Underground Coal Mining Control Center with Remote Ventilation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional underground coal mining methods pose significant hazards due to the presence of methane gas, which can lead to explosive conditions, and existing ventilation systems are often inadequate for ensuring safety and efficiency in deep coal seam mining.
Innovation Solution
A novel method involving the construction of an underground control center with a ventilation system, a computerized control panel, and a drill head connected to a power source, allowing for safe and efficient mining of deep coal seams by ventilating only the control center and using a high-speed drill head to extract coal while maintaining a safe atmosphere above the UEL for methane.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional underground mining methods are used to extract coal from deep seams, then coal production can be achieved, but the risk of methane explosions and miner safety hazards significantly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts miners and traditional ventilation equipment from the hazardous coal face environment. Instead of having miners work directly at the coal face with traditional ventilation, the system uses remote-controlled mining machinery and a centralized above-ground control facility, removing human operators from the dangerous atmosphere where methane explosions could occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary control system located above ground that mediates between the mining operations and the surface environment. This control facility uses computerized systems to operate mining equipment remotely, allowing coal extraction to continue while maintaining a safe atmospheric composition in the underground mine by controlling ventilation from a secure location.
2Reliability
If ventilation is provided throughout the entire underground mining area, then miner safety is improved, but energy consumption and system complexity significantly increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by providing ventilation only where absolutely necessary - specifically to the control facility and minimal working areas - rather than throughout the entire underground mining environment. The ventilation system is strategically localized to maintain safe atmospheric conditions in critical zones while leaving other areas with controlled atmospheric composition, thereby reducing overall energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameter of atmospheric composition control from a uniform approach throughout the mine to a variable approach where different zones have different atmospheric conditions. The control facility maintains parameters suitable for human occupancy, while other areas may have different atmospheric compositions optimized for safety and energy efficiency, allowing reduced ventilation energy consumption overall.
3Productivity
If miners work directly at the coal face with traditional equipment, then coal extraction efficiency is maintained, but exposure to dangerous atmospheric conditions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the mechanical system of miners physically working at the coal face with remote-controlled mining machinery. Computerized control systems and automated equipment perform the coal extraction functions that were traditionally performed by miners, eliminating direct human exposure to dangerous atmospheric conditions while maintaining extraction efficiency through sophisticated mechanical and computational systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention segments the mining operation into distinct functional zones: a controlled above-ground control facility for operation and monitoring, and an underground mining zone where atmospheric conditions are managed separately. This segmentation allows the control functions to be performed in a safe environment while the mining operations proceed underground with controlled atmospheric composition, separating safety-critical functions from hazard-exposed functions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method significantly reduces hazards by maintaining a safe atmosphere and allowing for efficient coal extraction in deep seams, minimizing the risk of methane explosions and enabling the mining of coal with reduced personnel and equipment, thus enhancing safety and productivity.
Implementation Method 1
The ventilation system includes a ventilation unit, a ventilation fan and a ventilation shaft. The ventilation fan is located on the surface of the earth. The ventilation unit is located inside the underground control center, and supplies fresh air from the ventilation fan to the underground control center.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a novel method of mining underground coal and recovering coal seam gas, the method including locating a seam of coal; digging a mine shaft to reach the seam of coal; constructing a ventilated underground control center which includes a computerized control panel, wherein the computerized control panel controls the movement of a drill head, a hollow drill shaft, a movable hydraulic shield, a movable resin roof bolting machine, and a movable waste extrusion device; providing mining personnel to the ventilated underground control center; and allowing the mining personnel to operate the computerized control panel wherein they perform the tasks of moving the drill head into the seam of coal to obtain aggregate coal and coal seam gas; extruding waste material into mined-out space of the coal seam; and transferring the aggregate coal and coal seam gas to the surface of the earth.