In the heart of China’s coal mining industry, a technological revolution is underway, promising to reshape the future of coal extraction and energy production. At the forefront of this innovation is Chuanming Zhang, a researcher from Shandong Xinjulong Energy Co., Ltd., who has spearheaded a groundbreaking project that could redefine safety, efficiency, and sustainability in coal mining.
The challenge Zhang and his team tackled is a familiar one in the industry: the complexities of supplying power and fluids to super-long strike fully mechanized caving faces. Traditional methods involve mobile equipment that follows the mining progress, a system fraught with safety risks and operational inefficiencies. “The traditional approach involves a large number of mobile train equipment, posing significant safety risks and management challenges,” Zhang explains. “It’s a system that’s not conducive to our long-term goals of safe production, personnel reduction, and consumption reduction.”
To address these issues, Zhang’s team developed a remote intelligent fluid supply and power supply technology. The project, detailed in a recent paper published in Meitan kexue jishu (translated as Coal Science and Technology), focuses on two main components: a long-distance frequency conversion drive for scraper conveyors and an intelligent long-distance integrated liquid supply system.
The first component involves the use of high-voltage, explosion-proof combined frequency converters. These devices enable heavy-load soft starts for scraper conveyor motors, reducing mechanical wear and extending equipment life. The second component is an integrated liquid supply system that uses high-pressure, large-flow intelligent emulsion pump stations and multi-stage filtration systems. This system supplies high-pressure emulsion and clean water to hydraulic supports, significantly enhancing operational efficiency and safety.
The implementation of this technology in the 2305 working face of Xin Julong Coal Mine has already shown promising results. “The successful implementation of this project has played a significant guiding and exemplary role in the design of long-distance liquid supply and power supply systems for new working faces,” Zhang notes. The technology has the potential to reduce safety accidents, cut down on equipment maintenance costs, and extend the service life of mining equipment.
The commercial implications of this research are vast. For the energy sector, this technology could lead to more efficient and safer coal mining operations, reducing downtime and operational costs. It also aligns with global trends towards automation and remote operation in hazardous industries. “This technology can be widely promoted and applied in coal mining faces of the same industry,” Zhang asserts, highlighting the potential for widespread adoption.
As the energy sector continues to evolve, innovations like Zhang’s remote intelligent fluid supply and power supply technology will be crucial in driving progress. By addressing long-standing challenges in coal mining, this technology paves the way for safer, more efficient, and sustainable energy production. The future of coal mining is here, and it’s intelligent, remote, and more efficient than ever before.
