Research on Loading Characteristics of Continuous Miner Based on Coal and Rock Particles Fluidity Effect

Abstract

The interaction mechanism between the star wheel arm and coal particles is the theoretical basis for the research of the feeder star wheel device. Based on the discrete element theory, the motion equation of coal particles in the process of coal harrowing with the feeder star wheel was established. With the aid of EDEM software, the coal model of the continuous miner with the simulation structure of coal wall, ground, feeder star wheel, and coal pile was reconstructed. The influence of the parameters includes the number of the arm of the star wheel, the height of the arm, and the inclination angle of the feeder on the loading efficiency and energy consumption of the feeder star wheel was revealed. The results have been shown that the fluidity effect of coal particles in the active zone of the material pile has been observed. The loading efficiency and torque of the feeder star wheel have been affected by this effect. The loading efficiency and energy consumption have been increased with the increase in the number of arm and height of the arm. The loading efficiency of feeder inclination angle 14° is the highest and the energy consumption is the lowest.