Does automation mean
complexity?
Once the system is commissioned,
running in automated mode is simple.
The motor’s start sequence is a
two‑button operation on the handheld
remote and it only takes two more
buttons to activate auto mode. The
shearer will then initiate the drummode
for the desired state and position the
drum using the calculated data. These
calculations are done onboard in the IPC
using IMU data, shearer position data,
measured and fixed dimensions of
shearer geometry, ranging arm position
and cutter drum diameter.
How to reach a higher
level of automation
To set up all of this automation
requires a basic understanding of the
longwall mining process and technical
expertise with regard to the
mechanical and electrical equipment,
as well as the electronics. Usually,
personnel onsite are already familiar
with most of this equipment from their
current operations; however, they are
often eager to take their knowledge to
the next level. These personnel must
be trained to use the new technology,
but companies also need to roll out a
new culture for automation to take
hold. Automation needs to be
understood as something that enables
and supports existing workers, rather
than a potential cause for displacement
of jobs. If anything, increased
production will ultimately increase the
workload onsite, even if the tasks are
different with an automated system.
To set up the system into higher
level automated modes, Caterpillar
offers comprehensive tools to allow the
operator or the crew to define the
requirements by use of intuitive menus.
Data handling (e.g. loading
parameter settings and state tables
onto the machine) is fast and easy.
Within a few weeks of implementation
(if not during the commissioning
phase) operators adjust the state tables
even once or twice a day without
complaint, easily finding the optimal
settings for the production cycle of the
longwall operation.
Caterpillar’s set of software tools
supports operators in their efforts to
Figure 3. Example Cat Shearer main display during operation.
Figure 4. Improvement of profiling during implementation at example mine site.
Figure 5. Cat MineStar
®
system VShield (shield visualisation program) allows users to
define face advance profiles and provides the operator with a realistic view of the face
alignment profile.
56
|
World Coal
|
August 2015
