Real Time System for Longwall Coal Mine Applications: Design, Applications and Case Study

Most of the coal mining operations need prompt and quick decisions for avoiding major disasters. The prompt and reliable information is essential to management for taking efficient decisions. Particularly, during adverse behavior of roof strata and supports to avoid loss of production and safety. The real time (RT)system is more appropriate for longwall chock shields performance monitoring and analysis due to its prompt and real time operations. Therefore, the RT system with wireless data acquisition was successfully developed and implemented in experimental longwall coal mine for monitoring, analysis and forecast of adverse working conditions in real time. The system was successfully recorded several roof strata problems and initiated warning during adverse strata behavior. Thereby, it improved efficiency and productivity of longwall mining operations. The system was successfully characterised performance of chock shields. Therefore, the investigations carried out by the author and elaborations in this book are definitely useful to the mining industry for efficient planning and execution to achieve enhanced productivity and safety.