collision avoidance – with a
communication system that networks
the longwall shearer using a wireless
ethernet link. CSIRO pioneered the use
of WiFi to enable shearer
communications. This function allows
the entire mining process to be
monitored and operated through one
control system that can be located
anywhere: the longwall maingate, a
pit-top control room or even in a remote
operating centre in a major city.
LASC Technology has taken the
Australian longwall market by storm.
Now, a mere seven years since the initial
launch, aspects of it are used in more than
60% of Australian mines. Central to this
uptake has been the buy in from industry
at the outset, as well as a unique
commercialisation model based on a
non-exclusive technology licence with
OEMs. The non-exclusive licence means
the technology, which is compatible with
all brands of longwall mining equipment,
is potentially available to all OEM
customers.
The participating OEMs agreed to
these terms because the industry views
LASC Technology as integral to the
longwall mining process – a must‑have
safety requirement – rather than an
optional extra. The technology could not
be exclusive to any one manufacturer.
To help OEMs introduce LASC
Technology to the industry, CSIRO uses
part of its IP revenue to provide
guaranteed technical assistance to each
manufacturer early in the lifetime of each
LASC implementation. This was a win
for manufacturers, as it meant they not
only avoided the development costs, they
also had support during the initial
teething period, along with an assurance
that they would receive any future
upgrades developed by CSIRO.
The majority of OEMs – Joy Global,
Caterpillar, Eickhoff, Kopex and
Nepean Longwall – have adopted the
technology for use in their mining
machines.
InAustralia, approximately 20 out of
30 longwall mining systems are currently
operating with (or are about to install) the
technology. While there is scope for
further adoption byAustralian mines, the
focus is now on the overseas market with
one OEMhaving already taken the
technology to the US and, late last year,
Norway. Negotiations are currently
underway with a number of OEMs active
in the Chinese and European markets.
Improving mine safety and
productivity
The overriding concern of CSIRO and the
industry representatives involved in
developing LASC Technology was
improving the safety of longwall mine
employees.
This has been achieved, in that the use
of the technology moves people away
from the hazards of the longwall and
CSIRO’s coal mining research programme
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
(CSIRO) is Australia’s national research agency and one of the largest and
most diverse research agencies in the world. CSIRO’s Coal Mining
Research Programme develops advanced coal mining and processing
technologies to maximise the value of Australian coal resources in a safe
and environmentally responsible way. The programme, based at the
Queensland Centre for Advanced Technologies, is made up of some 70
specialists who work with industry to improve coal mining recovery,
efficiency and safety; enhance coal-mining technologies; minimise
environmental impacts; and enhance coal cleaning.
A
longside automation research,
CSIRO is developing solutions
for other major longwall mining
safety issues, such as ground
stability, mine gas drainage, mine
fires control and prevention, and
dust control. The solution to these
issues lies in a better understanding
of rock strata and mine gas
behaviour. The research team has
conducted extensive field studies
and applied its expertise in
geomechanics, geophysics,
ventilation, mine gas flow dynamics
and spontaneous combustion to
characterise longwall mining
conditions. The results were used to
develop the following control and
management strategies that have
resulted in significant benefits to the
safety and efficiency of longwall
mining in Australia, China and India.
Ground stability
CSIRO has developed integrated
technologies to predict and
monitor, as well as warn mine
operators of, ground instability.
These include:
n
n
Geotechnical site characterisation
technology with advanced
geophysical logging and seismic
methods.
n
n
A 3D fully-coupled
mechanical‑fluid numerical
modelling package (COSFLOW).
n
n
Integrated real-time monitoring
technology using microseismic,
stress and displacement
monitoring systems to provide
early warning of roof instability.
These technologies underpin the
ground stability safety and risk
management approach of many
mines in Australia and overseas.
Mine gas drainage
CSIRO has developed a range of
cutting-edge gas control methods and
practices that have been adopted
successfully in coal mines in
Australia and China. These include:
n
n
High-capacity surface vertical
goaf drainage.
n
n
Surface and underground
horizontal or lateral goaf
drainage.
n
n
Mine gas measurement,
monitoring and modelling
techniques.
These methods and practices have
significantly improved longwall
mining safety and increased longwall
Other CSIRO longwall mining safety research initiatives
24
|
World Coal
|
July 2015
