Mining Innovation

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Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

The contemporary exploitation of natural raw materials requires the execution of many interrelated exploration, access, preparatory and exploitation excavations. Presently at each stage of mining, modern computer-aided design programs are used to quickly estimate the deposit exploitation factor as well as the safety of the performed excavations. Mining is closely related to natural hazards, therefore new solutions aimed at more effective mining methods and intelligent construction materials for excavation supports and their monitoring are being sought. Managing the project along with the execution of the work schedule is necessary to complete the excavations on time. Both mechanical driving and the use of explosives require the determination of the strength, deformation and structural parameters of the rock mass in order to effectively and quickly ensure excavation. In order to best reflect the mining conditions, model tests are often performed to understand the processes occurring in industrial conditions. Laboratory and numerical tests, case studies of mining methods, cooperation of the support with the rock mass and the method of liquidation of the post-mining space are the basis for the current and future state of mining areas. In this Topic, we intend to focus on the state-of-the-art mining technology that has a particular impact in the field of mining. We hope that you will consider submitting your original manuscript for peer review to this Topic.

Prof. Dr. Krzysztof Skrzypkowski
Dr. René Gómez
Dr. Fhatuwani Sengani
Prof. Dr. Derek B. Apel
Dr. Faham Tahmasebinia
Dr. Jianhang Chen
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Applied Sciences applsci	2.5	5.3	2011	18.4 Days	CHF 2400
Minerals minerals	2.2	4.1	2011	18 Days	CHF 2400
Mining mining	-	2.8	2021	21.1 Days	CHF 1000
Sustainability sustainability	3.3	6.8	2009	19.7 Days	CHF 2400

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Published Papers (16 papers)

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22 pages, 9243 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Physical and Numerical Modeling of a Flow Control Layer Made with a Sludge and Slag Mixture for Use in Waste Rock Pile Reclamation

by Nelcy Carolina Otalora Vasquez, Abdelkabir Maqsoud and Tikou Belem

Mining 2024, 4(4), 841-862; https://doi.org/10.3390/mining4040047 - 16 Oct 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 812

Abstract

The reclamation of waste rock piles (WRPs) is complex, requiring adaptation of existing mine site reclamation techniques. An alternative approach has been developed for waste rock piles reclamation which involves installing finer materials on the top of waste rock piles. These finer layers [...] Read more.

The reclamation of waste rock piles (WRPs) is complex, requiring adaptation of existing mine site reclamation techniques. An alternative approach has been developed for waste rock piles reclamation which involves installing finer materials on the top of waste rock piles. These finer layers (flow control layers—FCLs) redirect water flowing inside the pile toward its slope and limits water infiltration into reactive waste rocks. In the context of sustainable development, a mixture material made with sludge and slag can be used as an FCL in the reclamation of a waste rock pile. To assess the effectiveness of this material, a physical model was used and instrumented with sensors for monitoring volumetric water content and suction and equipped with the following components: (1) a rain simulator; and (2) drains that allow the recovery of water that infiltrates through the system. The physical model was tested with various cover layer thicknesses, inclinations, and precipitation rates. Investigation results showed that the water infiltration across the system was very low, leading to the conclusion that the sludge and slug mixture performed well as a flow control layer in the reclamation of waste rock piles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Mining Innovation)

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19 pages, 1874 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

An AI-Based Approach for Developing a Recommendation System for Underground Mining Methods Pre-Selection

by Elsa Pansilvania Andre Manjate, Natsuo Okada, Yoko Ohtomo, Tsuyoshi Adachi, Bernardo Miguel Bene, Takahiko Arima and Youhei Kawamura

Mining 2024, 4(4), 747-765; https://doi.org/10.3390/mining4040042 - 2 Oct 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1675

Abstract

Selecting the most appropriate mining method to recover mineral resources is a critical decision-making task in mining project development. This study introduces an artificial intelligence-based mining methods recommendation system (AI-MMRS) for the pre-selection of underground mining methods. The study integrates and evaluates the [...] Read more.

Selecting the most appropriate mining method to recover mineral resources is a critical decision-making task in mining project development. This study introduces an artificial intelligence-based mining methods recommendation system (AI-MMRS) for the pre-selection of underground mining methods. The study integrates and evaluates the capability of two approaches for mining methods selection (MMS): the memory-based collaborative filtering (CF) approach aided by the UBC-MMS system to predict the top-3 relevant mining methods and supervised machine learning (ML) classification algorithms to enhance the effectiveness and novelty of the AI-MMRS, addressing the limitations of the CF approach. The results reveal that the memory-based CF approach achieves an accuracy ranging from 81.8% to 87.9%. Among the classification algorithms, artificial neural network (ANN) and k-nearest neighbors (KNN) classifiers perform the best, with accuracy levels of 66.7% and 63.6%, respectively. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness and viability of both approaches in MMS, acknowledging their limitations and the need for continuous training and optimization. The proposed AI-MMRS for the pre-selection stage supplemented by the direct involvement of mining professionals in later stages of MMS, has the potential to significantly aid in the MMS decision-making, providing data-driven and experience-based recommendations following the ongoing evolution of mining practices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Mining Innovation)

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16 pages, 10561 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Design Parameters Affecting Rill Swell Events for Block Caving Applications

by Raúl Castro, Carlos Valdés, René Gómez, Krzysztof Skrzypkowski and Krzysztof Zagórski

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(18), 8545; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14188545 - 23 Sep 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 897

Abstract

Rill swell (RS) events are outflows of dry, fine-grained material mainly observed at drawpoints in cave mining. These events can negatively affect production and have fatal consequences. Unfortunately, comprehensive studies analyzing these events are lacking. This paper uses the discrete element method to [...] Read more.

Rill swell (RS) events are outflows of dry, fine-grained material mainly observed at drawpoints in cave mining. These events can negatively affect production and have fatal consequences. Unfortunately, comprehensive studies analyzing these events are lacking. This paper uses the discrete element method to study RS events. With this method, a numerical model was constructed and calibrated based on an RS event recorded in Ridgeway Deeps Block Cave. Drawpoint geometries, material properties, and the initial mass of the fine material were then analyzed. The results show that both the brow beam height and drawpoint width had a noticeable influence on the RS magnitude, mainly on the tonnage of the flow and the distance reached by coarse particles dragged into the extraction drift. While the mass of fine material is crucial to the magnitude of RS events, results suggest that narrowing drawpoint width and/or increasing brow beam height can mitigate the impact of RS events. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Mining Innovation)

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21 pages, 6032 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Experimental Investigation into Deploying a Wi-Fi6 Mesh System for Underground Gold and Platinum Mine Stopes

by Brenton Lloyd Chetty, Tom Mmbasu Walingo, Carel Phillip Kruger and Sherrin John Isaac

Mining 2024, 4(3), 567-587; https://doi.org/10.3390/mining4030032 - 17 Aug 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1156

Abstract

Stopes suffer from unreliable wireless communication due to their harsh environment. There is a lack of confidence within industry regarding the effectiveness of existing solutions in providing reliable high-bandwidth performance in hard rock stopes. This work proposes that Wi-Fi6 is a good candidate [...] Read more.

Stopes suffer from unreliable wireless communication due to their harsh environment. There is a lack of confidence within industry regarding the effectiveness of existing solutions in providing reliable high-bandwidth performance in hard rock stopes. This work proposes that Wi-Fi6 is a good candidate for reliable high-bandwidth communications in underground hard rock stopes. Experiments in a tunnel and mine stope were conducted to evaluate the performance of Wi-Fi6 in terms of latency, jitter, and throughput. Different criteria, such as multi-hop systems, varying multipath, mesh routing protocols, and frequencies at different bandwidths, were used to evaluate performance. The results show that Wi-Fi6 performance is greater in stopes compared to tunnels. Signal quality evaluations were conducted using the Asus RT-AX53U running OpenWrt, and an additional experiment was conducted on the nrf7002dk running Zephyr OS to evaluate the power consumption of Wi-Fi6 against the industry standard for low-powered wireless communications, IEEE 802.15.4. Wi-Fi6 was found to be more power-efficient than IEEE 802.15.4 for Mbps communications. These experiments highlight the signal robustness of Wi-Fi6 in stope environments and also highlights its low-powered nature. This work also highlights the performance of the two most widely used open-source mesh routing protocols for Wi-Fi. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Mining Innovation)

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21 pages, 5639 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Improved Multi-Objective Beluga Whale Optimization Algorithm for Truck Scheduling in Open-Pit Mines

by Pengchao Zhang, Xiang Liu, Zebang Yi and Qiuzhi He

Sustainability 2024, 16(16), 6939; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16166939 - 13 Aug 2024

Viewed by 1662

Abstract

Big data and artificial intelligence have promoted mining innovation and sustainable development, and the transportation used in open-pit mining has increasingly incorporated unmanned driving, real-time information sharing, and intelligent algorithm applications. However, the traditional manual scheduling used for mining transportation often prioritizes output [...] Read more.

Big data and artificial intelligence have promoted mining innovation and sustainable development, and the transportation used in open-pit mining has increasingly incorporated unmanned driving, real-time information sharing, and intelligent algorithm applications. However, the traditional manual scheduling used for mining transportation often prioritizes output over efficiency and quality, resulting in high operational expenses, traffic jams, and long lines. In this study, a novel scheduling model with multi-objective optimization was created to overcome these problems. Production, demand, ore grade, and vehicle count were the model’s constraints. The optimization goals were to minimize the shipping cost, total waiting time, and ore grade deviation. An enhanced multi-objective beluga whale optimization (IMOBWO) algorithm was implemented in the model. The algorithm’s superior performance was demonstrated in ten test functions, as well as the IEEE 30-bus system. It was enhanced by optimizing the population initialization, improving the adaptive factor, and adding dynamic domain perturbation. The case analysis showed that, in comparison to the other three conventional multi-objective algorithms, IMOBWO reduced the shipping cost from 7.65 to 0.84%, the total waiting time from 35.7 to 7.54%, and the ore grade deviation from 14.8 to 3.73%. The implementation of this algorithm for truck scheduling in open-pit mines increased operational efficiency, decreased operating costs, and advanced intelligent mine construction and transportation systems. These factors play a significant role in the safety, profitability, and sustainability of open-pit mines. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Mining Innovation)

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13 pages, 3950 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Numerical Methods as an Aid in the Selection of Roof Bolting Systems for Access Excavations Located at Different Depths in the LGCB Mines

by Daniel Pawelus and Jan Butra

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(16), 7052; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14167052 - 12 Aug 2024

Viewed by 957

Abstract

The values of primary stresses are not allowed for as a criterion in the selection of roof bolting systems in mining excavations located at various depths in Polish copper ore mines. Therefore, in order to ensure enduring and safe operation of excavations, in [...] Read more.

The values of primary stresses are not allowed for as a criterion in the selection of roof bolting systems in mining excavations located at various depths in Polish copper ore mines. Therefore, in order to ensure enduring and safe operation of excavations, in particular, those driven in unfavourable geological and mining conditions, this problem has required solutions based on numerical methods. This article presents an example of applying numerical simulations to the evaluation of the stability of headings in Polish copper ore mines. The analyses included mining excavations located at various depths in the rock mass. This issue is of great importance, as safety regulations are prioritised in mining excavations which remain in operation even for several decades. The stability of the headings was evaluated with the use of the RS2 specialist numerical simulation software. This computer program uses the finite element method (FEM) for calculations. The rock parameters used in the numerical models have been determined on the basis of the Hoek–Brown classification. For that purpose, the RocLab 1.0 software was used. The parameters of the stress field were identified from the profile of the GG-1 shaft with the assumed hydrostatic state of stress. The numerical modelling was performed in a triaxial stress state and in a plane strain state. The numerical analyses were based on the Mohr–Coulomb failure criterion. The rock medium was described with the elastic-plastic model with softening (roof and walls) and with the elastic-plastic model (floor). The results of the numerical analyses served to provide an example of the application of a roof bolting system to protect headings located at the depths of 1000 m b.g.l. and 1300 m b.g.l. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Mining Innovation)

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21 pages, 3596 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Metallurgical Copper Recovery Prediction Using Conditional Quantile Regression Based on a Copula Model

by Heber Hernández, Martín Alberto Díaz-Viera, Elisabete Alberdi, Aitor Oyarbide-Zubillaga and Aitor Goti

Minerals 2024, 14(7), 691; https://doi.org/10.3390/min14070691 - 1 Jul 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1617

Abstract

This article proposes a novel methodology for estimating metallurgical copper recovery, a critical feature in mining project evaluations. The complexity of modeling this nonadditive variable using geostatistical methods due to low sampling density, strong heterotopic relationships with other measurements, and nonlinearity is highlighted. [...] Read more.

This article proposes a novel methodology for estimating metallurgical copper recovery, a critical feature in mining project evaluations. The complexity of modeling this nonadditive variable using geostatistical methods due to low sampling density, strong heterotopic relationships with other measurements, and nonlinearity is highlighted. As an alternative, a copula-based conditional quantile regression method is proposed, which does not rely on linearity or additivity assumptions and can fit any statistical distribution. The proposed methodology was evaluated using geochemical log data and metallurgical testing from a simulated block model of a porphyry copper deposit. A highly heterotopic sample was prepared for copper recovery, sampled at 10% with respect to other variables. A copula-based nonparametric dependence model was constructed from the sample data using a kernel smoothing method, followed by the application of a conditional quantile regression for the estimation of copper recovery with chalcocite content as secondary variable, which turned out to be the most related. The accuracy of the method was evaluated using the remaining 90% of the data not included in the model. The new methodology was compared to cokriging placed under the same conditions, using performance metrics RMSE, MAE, MAPE, and R². The results show that the proposed methodology reproduces the spatial variability of the secondary variable without the need for a variogram model and improves all evaluation metrics compared to the geostatistical method. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Mining Innovation)

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22 pages, 3439 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Determination of the Ground Reaction Curve for an Elasto-Plasto-Fractured Rock Mass

by Paweł Kamiński, Aleksandra Otto, Piotr Dawidziuk, Leszek Malinowski, Kinga Stecuła and Artur Dyczko

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(13), 5409; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14135409 - 21 Jun 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1360

Abstract

Polish National Standards for underground excavation support design outline the deformational pressure model for assessing loads acting on the support systems of deep underground excavations. They distinguish two different rock mass models, highlighting the pivotal role of the critical longitudinal strain of the [...] Read more.

Polish National Standards for underground excavation support design outline the deformational pressure model for assessing loads acting on the support systems of deep underground excavations. They distinguish two different rock mass models, highlighting the pivotal role of the critical longitudinal strain of the rock mass in appropriate model selection. A comparison between the design method given by Polish Standards and the widely recognized convergence–confinement method, consisting of a ground reaction curve (GRC), longitudinal displacement profile (LDP), and support characteristics curve (SCC), reveals the advantages of the latter in capturing the three-dimensional nature of underground excavations. The following study presents a method for establishing a GRC curve for the elasto-plasto-fractured rock mass model, featured in Polish Standards, demonstrating its applicability through analyses of a typical circular roadway under varying rock mass conditions. Practical implications are discussed, including the design of yielding steel arches as the primary support system and the calculation of safety factors for both the support system and the surrounding rock mass, considered as a natural support component. Overall, the study contributes to a deeper understanding of the actions of rock masses in the vicinity of excavations located at great depths. Furthermore, it provides practical insights for engineering applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Mining Innovation)

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25 pages, 37789 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Floor Heave Control in Gob-Side Entry Retaining by Pillarless Coal Mining with Anti-Shear Pile Technology

by Ivan Sakhno, Svitlana Sakhno, Krzysztof Skrzypkowski, Oleksandr Isaienkov, Krzysztof Zagórski and Anna Zagórska

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(12), 4992; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14124992 - 7 Jun 2024

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1258

Abstract

The severe floor heave in gob-side entry retaining is the major restriction factor of the wide application of pillarless mining thin coal seams. Reinforcement and stress-relief floor heave control methods are the most promising. However, in practice, floor restoration is widely used. Therefore, [...] Read more.

The severe floor heave in gob-side entry retaining is the major restriction factor of the wide application of pillarless mining thin coal seams. Reinforcement and stress-relief floor heave control methods are the most promising. However, in practice, floor restoration is widely used. Therefore, floor heave control technology in gob-side entry retaining needs to be improved. This study proposes anti-shear pile technology to control floor heave in gob-side entry retaining. The research was mainly carried out by numerical simulation. It was found that the transformation of high vertical stresses in the entry floor underneath the filling wall and coal seam body into horizontal stresses starts the floor heave process. The vertical dilatancy of rocks under the roadway span and their subsequent unloading lead to the delamination of the floor strata and uplift of the entry contour. In this paper, the best pile installation scheme was found. It is a 2pile 5+2 scheme with the installation of two piles, each 2 m long. After that, it was shown that filling piles are more than 3.3 times cheaper than comparable analogs, and pile installation is less labor-intensive. The implementation of the proposed floor heave control method leads to a reduction in heaving by 2.47 times. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Mining Innovation)

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19 pages, 56938 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Reinforcement Learning Based Speed Control with Creep Rate Constraints for Autonomous Driving of Mining Electric Locomotives

by Ying Li, Zhencai Zhu and Xiaoqiang Li

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(11), 4499; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14114499 - 24 May 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1012

Abstract

The working environment of mining electric locomotives is wet and muddy coal mine roadway. Due to low friction between the wheel and rail and insufficient utilization of creep rate, there may be idling or slipping between the wheels and rails of mining electric [...] Read more.

The working environment of mining electric locomotives is wet and muddy coal mine roadway. Due to low friction between the wheel and rail and insufficient utilization of creep rate, there may be idling or slipping between the wheels and rails of mining electric locomotives. Therefore, it is necessary to control the creep rate within a reasonable range. In this paper, the autonomous control algorithm for mining electric locomotives based on improved $\epsilon$-greedy is theoretically proven to be convergent and effective firstly. Secondly, after analyzing the contact state between the wheel and rail under wet and slippery road conditions, it is concluded that the value of creep rate is an important factor affecting the autonomous driving of mining electric locomotives. Therefore, the autonomous control method for mining electric locomotives based on creep control is proposed in this paper. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is verified through simulation. The problem of wheel slipping and idling caused by insufficient friction of mining electric locomotives in coal mining environments is effectively suppressed. Autonomous operation of vehicles with optimal driving efficiency can be achieved through quantitative control and utilization of the creep rate between wheels and rails. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Mining Innovation)

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21 pages, 6981 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Numerical Simulation of Air–Water–Flake Graphite Triple-Phase Flow Field in a Homemade Double-Nozzle Jet Micro-Bubble Generator

by Xing Dong, Chenhao Guo, Deqiang Peng and Yun Jiang

Minerals 2024, 14(6), 533; https://doi.org/10.3390/min14060533 - 22 May 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1202

Abstract

The essential part of the flake graphite flotation apparatus is a micro-bubble generator. Developing a micro-bubble generator with a reasonable structure and superior self-absorption performance is crucial to improving flake graphite sorting. In this study, to realize the integrated treatment of the grinding [...] Read more.

The essential part of the flake graphite flotation apparatus is a micro-bubble generator. Developing a micro-bubble generator with a reasonable structure and superior self-absorption performance is crucial to improving flake graphite sorting. In this study, to realize the integrated treatment of the grinding and mineralization of flake graphite, the development and manufacturing of a double-nozzle jet micro-bubble generator were based on the concepts of shear-type cavitation water jets and jet pumps, among other theories. A numerical simulation of the air–water–flake graphite triple-phase flow field of the generator was conducted using the CFD method. The goal was to investigate the grinding and mineralization process of flake graphite by analyzing the distribution of the air phase’s volume percentage and the speed distribution of the air–water–flake graphite triple-phase flow field. The findings indicate that the air-phase volume percentage produced by the generator ranges from 98.3% to 99.9%, and the air-phase volume percentage is evenly distributed within the steady flow tube, achieving the mineralization function. Additionally, the flake graphite particles are dissociated from the flake graphite under the combined effect of friction shear and cavitation of the internal nozzles, thereby achieving the grinding function. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Mining Innovation)

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14 pages, 1558 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

The Development of a New Smart Evacuation Modeling Technique for Underground Mines Using Mathematical Programming

by Richard Meij, Masoud Soleymani Shishvan and Javad Sattarvand

Mining 2024, 4(1), 106-119; https://doi.org/10.3390/mining4010008 - 23 Feb 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1521

Abstract

Navigating miners during an evacuation using smart evacuation technology can significantly decrease the evacuation time of an underground mine in case of emergency hazards. This paper presents a mathematical programming model to calculate the most efficient escape path for miners as a critical [...] Read more.

Navigating miners during an evacuation using smart evacuation technology can significantly decrease the evacuation time of an underground mine in case of emergency hazards. This paper presents a mathematical programming model to calculate the most efficient escape path for miners as a critical component of smart evacuation technology. In this model, the total evacuation distance of the crew is minimized and scenarios with blocked pathways and stamina categories for the miners are simulated. The findings revealed that all the tested scenarios were technically feasible. Using the feature that filters out blocked pathways has no downsides as safer routes are calculated and there is no penalty in the computation time. This paper also discusses the social and technical issues that must be resolved before the algorithm can be implemented as an actual escape solution. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Mining Innovation)

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19 pages, 6927 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Mechanical and Microstructural Response of Iron Ore Tailings under Low and High Pressures Considering a Wide Range of Molding Characteristics

by Giovani Jordi Bruschi, Carolina Pereira Dos Santos, Hugo Carlos Scheuermann Filho, Camila da Silva Martinatto, Luana Rutz Schulz, João Paulo de Sousa Silva and Nilo Cesar Consoli

Mining 2023, 3(4), 712-730; https://doi.org/10.3390/mining3040039 - 18 Nov 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1638

Abstract

The dry stacking of filtered tailings is an option to deal with safety-related issues involving traditional slurry disposition in impoundments. Filtered tailings can be compacted to pre-define design specifications, which minimizes structural instability problems, such as those related to liquefaction. Yet, comprehending the [...] Read more.

The dry stacking of filtered tailings is an option to deal with safety-related issues involving traditional slurry disposition in impoundments. Filtered tailings can be compacted to pre-define design specifications, which minimizes structural instability problems, such as those related to liquefaction. Yet, comprehending the tailing’s response under various stress states is essential to designing any dry stacking facility properly. Thus, the present research evaluated the mechanical response of cemented and uncemented compacted filtered iron ore tailings, considering different molding characteristics related to compaction degree and molding moisture content. Therefore, a series of one-dimensional compression tests and consolidated isotropically drained triaxial tests (CID), using 300 kPa and 3000 kPa effective confining pressures, were carried out for different specimens compacted at various molding characteristics. In addition, changes in gradation owing to both compression and shearing were evaluated using sedimentation with scanning electron microscope tests. The overall results have indicated that the 3% Portland cement addition enhanced the strength and stiffness of the compacted iron ore tailings, considering the lower confining pressure. Nevertheless, the same was not evidenced for the higher confining stress. Moreover, the dry-side molded specimens were initially stiffer, and significant particle breakage did not occur owing to one-dimensional compression but only due to shearing (triaxial condition). Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Mining Innovation)

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20 pages, 5382 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Solid Backfilling Efficiency Optimization in Coal Mining: Spatiotemporal Linkage Analysis and Case Study

by Tingcheng Zong, Gaolei Zhu, Qiang Zhang, Kang Yang, Yunbo Wang, Yu Han, Haonan Lv and Jinming Cao

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(22), 12298; https://doi.org/10.3390/app132212298 - 14 Nov 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1443

Abstract

In coal mining, solid backfilling technology is widely used. However, its efficiency is seriously hindered by the following two factors. Firstly, the process flow of the solid backfilling operation is more complicated in the back, and the spatiotemporal linkage (SPL) between actions of [...] Read more.

In coal mining, solid backfilling technology is widely used. However, its efficiency is seriously hindered by the following two factors. Firstly, the process flow of the solid backfilling operation is more complicated in the back, and the spatiotemporal linkage (SPL) between actions of the cylinders powering each support and between hydraulic supports in the whole face lacks continuity. Secondly, the coal mining process in the front has a higher level of intelligence and technical maturity than the backfilling operation in the back, the latter permanently staying behind the former. To this end, the present study investigates the SPL of the mining and backfilling operations for single supports in the working and whole faces. The SPL of cylinder actions is analyzed for intelligent backfilling using hydraulic supports. We also investigate the SPL of the positions of each piece of key equipment involved in different steps of intelligent backfilling in the whole face. Formulas are derived for calculating the time required to complete the cyclic hydraulic support movement–discharge–filling operation for single supports and the whole face. The key factors influencing the time required to complete a hydraulic support movement–discharge–filling cycle are analyzed. On this basis, a backfilling efficiency optimization scheme is proposed. It envisages reducing the number of tampings and time gaps in actions of single supports and cylinders, increasing the number of hydraulic supports in parallel operation, and intelligent upgrading of the backfilling operation. These findings help synchronize coal mining and backfilling operations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Mining Innovation)

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18 pages, 7848 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Autonomous Process Execution Control Algorithms of Solid Intelligent Backfilling Technology: Development and Numerical Testing

by Tingcheng Zong, Fengming Li, Qiang Zhang, Zhongliang Sun and Haonan Lv

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(21), 11704; https://doi.org/10.3390/app132111704 - 26 Oct 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1123

Abstract

This paper analyzes the typical technical problems arising from dumping and tamping collision interferences in the working faces of conventional mechanized solid backfilling mining (SBM). Additionally, the technical and consecutive characteristics of the solid intelligent backfilling (SIB) method, the execution device, and the [...] Read more.

This paper analyzes the typical technical problems arising from dumping and tamping collision interferences in the working faces of conventional mechanized solid backfilling mining (SBM). Additionally, the technical and consecutive characteristics of the solid intelligent backfilling (SIB) method, the execution device, and the corresponding process categories of the SIB process are analyzed. A design for an SIB process flow is presented. Critical algorithms, including automatic recognition and optimization planning based on the cost function and laying the algorithm foundation, are proposed to develop a backfilling process control system. A joint simulation test system is built on a MATLAB/Simulink simulation toolkit (MSST) to simulate and test the optimized algorithms. The results show that the optimized algorithm can realize the automatic optimization planning and automatic interference-recognition adjustment of the backfilling process under actual engineering conditions. In conclusion, this paper analyzes typical technical problems in the conventional backfilling process, designs the SIB process flow, and develops key algorithms to achieve the automatic control of the backfilling process. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Mining Innovation)

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19 pages, 2267 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Carbon Emission Prediction Model for the Underground Mining Stage of Metal Mines

by Gaofeng Ren, Wei Wang, Wenbo Wu, Yong Hu and Yang Liu

Sustainability 2023, 15(17), 12738; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151712738 - 23 Aug 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3324

Abstract

At present, the carbon emissions in China’s metal mining industry can be calculated based on the amount of energy consumed in the mining process. However, it is still difficult to predict the carbon emissions before implementation of mining engineering. There are no effective [...] Read more.

At present, the carbon emissions in China’s metal mining industry can be calculated based on the amount of energy consumed in the mining process. However, it is still difficult to predict the carbon emissions before implementation of mining engineering. There are no effective approaches that could reasonably estimate the amount of carbon emissions before mining. To this end, based on the ‘Top–down’ carbon emission accounting method recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), this study proposes a model to predict the greenhouse gases emitted in seven carbon-intensive mining stages, namely, drilling, blasting, ventilation, drainage, air compression, transportation, and backfilling. The contribution of this model is to enable a prediction of the accumulation of greenhouse gases based on the mining preliminary design of mine, rather than on the consumption of energy and materials commonly used in recent research. It also establishes the amount of carbon emissions generated by mining per unit cubic meter of ore rock as the minimum calculation unit for carbon emissions, which allows for the cost and footprint of carbon emissions in the mining process to become clearer. Then, a gold–copper mine is involved as a case study, and the greenhouse gas emissions were predicted employing its preliminary design. Among all the predicted results, the carbon emissions from air compression and ventilation are larger than others, reaching 22.00 kg CO₂/m³ and 10.10 kg CO₂/m³, respectively. By contrast, the carbon emissions of rock drilling, drainage, and backfilling material pumping are 5.87 kg CO₂/m³, 6.80 kg CO₂/m³, and 7.79 kg CO₂/m³, respectively. To validate the proposed model, the calculation results are compared with the actual energy consumption data of the mine. The estimated overall relative error is only 5.08%. The preliminary predictions of carbon emissions and carbon emission costs in mining before mineral investment were realized, thus helping mining companies to reduce their investment risk. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Mining Innovation)

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