder of the cutting sequence is fully automated per the predefined extraction heights. "This advanced level of automation enables the most efficient cycle times possi- ble, while providing day-to-day consisten- cy," said Ley. Consistently taking safety-focused tech- nologies to higher and higher levels is par- ticularly important to JoyGlobal Underground Mining as it has produced and sold a large number of continuous min- ing machines. The first Joy continuous min- er was produced in 1948; recently JoyGlobal marked the shipment of its 6,000th continu- ous miner. "We expect that these technologies will be easily adaptable to pieces of equipment beyond continuous miners and mobile coal haulage equipment, and that ultimately these technologies will be developed for applications across all section equipment," Brian Thompson, product director-contin- uous miners, JoyGlobal Underground Mining, adding that JoyGlobal has pio- neered numerous safety-focused continu- ous miner design features and is currently testing its not-yet-released next-generation (Phase 2) JOY SMARTZONE Proximity Detection System. Thompson suggests that a close examina- tion of technologies affecting proximity detection, noise reduction and dust sup- pression will give mining operations some very valuable insights on potential solutions to the challenges ahead. A proximity detection system is an opera- tor awareness feature that teaches the oper- ator to control the continuous miner from 36 www.coalage.com safe working zones. If an operator breaches these zones, certain machine functions are disabled until the operator retreats into an acceptable zone. According to Thompson, the initial (Phase 1) JOY SMARTZONE Proximity Detection System has been in operation since 2009, following rigorous testing. To date, the sys- tems are in full production on continuous miners with 110 systems operating in 53 mines across 15 states in the U.S. JoyGlobal's proximity detection system utilizes electromagnetic technology, which the company sees as the most viable solu- tion. Another main differentiator of the sys- tem, says Thompson, is that it emits an electromagnetic signature and radio fre- quency identification (RFID) signal that allows independent identification from a Personal Wearable Device (PWD) worn by the operator. He explains that a group of six receivers are strategically positioned on the continuous miner. The PWD worn by the operator emits an electromagnetic pulse that is recorded by each of the six machine receivers. Two distinct operating zones are maintained around the continuous miner. One is an initial warning zone and the other functions as the shutdown zone and dis- ables various machine functions when it detects the person wearing the PWD. Phase 2 of JOY SMARTZONE Proximity Detection System is currently in develop- ment with full release expected by mid- 2013. "We are very excited to introduce a proximity detection system that will feature all the benefits of Phase 1, and will offer a platform usable on all section equipment," said Thompson. "The system will offer a 'seamless interaction' between multiple systems. For example, when a shuttle car approaches a continuous miner operator, the operating zone identified on the shuttle car will automatically adapt shuttle speed to safely approach the operator. The new plat- form allows scalability through enhanced feature sets bringing 'intelligence' to the system." JOY SMARTZONE Proximity Detection Systems are fully mechanically and electri- cally integrated on Joy equipment, said Thompson. "It is also possible to retrofit existing continuous miners with the system during the rebuild of such machines. However, protecting machine-mounted components is critical to success. Simply bolting a system to an existing machine underground would lead to low availability and limited operator acceptance." The proximity detection systems are intended to help teach personnel to operate a continuous miner from safe working zones, and to stay clear of danger zones. "These systems are not intended to replace training and safe operating practices," he said. Liebherr Introduces New Truck & Excavator Liebherr unveiled the new ultra-class T 284 as the follow-up to the successful T 282 C. The T 284 offers one of the highest payloads in the industry and features the latest generation of the Litronic Plus AC drive system. Developed and built by Liebherr, the proven Litronic Plus AC drive system deter- mines the optimal way to extract power from the diesel engine. With this system, more power is available to accelerate the truck and climb grades. The Litronic Plus system also conserves fuel when the engine is idling. In this way it minimizes fuel con- sumption and maximizes performance. The combination of the T 284's efficient Litronic Plus AC drive system, its high-pow- er engine, and low gross vehicle weight leads to fast haul cycle times with higher speeds on grade if compared to other trucks in its class. The T 284 supports engine options with power ratings up to 4,023 hp/3,000 kW. With application-specific recommenda- tions from Liebherr, mine operators can select the engine that will allow the truck to meet productivity targets while minimizing fuel consumption. These engine options offer the latest fuel-injection technology for cleaner combustion and reduced fuel con- sumption. The T 284 also supports high- capacity tires. "As the designer and manufacturer of the first 400-ton ultra-class diesel-electric min- ing truck, Liebherr has been at the forefront of this successful industry solution," said Bernd Haase, executive vice president of sales and marketing, Liebherr Mining Equipment. "Literally millions of operating hours and years of design experience have come together to create the Liebherr T 284. This experience has led to a lightweight frame design that contributes to the T 284's low empty vehicle weight. The T 284's low empty vehicle weight and Litronic Plus AC drive system enable as much of the truck's load-carrying capacity as possible to be used for payload." Liebherr also introduced the R 9150 hydraulic mining excavator, which was one of the two Liebherr hydraulic mining excavators shown at the Liebherr stand. The R 9150 is equipped with a Liebherr 12 November 2012

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of Coal Age - NOV 2012