1 min read / August 16, 2023 / Staff writer
After a 12-month trial, the mine operator projected that they could at least double the amount of time between equipment overhauls compared to previous overalls. A similar process has been rolled out to other coal mines in Australia.
An underground coal mine operation in Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia, was experiencing higher-than-average stone cutting challenges, with up to 30% of its out-of-seam cutting in sandstone. As a result, its continuous miners required significant refurbishment annually, including major work to the cutter heads and machine pivots. The mine operators were looking for a way to improve the life cycle of their equipment and reduce their overall cost of ownership.
The development of longwall blocks has come with a number of challenges for underground coal mining — challenges that vary depending on each mine’s conditions. These can include strata control, dust control and ventilation issues. Many, like the Hunter Valley mine, are required to mine strata above and below the coal seam to maintain heading size requirements for equipment and ventilation. Out-of-seam material is typically harder, denser and more abrasive, which causes more wear and tear on machine parts.
After the mine operators turned to Komatsu about partnering on solutions, Komatsu obtained stone samples from the mine. These were tested and calibrated at the Komatsu materials laboratory in Franklin, Pennsylvania, United States. The calibrated values, along with the equipment parameters, were entered into a Komatsu-specific cutting program that assesses options and outputs various information, including ideal cutter lacing patterns, drum speeds, pick types and energy consumption. The program graphs breakout patterns and forces on the individual picks, helping assess energy consumption, pick life and vibration on the equipment.
Based on these, a new type of cutter scroll was designed to better suit the mine’s material, with reduced speed drums and a different cutter pick. Komatsu went a step further when it noticed increased wear on machine components and introduced improvements to the cutter gearcase, cutter drums, and associated components. Together, these adjustments were focused on improving the miner’s life cycle and reducing operating costs.
The upgraded stone cutting technology was introduced to the mine for a trial. After using the new technology for 12 months, the mine returned the cutter head to Komatsu for evaluation.
The mine operator, partnering with Komatsu, made several findings based on the evaluation:
A similar process has been rolled out to other coal mines in New South Wales and Queensland, Australia. Although data is still being collected, operators at many mines are observing reduced vibration, reduced dust, better cutting and reduced maintenance requirements. In many cases, these advances being instituted along with automation technology that promotes floor, roof and production consistency, as well as controlled load-leveling of machine components.
Disclaimer: All mining operations face unique circumstances and conditions that may impact the performance of particular mining equipment or parts. This case study is provided for illustrative purposes only. Komatsu does not guarantee that the same or similar results will be achieved by any particular mining operation or customer.