Coal Mining-A Case Study
Coal Mining-A Case Study
Coal Mining-A Case Study
1. Introduction 4
2. Geology
6.1 Safety devices installed in the Man Riding Chair Lift System 13
7. LHD Section 16
7.1 Method of working 16
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1. Introduction
Shyamsundarpur Colliery is constituent of Bankola Area, ECL. It comprises of two units East
Sitalpur Unit and Sarpi Unit.
East Sitalpur is situated in Chak Banbohal, Shyamsundarpur and Chak Jhanjra Mouza of
Laudoha police station and about 4 kilometers away from Ukhra station. The colliery is linked
with Andal-Ukhra-Jhanjra roadway and also connected to the National Highway 19 and is about
10 kilometres from the colliery. The Durgapur Industrial Complex (SAIL) is about 20 kilometers
by road to the South East of the Area.
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2.Geology
The colliery has a mine lease hold area of 533 hectors. The general texture of the surface ground
is sand stone mixture with laterite boulder, moram at place and earth. The gradient towards
North East and South side of Ukhra- Madhaiganj road is towards South East. There are several
workable seams namely RIX, RVIII T2, RVIII B1, RVII, RVIIA, RVI, RV and RIV are lying
within a depth varying from 35m to 316.5m and thickness varying from 2.2m to 8.35m.
The mining block of the colliery consists of three units Sarpi unit, East Sitalpur unit and South
Bankola unit.
2.1 Boundaries of Shyamsundarpur Colliery
It is situated in Eastern part of Raniganj Coalfield IN Paschim Bardhaman district of West
Bengal and is near 2 kilometers North East from Ukhra Railway Station.
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2.2 Stratigraphic sequence
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3. An Overview of the Mine
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3.4 Workshops and Stores
There are 3 workshop sheds and 2 stores at Shyamsundarpur colliery. Out of which 2 workshops
are of E.C.L. and other one is of Joy Mining Services (JMS).
The workshop and store of JMS are under single roof spare parts are stored, repairing of
equipment of continuous miner, repairing of flexible trailing cable are being carried out.
In one of the 2 workshop sheds of E.C.L repairing of electric motors; welding; cutting of TMT
ribbed bar into desired sizes for roof bolting; shaping, threading of TMT bars using Lathe
machine; drilling of holes in bearing plate are carried out, beside this workshop the store of
E.C.L is located. And in the other working shop making of bearing plates by cutting the plates
from long iron sheets using sheet cutting and forming machine; making the bearing plates dome
shaped in hydraulic press are carried out.
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4. Winding Engine Room
The 3 No. pit winding engine is driven by steam which is operating at 100psi. The cut-off
pressure is 70 psi. The steam generated by the boiler operating at 110 psi reaches the winding
engine room through pipe lines. The brakes are operated by means of steam. The depth covered
by the cage is indicated by an analog meter. There is signaling arrangement between the engine
room and pit top.
4.1 Safety Devices: Is the speed goes beyond a preset limit steam supply to the engine is cut-off
by means of valve; for over winding protection if the cage goes up by 1’ above the decking level
steam supply to the engine is interrupted by means of vale automatically.
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4.3 Technical Specifications of Winding Rope
No. 3 pit Manufacturer Usha Martin Limited
Quality Galvanized
Construction 6 strands Core: 7 wire
Breaking Load 326.0 KN
Length of Rope 220.0m
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5. Systematic support plan
5.1 Continuous Miner panel
Size of the pillars shall not be less than 34m X 34m (centre to centre). The width and
height of the galleries shall not exceed 6m and 4.5m respectively.
Development shall be done along the floor of the seam leaving at least 0.5m of coal in the
roof.
Roof of the galleries shall be supported by 4m X 1.8m long, 22mm diameter ribbed bar,
cold rolled M24 threaded and fully encapsulated high strength low viscosity resin bolts
installed in 28mm diameter holes at 1.2m intervals. The support density shall be
increased to 5 X 1.8m long bolts at 1.2m intervals at roadway junctions.
The sides of pillars below Ukhra village shall be supported by three row of roof bolts in
staggered fashion in such a way that the top row shall not be more than 0.5m below the
roof and the distance between bolts in a row shall not exceed 2.4m and distance between
rows shall not exceed 1m.
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6. Man Riding Chair Lift System
Man Riding Chair Lift System installed at pit no. 3 at Shyamsundarpur Colliery in RVII seam from 4 Level 1 East Dip to
21 Level 1 East Dip
The man riding system is presently installed from 4 Level 1 East Dip to 21 Level 1 East Dip
travelling roadway. The man riding system is divide into 4 sections namely Drive station,
Embarking/ disembarking system (drive train opening terminus), Embarking/ disembarking
system (drive train return terminus), Return station with chain tensioning arrangement. The
distance between two chairs should be at least 15m and runs at a speed of 1.15m/s. The system
operates at 550V.
Boarding Station of Man Riding Chair Lift System at 4 Level and 1 East Dip
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6.1 Safety devices installed in the Man Riding Chair Lift System
Over speed tripping device It will sense the speed of the rope. The speed of the rope crosses
beyond rated speed, it senses the speed and it will cut off the
Electrical power of the DC valve and the rope comes to rest.
Over travel tripping device Limit switches are installed on either end of Embarking and
Disembarking stations to switch off the drive when chair crosses
the end position of the rail.
Running back stop devices It is provided on Disembarking rail to prevent running back of
chair to the rope.
High pressure trip Pressure switch has been provided in Hydraulic circuit to cut-off
the power to DC valve when pressure exceeds set limit.
High temperature trip Temperature sensor has been provided in Hydraulic tank to cut-off
power to DC valve when temperature exceeds set limit.
Pull cord switches Pull cord switches along the entire length of the chair lift system
installed at an interval of 45m and by using any one of the
switches, the system can be stopped.
Counter weight switches Switches have been provided in the guide path of the counter
weight in order to stop the system when counter weight crosses
the lower/upper limits.
Filter clog tripping If the pressure line filter element id chocked, the switch provided
will activate and cut-off power to DC valve.
Low oil level tripping The micro switch provided in the indicator will activate and cut-
off power when oil falls below a desired level.
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6.4 Hydraulic power unit
The hydraulic power unit is to provide the hydra
hydraulic
ulic motor with the required flow of oil and
pressure at the right time. All included parts are assembled in one or more compact cabinet. The
Power Unit has one or more pumps driven by one or more electric motors. The main pump is an
axial piston pump with variable displacement for close loop systems, Vane pump and Gear pump
for open loop systems. The electric motor is totally enclosed with a sound proof canopy.
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6.5 Technical specification of hydraulic power pack
Axial piston pump H1P 165R
Main pump Fluid quantity 165 cm3/ Rev.
Fluid flow rate 240 litres/min at 1450 rpm, 50 Hz
Auxiliary pump Fluid quantity 26 cm3/ Rev.
Fluid flow rate 38 litres/min at 1450 rpm, 50 Hz
Maximum pressure 420 bar
Maximum operating pressure 210 bar
Boost pressure 25 bar
Electric motor 75 kW at 1450 rpm
Fluid type HFDU 68/ HLP 68
Capacity 300 litres
Other devices 1.Water cooler for Hydraulic fluid
2. Boost pressure control switch
3. Fluid level control unit
4. Temperature control switch
5. Operating pressure gauge
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7. LHD Section
Entered the LHD section through 12L
Miner Station located at the entry of the panel.
7.1 Method of working: Roof heightening was being carried out prior to depillaring by
continuous miner. Holes were drilled in the roof with the help of Universal Drill Machine
(UDM). Holes were charged and stemmed with P5 explosive cartridges and sand cartridges
respectively. Holes are fired from RHINO-25 Shot Exploder. Prepared coal is being loaded into
conveyor belt by 2 LHDs.
Prepared coal is loaded into the gate belt conveyor by LHDs.
Specifications of RHINO-25 Shot Exploder
Make Electronic Equipment Manufacturing Co.
Limiting Resistance 140 Ohms
Firing Current 1.5 A
Voltage (D.C) 500-550
Discharge current duration 3-4 m Secs.
7.2 Gate Belt:. Width: 1200mm; PVC belt (Synthetic cotton meshing with rubber coating);
double drive arrangement.
Specifications of Drive motor
Make Marathon
Type 3 phase induction motor
Power Rating 150 kW
Voltage Rating 3300 V
Current Rating 32.5 A
Rated Speed 1492 RPM
The Double drive arrangement consists of 2 induction motors each coupled with gearbox. Power
is transmitted from motor shaft to gear box then to the drive drum. The drive drums rotate in
opposite sense with respect to each other. The drive arrangement is adequately fenced.
7.2.1 Safety Devices in Gate Belt: Signaling arrangement; Pull chord switch installed at one or
one and half pillar interval.
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8. Continuous Miner Section
Continuous Mining technology is fully mechanized method for extraction of coal in Bord and
Pillar system of mining. This technology was introduced on 28.08.2010 in RVII seam. With this
technology the coal pillars are being extracted efficiently without compromising safety along
with high productivity.
At present work is being carried out in Panel- 5D. The incubation period of the panel is 6
months. The panel has 25 pillars to be extracted. Gradient of the seam is 1 in 15 and thickness
varied from 4.76m to 5.49m. Dip direction is S6º49´46´´E. RMR of the section is 45.5
The panel has 6 headings. In this panel the pillars are diamond shaped to facilitate machine
maneuvering.
The complete system provided by Joy Mining Machinery Limited consists of the following
machines:
Serial Operation Name of the Machine
No.
1 Coal cutting and loading Continuous Miner
2 Coal hauling Shuttle Car
3 Coal lump breaking and feeding Feeder Breaker
machine to conveyor
4 Face supporting Quad Bolter
Universal Drill
Machine
5 Power distribution Load Centre
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Continuous Miner
The miner consists of –
A boom carrying the cutting drum 3.3m long and 1.1m in diameter with carbide picks
mounted over it.
A gathering arm placed below the boom which loads the coal onto the flight chain
A frame that supports the flight chain conveyor, it is movable to direct to flow of coal
onto the shuttle car.
Traction unit.
The miner is remotely operated by the operator standing in a safe zone out bye of the face. For
suppression of dust a jet of water is directed over the cutting head.
Shuttle Cars
The continuous miner package consists of 2 shuttle cars each approximately of 8.75T capacity.
The shuttle cars operate on 1.1 kV a.c. supply. The shuttle cars are tire mounted. The shuttle car
has a reel drum to wind and in-wind the flexible trailing cable during the course of its movement.
To load the coal uniformly and to discharge into the feeder breaker the shuttle cars equipped with
a pair of Single Centre Strand armored chain conveyor.
Feeder Breaker
The feeder breaker is installed before the Gate Belt conveyor. The feeder breaker consists of
lump breaker and feeder. There is arrangement of water spraying for dust suppression. The
loaded shuttle car unloads the coal into the armored chain conveyor of the feeder breaker. The
desired size coal is loaded into the gate belt conveyor.
Feeder Breaker
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Quad Bolter
The Quad Bolter is a twin-boom four-mast crawler mounted mobile bolter with a wide range of
boom movement controlled using direct mast-mounted hydraulic controls. The Quad Bolter can
install four roof bolts simultaneously using two operators. In addition, the outer roof bolters can
be rotated over to perform side bolting, resulting in two roof and two rib bolts at the same time.
The operators always stand under a conopy during drilling and installation of roof bolts. To
support the green roof there is arrangement of hydraulic support in front of the Quad Bolter.
There is provision of water spraying for dust suppression; water is supplied to the machine by
hoses. A reel drum is mounted on the rear end of the machine that winds and unwinds the
flexible trailing cable during the course of its movement.
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Particulars of Splitting and Slicing of pillar
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8.4 Auto Warning Tell-Tale Extensometer (AWTT)
AWTT is used in depillaring area. It is triggered to give indications by blinking red LED light
when bed separation exceeds 5mm. In depillaring areas the front abutment pressure is very
dangerous. It gives warning prior to occurrence of roof fall so that miners, machines can retreat
to a safer place. In the panel 5D of RVII seam AWTTs are installed in the junctions, level
galleries and splits. Before installing the AWTTs it is ensured that LEDs starts glowing and
blinking when reference tube has crossed the 5mm mark on the scale.
Manufactured by Nanda Manufacturing Co.
AWTT has the following parts-
Top anchor
Suspension cable (10m)
Reference tube
Scale
Indicator
Ferrule
The scale is divided into 3 coloured regions-
Green: 0-5mm
Yellow: 5-10mm
Red: 10-30mm
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9. Main Mechanical Ventilator
PV200 and PV300 mechanical ventilators are installed in the mine.
PV200 and PV300 are installed in Pit No. 01 and Pit No. 03 respectively.
Specifications of PV200
Make VOLTAS
Type AXIAL
Fan Capacity 5000 m3/h
Fan Speed 750
Water Gauge 33 mm
Power Rating 90 kW
Voltage Rating 550 V
Specifications of PV300
Make VOLTAS
Type AXIAL
Fan Capacity 8000 m3/h
Fan Speed 750
Water Gauge 52 mm
Power Rating 300 kW
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10.Coal Handling Plant
Coal from underground via the trunk belt installed along the main incline is discharged on to the
conveyor belt of the CHP by means of chute, two drives are installed on ground to drive the
conveyor belt of the CHP. The specification of the drive is given below:
Number of motors 2
Power rating 55 kW
Voltage rating 415 V
Rated speed 1478
Gear box Premium helical gear box
Width of conveyor belt 1200mm
Length of conveyor belt 300m
The conveyor belt of the CHP goes through a Motorised Travelling Tripper (MTT) mounted on
rails; the MTT moves over the bunker in which coal is to be discharged and flow of coal into
bunker of CHP is directed and controlled by Motorised Flap Gate. There is arrangement of water
spraying for suppression of coal dust. There are 4 bunkers of the CHP. The plant is capable of
handling 750 TPH of coal. Coal from bunkers is loaded into dumpers by controlling the Manual
Sector Gate.
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