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CHAPTER – 07

UNDERGROUND MINE MECHANIZATION

The mining machineries used in underground coal mines may be divided into three main
groups:
 For breaking the coal / rock
 For loading and transporting the coal / rock
 For erecting supports or building pack walls in the floor
The classification of the major mining machineries used in underground coal mines is shown in
Fig. 1. Due to the typical working conditions that include varying hardness of coal or its partings,
restricted working space, need for movement along the face, working atmosphere that contains
mine gas, coal dust, either of which can ignite into flame with a spark, all the underground coal
mining equipment should have the following requirements:
 Higher strength of mine parts (i.e, factor of safety is high) including the need for special
mechanical and electrical devices for preventing the breakdown when overloaded for
varying characteristics of rock / coal.
 Great strength of the body and the air tightness for the motor and the controller.
 Electrical flame proof ness with relation to mine dust or gas; the need for the haulage
mechanism to draw the machine along the face.
 Low height to work in the thin seam etc.
 The type of power to drive the machine either electrical or compressed air.
Compressed air may be preferable over the electrical power for preventing against explosion of
mine gas or coal dust. Therefore, in mines with exceptionally high emissions of methane,
compressed air is preferred over electricity.

Fig. 1 Classification of Underground Coal Mining Machneries

The main objective of coal mines nationalization was to increase the production and
productivity with due regard to safety and conservation of coal. Since nationalization, a number of
steps have been taken towards mechanization by introducing different methods of mining
including advanced mining technologies like longwall mining. While most of the operations in the
field of transport system in underground and coal handling system at surface could be successfully
mechanized, winning of coal handling from underground could not be established yet.
In India, bord and pillar method of mining is and likely to continue to be predominant
method of underground mining for the next couple of decades. This is mainly because of
favourable geo-mining conditions like shallow depth and good roof conditions. Scarcity of

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financial resources (higher capital cost of longwall equipment) and comparatively lower wages are
other reasons for the predominance of this method. In mechanization of bord and pillar mining,
scrapers, LHDs, SDLs and simple shovel loading on the chain conveyor have been introduced
both in development and depillaring with varying degrees of success. The mines having manual
loading of coal have very poor overall OMS varying from 0.33 to 0.60. Mechanised coal face
loading is one single operation which can have maximum impact on overall productivity of the
mine. The productivity may go upto 25% to 60% by introducing mechanized coal loading at the
face.
The mechanized approaches in bord and pillar mining can be classified broadly in three categories:
a. loading operation at the face is by using LHD, SDL, Scrapers and cutting and loading by
continuous miners and transport by shuttle cars.
b. Blasting gallery method and hydraulic mining
c. Extraction of pillars on longwall pattern.

Loading by LHD machine (Fig. 2)

Besides it is used in depillaring districts, in development districts where the face is moving
very fast it is very difficult to maintain the chain conveyor extended right upto the face.
Mechanisation of face loading by LHD does not require the chain conveyor extension right upto
the face. Therefore, LHD is the ideal machine and should be deployed in development districts.

Loading by SDL machine (Fig. 3)

In development and depillaring areas SDLs can also be used like LHD machine. However,
as it is slow speed machine, the chain conveyor should also be extended simultaneously while
working in development districts. The economic lead distance may be roughly about 2 to 3 times
the length of the machine.
The SDLs can be deployed to directly load on to the coal tubs in mines having at least 2.4
m working height so that SDLs can be operated in mines with haulages as main transport system.
SDL was also successfully used for longwall gate road drivage in SECL.

Case Study
Some studies are conducted at SECL, in the year 1999 regarding the fixing of norm and
consumption of spares. The group-wise consumption of spares calculated on the basis of value has
been assessed as below:
Hydraulic parts (including seal kits) 48%
Track groups 32%
Hoses and fittings 02%
Other items 18%

The study reveals that maintenance cost is maximum for hydraulic parts and as such
maximum attention should be given for repair / maintenance of major hydraulic components.
All the unit workshop should be well equipped with bare minimum machinery on the basis
of experience (a) Routine maintenance (b) Preventive maintenance (c) Breakdown maintenance.
All area workshops should be equipped with hydraulic test benches and hose crimping
machines. Major hydraulic parts like pumps, motors, cylinders and valves etc. should be repaired
and tested in these area workshops.
The daily maintenance, preventive maintenance and overhauling of SDLs are carried out in
a planned manner as per the maintenance schedule prepared jointly in consultation with OEM. In
this respect the following norms are followed in one of the subsidiaries of CIL:
a. First major overhauling should be carried out after 1,20,000 tonne of production in four
years of operation

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b. Second major overhauling should be carried out after 90,000 tonne of production in three
years of operation after first overhauling.
c. The survey-off of the machine is after 9 years of operation.
Usually the time required for major overhauling is about six weeks.
For better availability of the machine, spare parts should be available. Infrastructure should
be developed for the training of technical and operational personnel.

Loading by Scrapers

The scrapers were successfully used in Churcha mine. However, in case of other mines,
difficulties on account of soft floor and maintenance of scrapers have been experienced which
have resulted in reduced production. The district OMS in Churcha colliery (WCL) in 1986 was
about 2.5 tonne.
The poor performance of scraper associated with the following problems was the main
reasons of abandoning this method:
i. Cleaning of coal at face and also all along the scraper path.
ii. Soft floor
iii. Anchoring the pulley at the face
iv. Frequent shifting of scraper

Fig. 2 LHD Machine Fig. 3 SDL Machine

Example of depillaring operation by SDL in East Katras colliery

The geo-mining parameters of the panel are as follows:

 Seam thickness 2.5 m
 Seam gradient 1 in 8
 Height of gallery 2.5 m
 Width of gallery 4.5 m
 Pillar size 20 m  20 m
 Length of panel 8 to 10 pillars
 Width of panel 3 rows of pillar

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Proposed method of depillaring

Each pillar is divided into two halves by driving a level gallery of 4.5 m wide. Splitting
operation is done by solid blasting and is kept in advance, maximum two pillars ahead of the pillar
under extraction. Each pillar is extracted by driving a dip slice of 4.5 m wide and leaving a rib of
coal of 2.1 m. The rib is taken judiciously during retreat. Slice is extracted in each pillar diagonally
to restrict the area of roof exposed to a safe limit. SDL loads the blasted coal from the slice / spilt
onto light duty chain conveyor, which in turn discharges it to medium-duty chain conveyor. Then
coal flows to the mine tubs through a bridge conveyor (Fig. 4).

Fig. 4 Method of Depillaring by Using SDL Machine

District production
Drilling time : 30 min
Charging, blasting and clearance of fumes : 30 min
Dressing and setting of supports : 30 min
Coal loading at the face : 70 min
Total cycle time : 160 min.

Three SDLs of bucket capacity 0.66m3 were deployed along the width of the panel. The production
capacity of each SDL per hour is determined as follows:
Load carrying speed of SDL : 2.7 kmph
Loading time : 30 s
Discharge time : 30 s
To and fro travel time for a maxm. Lead distance of 25 m: 1.1 min
Time required for one cycle: 30 s + 30 s + 66 = 126 s
No. of cycles per hr. : 28
Tonnage hauled / cycle assuming bucket fill factor 0.8: 0.66  0.8  0.9
= 0.5 t
Production per hour in tonne : 0.5  28 = 14 t

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Coal produced per round of blasting in each face would be around 16 tonne and SDL will take
about 1 hr 10 min to clean the coal in each face. It is possible by staggering the different face
operations, to have one blast in each face in each shift. Considering the flitting time of 30 min.
from one face to another, SDL will be able to clear three faces in each shift.

Coal obtained per blast 16 t

Production per SDL per shift 48 t
Production per shift with 3 SDLs deployed in a district: 48  3 = 144 t
Production per day : 144  3 = 432 t
Considering the operational efficiency 70%, the production per day is estimated to be 432  0.7 =
302 t (about 300 t).

Example of depillaring operation by LHD in Kedla colliery (BCCL)

The geo-mining parameters of the panel are as follows:
 Seam thickness 3.1 m
 Seam gradient 1 in 8
 Height of gallery 3.2 m
 Width of gallery 4.5 m
 Pillar size 24 m  22 m
 Width of the panel 5 pillars

Proposed method of depillaring

Each pillar is divided into two halves by driving a level gallery of 4.5 m wide. Splitting
operation is done by solid blasting and will be kept in advance, maximum two pillars ahead of the
pillar under extraction. Each pillar is extracted by driving a dip slice of 3.4 m width and leaving a
rib of coal of 2.1 m. The rib is taken judiciously during retreat. Slice is extracted in each pillar
diagonally to restrict the area of roof exposed to a safe limit. LHD loads the blasted coal from the
slice / spilt onto a medium duty chain conveyor of about 100 m long. The coal flows to a dip rise
conveyor and then to one tonne coal tubs. The coal tubs will be taken outbye by the endless
haulages (Fig. 5).

Fig. 5 Method of Depillaring by Using LHD Machine

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The detail production parameters are as follows:

Coal per blast:
Width of the split: 3.4 m
Pull per blast 1.0 m
Sp. Gravity of coal 1.5
Average seam thickness 2.5 m
Coal produced per blast 12.75 t

Time cycle of LHD operation

Load carrying speed: 4 kmph = 67 m/min
Empty speed 6 kmph = 100 m/min
Average lead 100 m
Travel time for to and fro movement 3 min
Loading and unloading time 1 min
Time for one cycle 4 min
No. of cycles per hour 15
Tonnage hauled per cycle (0.8 bucket fill factor) 1.2 t
Coal hauled per haur 18 tonne

LHD productivity
Average available hours per shift 6.5 hrs
Machine available time 40% (allowing downtime due to breakdown in
machine, delay in blasting, coal evacuation system)
Production per LHD / shift 18  6.5  4 = 46.8 hrs
Production per LHD per day 46.8  3 = 140 tonne
Based on this average the district production from 3 LHDs will be around 400 t/day.

District production
Drilling time : 30 min
Charging, blasting and clearance of fumes : 30 min
Dressing and setting of supports : 30 min
Coal loading at the face : 70 min
Total cycle time : 160 min.

The Bord and Pillar method has been predominantly adopted in India for working in coal
seams. Over the years, intermediate technology with the introduction of Load-haul-Dumper (LHD)
and Side-Discharge-Loader (SDL) has been accepted as a proven technology in this country for
improving productivity in Bord and Pillar system. Both LHD and SDL machines are electro-
hydraulically operated loaders of bucket capacity ranges from 0.75 m 3 to about 3.0 m3. The LHDs
and SDLs are manufactured by many Indian companies (Eimco-Elecon, TRF Ltd.).
Factors governing the success of LHD application are:
 Moderate gradient
 Strong roof and floor
 Multi-face operation
 Good haul road condition
 Evacuation system

LHD is more productive and versatile than SDL machine. Limitations of SDL can be outlined as
follows:

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 Being fully trucked, its speed is low and having little mobility to travel from one working
place to other
 Though SDL is an independent unit, the success of SDL lies in using a chain conveyor as
an integral part of the loading system, its maximum lead distance and carrying capacity.
 Bucket capacity and bucket fill factor are low.
In spite of these limitations, SDL are becoming more popular in depillaring districts and at
comparatively steeper gradient with slushy / mucky floor where LHD cannot perform well.
Usually the production through LHD is 150 to 200 tpd and SDL is 100 to 150 tpd with the bucket
capacity of 1 m3.
To improve the production through the use of LHD and SDL machines, the following steps
may be taken:
 Proper planning for face preparation, coal preparation, transport, ventilation, organization,
maintenance set-up etc.
 Proper engineering back-up to provide workshop facilities, maintaining minimum spares at
unit level, smoother procurement process of the spares, adequate supply of spares,
developing indigenous spares.
 Persons engaged in operation and maintenance of the equipment should undergo proper
theoretical and on-line job training.
 Performance analysis of machine should be carried out regularly, like down-time study.
Routine analysis of machine wise breakdown etc.

Mechanised development by using SDL machine

Problems being faced during the loading operations are enumerated as follows:
a. Lifting of coal by SDLs near the supports is not possible as there is a risk of dislodgement
of supports; lifting of coal after puncturing the ribs is also may not be satisfactory as some
coal is being pushed into goaf by SDLs.
b. Taking floor coal before laying chain conveyor is essential; in this respect some manual
cleaning may be necessary
c. SDL may not be suitable for the gradient more than 1 in 5.

The Fig.6 shows the deployment of the machine. The coal is won by solid blasting and loaded
by SDL on scraper chain conveyor. The chain conveyor loads the coal on gathering chain
conveyors which in turn feeds the coal on district gate belt conveyor. The flitting distance of the
SDL machine should be kept minimum limited to half the pillar distance. As shown in Fig. 6 the
chain conveyor should be placed on one side of the roadway so as to permit free movement of the
machine and avoid crossing of the conveyor as far as possible. When necessary, machine crosses
the chain conveyor by dumping a few buckets of coal on either side and makes a sort of bridge by
putting wooden sleepers across the chain conveyor.

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Fig. 6 Use of SDL machine in Bord and Pillar Development Area

The machines deployed in one SDL panel

a. Gate belt conveyors for a length of 450 m
b. SDL machines 2 nos.
c. Light duty chain conveyor 7 nos.
d. Coal drill with panel 3 nos.
e. Transformer 250 kVA, 3.3 kV/550 V

The SDL panel is being developed along the strike. The panel is eight headings panel.
Gradient of the seam 1 in 5.5
Average thickness of the seam being worked by SDL 4.5 m
Average width of the gallery 4.0 m
Average height of the gallery 2.5 M
Pillar size 25 m  25 m
Width of the panel 175 m

Specification of the equipment deployed for development

Side Discharge Loader

Eimco Elecon, Model 625 B
Bucket capacity 0.6 tonne
Motor power 47 kW
Flitting speed 2.5 kmph
Average bucket fill factor 0.7
Bucket fill factor in watery condition 0.4 to 0.5
Average time for cleaning of face (4.5 m  2.4 m)

Light duty chain conveyor

Instantaneous capacity 100 tph
Average output 60 tph
Scraper chain speed 0.6 m/s
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Drive 2  15 h.p (1440 rpm)

Gear ratio 30 : 1
Maximum inclination 180
Maximum length 100 m
O.M.S 2.9 to 3.0

Mechanised development by using LHD machine

In development districts where the face is moving fast it is very difficult to maintain the
chain conveyor extended right upto the face. Mechanisation of face loading by LHD does not
require the chain conveyor extended right upto the face. Therefore, LHD is the ideal machine and
should be deployed in development district. LHD machine is suitable for deployment in coal seams
having seam thickness of 2.4 m and above. Figure 7 shows the general layout of LHD district
being worked at the mine. Development panel consists of 6 headings is being formed. A panel
consists of 5 square pillars of size 22.5 m center to center. The headings of 4.8 m width are being
driven by solid blasting. Coal is loaded by LHD on to the chain conveyor. The chain conveyor
transfers the coal to the gathering chain conveyor that in turn transfers the coal to the gate belt
conveyor. The production during development from a panel is as below:
Width of the heading 4.8 m
Average height of seam 2.75 m
No. of headings 6
No. of faces available 7
Average advance per round of blast 1.4 m
No. of blasts per face per shift 1
Sp. Gravity of coal 1.4
Production per panel per day 4.8  2.75  7  1.4  1  1.4  3
= 545 tonne
No. of LHD machine 3
The average daily production achieved during proper working of machine is 400 tonne. Each LHD
handles around 50 tonne coal per shift.

Fig. 7 Use of LHD machine in Bord and Pillar Development Area

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Machines deployed in LHD panel

Gate belt conveyor 1

LHD 3
LDCC 3
Coal drill with panel 3
Transformer 250 kVA, 3.3 kV / 550 V 1

Technical data of LHD machine

Model 811 E
Motor 40 hp
Bucket capacity 0.7 m3

Chain conveyor
The length of the chain conveyor is 100 m. In actual practice the length is kept to 3 pillars, i.e. up
to 60 m which resulted in less chain breakdown
The other technical data of chain conveyor are same as that of used in SDL panel.

Suggested conveyor extension and shifting

The face chain conveyor should be extended after every half pillar when SDL is used in in
depillaring operation. These extension should be done in one level when the side discharge loader
is loading the coal in other level so that the operation of SDL is not effected. The shifting of the
MDCC and the extension of the belt conveyor should be done after an advance of every three
pillars and it should be planned in such a manner that it falls on a rest day. The dismantling and
erection of the MDCC and the extension of the belt conveyor should be completed on the same
day. For easy maneuverability of SDL, the level faces should be kept always in advance by about
by 3 m from the tail end of the conveyor.

Benefit from the use of SDL and LHD

With the introduction of SDL and LHD, the coal loading activity, which is normally about
43% of the total cycle time of the manual loading is reduced by 50% resulting in the quicker
evacuation of coal, more number of cycles per shift, better utilization of faces and quicker
development of the panel. The total manpower requirement is also reduced by about 70% as
compared to the persons deployed in manual loading. Because of the quick evacuation of coal by
SDL, the freshly exposed roof is not left unsupported for a longer span of time thus helping the
management in their plans of strata control. The overall productivity is increased from 1.8 tonne
(OMS) in case of manual loading to 2.8 to 3.0 (OMS) by using loaders.

Problems associated with SDL and LHD machines

The major breakdown associated with these machines was in regard to hydraulic system.
Various operational problems related to LHD and SDL are enumerated below:
i. Excessive heating of oil resulting in
a. disintegration of oil and sludge formation
b. failure of hydraulic cylinders
c. sluggishness of traction
d. deformation of all rubber parts like oil seals, o-rings etc.

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ii. There has been often failure, affecting spooling of trailing cable causing unwarranted
damage to the cable
iii. Time for attending the breakdown due to non-availability of spares
iv. Weakness of hoses and elbows
v. Breakdown of track parts and drive sprockets of SDL machine.

Cutting and Loading by continuous miners and transportation by shuttle cars

In USA, this method has a wide range of application in room and pillar system of mining
especially in flat seams. In recent years such machines are also working in mines of SECL.
However, cautious approach is required in adopting this technology for the following reasons:
a. Higher capital cost: It requires continuous miner and shuttle car which are of capital
intensive equipment even on the basis of per tonne of coal produced as compared to LHDs
and SDLs.
b. There is no additional advantage in percentage extraction as compared to LHD / SDL.
c. The method is highly sensitive to low capacity utilization – factor that is of considerable
importance with power failures and stoppage of work due to bad roof condition in
depillaring.
d. This type of mechanization can only be introduced in mine where adequate infrastructure is
available.
e. It requires high degree of skill on the part of maintenance and operational crew. The spares
and sub-assemblies are to be made readily available.
f. Favorable geo-mining condition like roof amenable to roof bolting, gradient less than 10 0,
coal not very hard and abrasive, and hard floor with not much of water and swelling
characteristics are required.
The development of continuous miner shown in Fig. 8 as the main underground cutter
loader in the 60s and 70s is familiar in UK because of the use of Road Header and Dint Header as
development machines and was paralleled by the development of UK road heading machine.

Fig. 8 Continuous Miner

Continuous miners cut and load coal from the headings or they can be used for the same
purpose in depillaring operations. It is a machine with large rotating steel drum equipped with
tungsten carbide teeth that scrape coal from the seam. It was first introduced in 1940s in room and
pillar mining system. The machine is designed to operate in medium hard rock upto 80 MPa
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compressive strength. In India it was first introduced in Chirimiri Anjun Hill Mine / SECL in May,
2002. In Jhanjara Project/ ECL it has achieved a record production of 6,31,770 t/year. The ability
to produce high tonnages from multiple entries whether for longwall development or room and
pillar production relies on four main predominant factors:
 The machine capacity to cut and load in an entry at the rate of 300 to 1000 tph.
 Effect mineral clearance reliably and with minimum delays.
 The provision of a fast cost effective method for roof support.
 The provision of services to support development activities to minimize or prevent
disruption to production.

Fig. 9 Four Entry Panel for continuous miner

To ensure a continuous miner can work continuously, the following equipment are needed:
 Shuttle Car
 Ramcar
 Feeder / Crusher
 Belt Conveyor

 In Fig. 9, the continuous miner is working in the number 1 entry and will advance the coal
face 6 to 12 m. The roof bolter, in this illustration is installing roof bolts in the number 4
entry. When the miner has completed mining in the number 1 entry, it will then be moved
to the number 2 entry to begin mining for the coal face. The roof bolter will then move into
the number 1 entry to begin bolting the exposed roof.
 Coal clearance is effected by three shuttle cars taking different routes between the rear of
the miner and the feeder which loads coal onto the conveyor, this ensures that for the
majority of the time a vehicle is behind the miner, the other two being in transit and
unloading.
 The sequence of mining operation from number 1 to number 4 entry will continue until the
distance advanced requires a cross cut. When mining a cross cut, the miner can cut both

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forwards and then to the side in each entry, allowing twice the volume of coal to be cut
before the miner goes to the next entry.
 Cleaning of the floor spillage from entries after the miner has been moved out of the entry
and the distribution of the roof bolts and other supplies are performed by the utility scoop.

Experience has shown that mining layouts using diagonals driven off at 300 provide the best
opportunity for high production with the continuous miners. The panels having a maximum of
seven roadways are favored. With this number of roadways, the rate of advance is reasonable and
shuttle car tramming distance can be limited to 150 m from the tail end of the belt. Continuous
miner should be kept at one place as long as practicable if high productivity is to be achieved. At
least 20 m3/s of air may be circulated through a continuous miner section. The exhausting system
of ventilation is used to ventilate place where the machine is working

Shuttle Car

The shuttle car is transport equipment which is loaded by the continuous miner to transport
coal from the miner to the crushing / feeding point. It consists of self powered, long, low car
having a chain conveyor at the bottom and is wheel mounted. The chain conveyor allows the car to
be end loaded and the contents be moved to the opposite end of the machine as loading proceeds.

Fig. 10 Shuttle Car

A typical shuttle car shown in Fig. 10 has an outside turning radius in the order of slightly less
than, and up to, 1.3 times the overall length. The capacity varies from 7 ton to 25 ton with the
vehicle height of 710 mm to 2030 mm and length 7600 mm tom 8000 mm. Generally shuttle cars
are electrically driven, powered by hydraulically reeled trailing cable supplying ac power. With ac
input, the ac/dc dual SCR drive offers the advantages of solid state switching combined with
control simplicity. The four wheel drive system is powered by two 85 kW VFD (variable

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frequency drive) AC traction motor. One of the traction motors is mounted at each side of the
shuttle car, each being directly coupled to a hydraulic pump supplying fluid power to its two,
interchangeable wheel units. The machine is four wheel drives and four wheels steer.

Feeder / Crusher

The use of feeder / crushers plays an increasingly important role in coal clearance from the
continuous miner. The shuttle car rapidly dumps coal into the hopper of the feeder / crusher.

Supporting the roof

Possibly the most significant advances in continuous mining has been associated with the
use of roof bolting techniques. Single and double boom roof bolters are available which are
suitable for all seam thickness, the later being preferred in high production continuous mining
operations where it is essential that support of the roof must match the extraction rate. Drilling is
effected by hydraulic means which ensures a constant drill thrust with the drill feed rate
determined by the hardness of the roof strata.

Quadbolter used in Jhanjra Project / ECL which is a 4 Mast truck Mounted Roof bolting
Machine

Application data

 Supply Voltage: 1100 VAC, 50 Hx, 3 phase

 Maximum recommended material hardness to be rotary drilled: 70 MPa
 Water consumption ( 2 roof bolters working): 40 to 50 lpm
 Recommended water pressure range: 0.7 to 1.2 MPa
 Bolting rate: Upto 25 bolts/hr (dependent on bolt density, meshing, chemical, strapping
and operator skill level).

Machine dimensions – Normal

 Minimum tram height: 2150 mm

 Minimum operating height: 2400 mm.
 Minimum bolting height: 4775 mm
 Minimum operating width: 3160 mm
 Maximum bolting height: 4775 mm
 Minimum operating width: 3160 mm
 Overall length: 7780 mm
 Ground clearance: 295 mm
 Gross vehicle mass: 30,000 kg

Machine dimensions- Set for high roof

 Minimum tram height: 2600 mm

 Minimum operating height: 2400 mm.

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Electricals

 Electric motor: 112 kW, 1100 V AC/ 50 Hz, 3 phase

Cable reel Configuration

 Cable reel capacity: 135 m

Bolter Configuration

 Number of bolters: 2 (1 per platform)

 Maxm. Bolter reach: 4775 mm (Normal); High Roof 5375 mm

Track system

 Track drive motor pressure; 21 MPa

 Maximum tramming speed: 33 m/min
 Minimum ground pressure: 98 kPa

Essential Services

Battery utility scoop which is an essential utility vehicle capable of effecting a variety of
non-production tasks, for example personal transport, cleaning up behind the continuous miner
after it has been moved to the next entry and as a supply vehicle supporting the advancing miner.

Following points to be considered to adopt this technology:

a. Higher capital cost due the continuous miner and shuttle car
b. The method is highly sensitive to low capacity utilization – factor which is considerable
importance with power failures and stoppage of work due to bad roof condition in
depillaring.
c. This type of mechanization requires adequate infrastructure
d. It requires highly skilled manpower on the part of maintenance and operational crew.
Difficulties of spares / sub-assemblies have to be reckoned with.
e. Favourable geo-mining conditions like roof amenable to roof bolting, gradients less than 15
degree, coal not very hard and abrasive, hard floor with not much water and swelling
characteristics are required.

Advantages and disadvantages of Continuous Mining

The following are some of the advantages of continuous mining
 More stable pillars and driveges are formed than when explosives are used. This may lead
to the high rate of extraction of mineral.
 Reserves that would have been difficult or impossible to extract by conventional
mechanized methods can be possibly exploited.
 Less no. of people exposed to face operations.
 Blasting and its associated dangers are removed.
 Greater flexibility exists where restricted mining has to be practiced.
 The mined product is in more convenient size for handling.

Disadvantages are as follows:

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 In the event of breakdown of the continuous miner, production from the section ceases
completely.
 Less availability of spares.
 Stone intrusions within the seam can have an adverse effect on production rates and on the
machine itself.
 Frequent movement of the continuous miner may be necessary where systematic supports
are required. This may lead to the availability of the less time for production.
 The spillage left by the continuous miner may need additional labour or equipment for
clean-up operations.

Reference
1. S C A walker, American Mining machinery, Mining technology, Sept., 1992, pp. 231 -,
236.
2. J. D. Inch, J. D. Stone, I. D. Brumby, C. J. Beukes, `The use of continuous miners in South
African Coal Mines’, Journal of South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Jan.
1980, pp. 5-9.
3. J. D. Stone, `The selection and performance of continuous miners at Malta Coal, Journal of
South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Jan. 1980, pp. 10-13.
4. I. D. Brumby, `Continuous mining within the Tavistock Group of collieries’, Journal of
South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Jan. 1980, pp. 14-18.
5. R.E. Burnton, `The application of continuous mining machines at Coalbrook Collieries’,
Journal of South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Sept. 1971, pp. 27-33.
6. Product literature of Joy Mining Equipment, USA

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