Analysis of the economic feasibility of the Kloswall longwall mining system. Final technical report: volume 1

Abstract

This study was performed to evaluate the economic feasibility of the Ktoswall longwall mining system. The Kloswall system utilizes a deep web mining concept. It was studied both to determine its own economic efficiency and to compare it to the economic efficiency of conventional longwall and continuous mining systems. A broad-range of mine scenarios and equipment configurations was studied for each mining system. The principal economic factor used in the analysis was Rate of Return on Investment. This factor was derived through a yearly discounted cash £low analysis. An estimated value for yearly Cost per Ton has also been provided. Several equipment manufacturers provided their time to make recommendations for equipment suites and ~o s t~, and thoir aooigtancc i 3 much appreciated.

Overall requirements for an advanced underground coal extraction system

“…We have adopted that viewpoint in constructing the moving baseline. Schroeder, et al (1978) and Rybak (1979) reached this same conclusion in their studies of future systems.…”

“…Gross (1979) and Schroeder, et al (1978) describe efforts to increase the production rate by cutting a wider web. In one of these studies maximum shearer production rate was constrained bŷ onveyor capacity.…”

Moving baseline for evaluation of advanced coal-extraction systems

“…A study to determine the optimal face length for longwall systems having a panel length of approximately the same measure as above (3024 ft) found, that little difference occurred with respect to return on investment for face lengths ranging from 200ft to 500ft (see Ref. 40). Therefore, a face length of 500 ft was selected for the longwall cases.…”

“…This practice is quite common in the United Kingdom (Ref. 22). Each shearer would be assigned to a particular segment of the face.…”

“…For all longwall cases, a panel length of 3000 ft was selected as being typical of American longwall practice (Ref. 40). A study to determine the optimal face length for longwall systems having a panel length of approximately the same measure as above (3024 ft) found, that little difference occurred with respect to return on investment for face lengths ranging from 200ft to 500ft (see Ref.…”