Underground Mining Conveyor Capacity Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for controlling debris removal and conveyance in underground mining operations fail to maximize the utilization of mine shaft conveying capacity due to dynamic changes in working and cutting operations, leading to capacity bottlenecks and discontinuous raw material provision, which affects the smooth removal of debris and product delivery.
Innovation Solution
A method that continuously monitors actual data to determine the least available conveying and buffer capacities, using a computer-aided control unit to balance capacities between conveying means and bunker units, ensuring optimal conveyance by adjusting the extraction output and conveying capacity based on anticipated targets and actual conditions, while considering downstream operations and material quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional projected control methods are used based on theoretical yield, then the design and operation of conveying means and bunker units can be simplified, but the utilization of mine shaft conveying capacity cannot be maximized due to dynamic changes in working conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically adapts to changing working conditions by continuously monitoring actual extraction outputs and conveying capacities, and automatically adjusting the interaction of conveying means and bunker units. This dynamic control enables maximum utilization of mine shaft conveying capacity despite variations in working machine locations, conveying lengths, and material properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback control by continuously detecting actual extraction outputs and conveying capacities, comparing them with target values, and automatically adjusting operating parameters. This closed-loop control ensures optimal coordination between extraction and conveyance operations, maximizing productivity while maintaining system stability.
2Productivity
If the extraction capacity of working machines is increased, then the debris removal rate must be simultaneously increased to avoid bottlenecks, but this requires complex coordination of multiple conveying means and bunker units
Solution Approach 1:
The control system automatically coordinates the conveying chain without manual intervention. It self-adjusts the interaction of conveying means and bunker units based on detected actual conditions, enabling increased extraction capacity while maintaining smooth debris removal through automated capacity balancing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection and comparison of actual versus target extraction outputs and conveying capacities before bottlenecks occur. By anticipating capacity mismatches and pre-adjusting operating parameters, it prevents debris accumulation and maintains continuous flow at optimized extraction rates.
3Reliability
If bunker units are used to compensate for conveying spikes, then brief capacity fluctuations can be absorbed, but the overall utilization of conveying capacity is still limited by dynamic changes in working conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the functions of multiple bunker units and conveying means into a coordinated system. By detecting actual capacities and outputs, it optimizes the interaction between buffer capacity compensation and conveying operations, enabling both spike absorption and maximum overall capacity utilization through unified control.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of controlling conveyance of the debris, extracted by working machines in underground mining operations, via conveyors and bunker units. The lowest available conveying capacity of the conveyors and buffer capacity of the bunker units are determined based on continuously detected actual data and are compared in a computer-aided control unit to at least one of current actual extraction output, anticipated target extraction output, and scheduled output extrapolated from past actual data. Upon detection of deviations, the control unit automatically effects a balancing of capacities between the conveyors and bunker units connected at an output side of each individual different working machine, taking into consideration their maximum conveying capacity and buffer capacity respectively, and/or controls the extraction output of the working machines taking into consideration respectively available conveying capacity of downstream conveyors and buffer capacity of the bunker units.