Optimizing cut-out distance for maximum coal productivity

Abstract

The need to increase productivity has led to innovations in highly mechanized equipment such as the continuous miner (CM). However, often times the CM is underutilized, resulting in loss of productivity and increased operating cost. The objective of this study is to apply a simulation tool to evaluate if optimizing support systems, such as cut-out distance, fleet size, and panel dimensions, can maximize CM utilization and productivity. Discrete event simulation is used to analyze different cut-out distances for a room and pillar mining system. The results show that an 11-entry panel width with a fleet size of three shuttle cars is optimum for the variable cut-out distances examined. The utilization and production rate also increases by 6% at the maximum cut-out distance.

A discrete event simulation approach for mine development planning at Codelco's New Mine Level

“…They determined that in sections of the coal panel, fewer shuttle cars can be used to extract the coal to achieve the same level of productivity. Anani et al, (2019) applied DES to optimize the extraction parameters in a bord and pillar coal mine. They maximized productivity by optimizing the cut-out distance, fleet size, and panel dimensions of the production system.…”

Effect of Gangue Distributions on Cutting Force and Specific Energy in Coal Cutting

“…Cutting load [20] and [21], specific energy consumption [22] and cutting productivity [23] are the critical parameters for the evaluation of cutting performance. Kurochkin [24] and Dogruoz et al [25] explored the effect of mechanical properties of different materials on specific energy consumption.…”