Chapter 15
LONGWALL MINING
By G W Mitchell, Manager Underground Strategy and Development, BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance Pty Ltd
INTRODUCTION
6LQFHWKHHGLWLRQRI0RQRJUDSKZDVSXEOLVKHG
PHFKDQLVHG ORQJZDOO PLQLQJ KDV FRQWLQXHG WR HYROYH
3RVLWLYH FKDQJHV KDYH EHHQ DFKLHYHG LQ PDQ\ DUHDV
LQFOXGLQJ KHDOWK DQG VDIHW\ SURGXFWLRQ OHYHOV
SURGXFWLYLW\ XQLWFRVWVDQGWRWDORSHUDWLQJFRVWV7KHVH
LPSURYHPHQWVKDYHQRWDOZD\VEHHQVXFFHVVIXODWHYHU\
PLQH WKDW KDV XWLOLVHG ORQJZDOO PLQLQJ WHFKQLTXHV LQ
$XVWUDOLD0DQ\LPSURYHPHQWVKDYHDWWLPHVEHHQKDUG
ZRQ WKURXJK GHGLFDWHG DSSOLFDWLRQ DQG SHUVHYHUDQFH
E\ PLQHUV WUDGHVSHRSOH VXSHUYLVRUV SURGXFWLRQ DQG
PDLQWHQDQFH VWDII PLQH PDQDJHUV DQG HTXLSPHQW
VXSSOLHUV $ ZLGH YDULHW\ RI JHRWHFKQLFDO FRQVXOWDQWV
DQG PRUH UHFHQWO\ UHVHDUFKHUV IURP RUJDQLVDWLRQV OLNH
WKH &6,52 DQG &5& 0LQLQJ KDYH DVVLVWHG $SDUW
IURP PXFK QHHGHG LPSURYHPHQWV LQ KHDOWK DQG VDIHW\
SURWDELOLW\ DQG UHWXUQ RQ FDSLWDO KDYH DOVR LPSURYHG
+LJKHU SURGXFWLRQ UDWHV DQG SURGXFWLYLW\ OHYHOV KDYH
EHHQ DFKLHYHG GXH WR WKH VXFFHVVIXO LPSOHPHQWDWLRQ RI
FKDQJHVDVVRFLDWHGZLWKQHZDQGVRPHWLPHVLQQRYDWLYH
WHFKQLTXHVDQGHTXLSPHQW
6KRUWZDOOPLQLQJXVLQJFRQWLQXRXVPLQHUVGLVFXVVHGE\
WKHORQJWHUPWUHQGRIORZHUUHDOWHUPFRPPRGLW\SULFHV
/RQJZDOOUHWUHDWPLQLQJKDVWUDGLWLRQDOO\SURGXFHGFRDO
XVLQJ WZR PHWKRGV ELGLUHFWLRQDO DQG XQLGLUHFWLRQDO
PLQLQJF\FOHV7KHXVHRIELGLUHFWLRQDOFXWWLQJKDVDOZD\V
EHHQVHHQDVPRUHSURGXFWLYHRQORQJHUIDFHV+RZHYHU
DV VKHDUHU SRZHU DQG KDXODJH VSHHGV KDYH LQFUHDVHG
WKLFNHU VHDPV KDYH EHHQ WDUJHWHG DQG HQYLURQPHQWDO
FRQVLGHUDWLRQV LQFUHDVH XQLGLUHFWLRQDO FXWWLQJ KDV
EHFRPH PRUH FRPSHWLWLYH DQG FDQ EH PRUH SURGXFWLYH
WKDQELGLUHFWLRQDOFXWWLQJ
,Q WKH GHVLJQ VSHFLFDWLRQ DQG PDQXIDFWXUHRI D VHWRI
ORQJZDOOHTXLSPHQWWKHFRQFHSWWKDWWKHHTXLSPHQWPXVW
EHGHVLJQHGWRIXQFWLRQDVDQLQWHJUDWHGZKROHVKRXOGEH
DQLQLWLDODQGFRQWLQXLQJJRDO,WLVQRWVDWLVIDFWRU\WRVHOHFW
LWHPVIURPWKHYDULRXVFDWHJRULHVRIHTXLSPHQWDQGWKHQ
DVVHPEOHWKHPWRJHWKHULQWKHKRSHRIFRPSDWLELOLW\
7KHRQJRLQJDSSOLFDWLRQRIQHZWHFKQRORJ\FRXSOHGZLWK
HQKDQFHGRSHUDWLQJPHWKRGVZLOOHQVXUHWKDW$XVWUDOLDQ
RSHUDWLRQVUHPDLQZRUOGFODVV
+HGOH\KDVQRZFHDVHGWREHXWLOLVHGLQWKHFRDO
LQGXVWU\LQ$XVWUDOLD/RZHUWKDQDFFHSWDEOHSURGXFWLRQ
OHYHOVDQGKLJKSURGXFWLRQFRVWVPDNHWKLVPLQLQJPHWKRG
XQSURWDEOH5LVNOHYHOVVXUURXQGLQJKHDOWKDQGVDIHW\WR
IDFH RSHUDWRUV  PDLQO\ DVVRFLDWHG ZLWK JHRWHFKQLFDO
LVVXHVOLNHVRIWDQGORZVWUHQJWKJURXQGODUJHSURSIUHH
IURQW DQG KLJK FDQRS\ DVSHFW UDWLRV WKDW FRQWULEXWHG WR
SRRUOHYHOVRISURGXFWLRQDQGSURGXFWLYLW\DQGORZOHYHOV
RIFRQGHQFHIURPPDQDJHPHQWZHUHWKHPDLQUHDVRQV
IRULWVGHPLVH
/RQJZDOO PLQLQJ ZLOO UHPDLQ WKH SULQFLSDO H[WUDFWLRQ
PHWKRG IRU XQGHUJURXQG PLQHV LQ $XVWUDOLD LQ WKH
IRUHVHHDEOHIXWXUH7KLFNVHDPUHVHUYHVZLWKKLJKTXDOLW\
FRDO DW VKDOORZ GHSWK DQG EHQLJQ JHRORJLFDO FRQGLWLRQV
ZLOO EH SUHIHUHQWLDOO\ WDUJHWHG WR NHHS FRVWV ORZ DQG
RXWSXW KLJK WKHUHE\ SURYLGLQJ RSWLPLVHG EHQHWV WR
VKDUHKROGHUV
0HFKDQLVHG ORQJZDOO PLQLQJ LV HYHU FKDQJLQJ DQG
HYROYLQJ ZLWK QHZ WHFKQLTXHV WHFKQRORJ\ HTXLSPHQW
IDFH PDQDJHPHQW SUDFWLFHV DQG V\VWHPV DSSHDULQJ DV
D GLUHFW PHDQV WR FRQWLQXDOO\ LPSURYH DOO DVSHFWV RI
RSHUDWLRQDO DQG QDQFLDO SHUIRUPDQFH &RQWLQXHG IRFXV
RQ WKHVH FULWLFDO DVSHFWV LPSOHPHQWDWLRQ RI SURFHVV
LPSURYHPHQWV DQG RQJRLQJ GHYHORSPHQW RI DXWRPDWLRQ
ZLOOVHHFULWLFDOSHUIRUPDQFHLQGLFDWRUVUHODWLQJWRORQJZDOO
PLQLQJ IXUWKHU LPSURYH 7KLV ZLOO PDNH WKH$XVWUDOLDQ
XQGHUJURXQGLQGXVWU\LQFUHDVLQJO\YLDEOHLQWKHIDFHRI
340 &KDSWHU
ROOF SUPPORTS
,QSUHSDULQJDWHFKQLFDOVSHFLFDWLRQDQGVFRSHRIZRUN
IRU WKH URRI VXSSRUWV DV SDUW RI LQWURGXFLQJ D ORQJZDOO
PLQLQJV\VWHPRUSXUFKDVLQJDUHSODFHPHQWDWKRURXJK
GHVLJQUHYLHZRIDOOGRFXPHQWDWLRQVKRXOGEHXQGHUWDNHQ
ERWK SULRU WR DQG SRVW WKH WHQGHULQJ SKDVH :KLOH WKLV
UHYLHZ SURFHVV VRXQGV TXLWH D ORJLFDO DQG VHQVLEOH
DSSURDFK WR FRPSOHWLQJ D WKRURXJK DQDO\VLV SHUKDSV
LGHDOO\ LQFOXGLQJ DQ LQGHSHQGHQW FRQVXOWDQWV WHFKQLFDO
UHYLHZLWWDNHVDFRQVLGHUDEOHDPRXQWRIWLPH4XLWHRIWHQ
DQLQDGHTXDWHDPRXQWRIWLPHLVDOORFDWHGLQWKHSURMHFW
VFKHGXOHWRFRPSOHWLQJWKLVHVVHQWLDOZRUN&RQVHTXHQWO\
WKHGHFLVLRQWRVHOHFWLVUXVKHG7KHULVNVDQGLPSOLFDWLRQV
RIIDLOLQJWRHPSOR\DTXDOLW\PDQDJHPHQWDSSURDFKRU
DVLPSOHWHFKQLTXHLQYROYLQJDSODQGRFKHFNDQGDFW
SURFHVVLVQRWIXOO\XQGHUVWRRG7KHVHOHFWLRQWHDPQHHGV
WRXQGHUVWDQGWKHLUUDWLRQDOHIRUWKHURRIVXSSRUWGHVLJQ
DQG ORRN DW KRZ WKH WHFKQLFDO FKRLFHV WKDW DUH PDGH
ZLOO LPSDFW RQ WKH FDSLWDO DQG RSHUDWLQJ FRVW RXWFRPHV
LQLQFUHPHQWDOWHUPVRYHUWKHWRWDOOLIHF\FOHRIWKHURRI
VXSSRUWV RSHUDWLRQ +LVWRULFDOO\ WRR PXFK DWWHQWLRQ LV
SDLGWRWKHXSIURQWFDSLWDOFRVW,QDGHTXDWHFRQVLGHUDWLRQ
LV JLYHQ WR OHDUQLQJ ZKLFK RSHUDWLRQDO RU SURGXFWLRQ
EHQHWV FDQ FRQWULEXWH WR ORZHU RSHUDWLQJ FRVWV DQG
KLJKHU SURWV &DUHIXO FKRLFH RI D EHWWHU GHVLJQHG URRI
VXSSRUWV\VWHPZLOOLPSURYHWKHVHJXUHV
5RRIVXSSRUWVHOHFWLRQVKRXOGWDNHLQWRFRQVLGHUDWLRQ
 VXSSRUWUHVLVWDQFH
 URRIDQGRRUSUHVVXUHGLVWULEXWLRQ
 FXWWLQJKHLJKWUDQJH
 FROODSVHGDQGWUDQVSRUWKHLJKW
 WUDYHOOLQJDFFHVVWKURXJKWKHVXSSRUWV
 WKHVHWWLQJDQG\LHOGSUHVVXUH
 K\GUDXOLFFLUFXLW
 VXSSRUWFRQWUROV\VWHPDQG
 VSHHGRIRSHUDWLRQ
/RQJZDOO PLQLQJ LV XVHG LQ WKH UHODWLYHO\ PRGHUDWH
GHSWKVRIWRPLQ1HZ6RXWK:DOHV16:DQG
4XHHQVODQGDQGXSWRPLQWKH,OODZDUUD&RDOHOGV
7KH GHSWK RI FRYHU KDV DQ LPSDFW RQ WKH GHVLUHG URRI
VXSSRUW FDSDFLW\ DQG GHQVLW\ 7KH SUHVHQFH RI DQ\ FRDO
EHDPVRIPRUHWKDQPDQGXSWRPLQDQ\SDQHO
FDQ DOVR FRQWULEXWH WRZDUGV VWDEOH URRI FRQGLWLRQV
+RZHYHULIWKHVHDPKDVDFOHDWHGQDWXUHWKHQWKHURRI
FRDO DQG DQ\ DSSDUHQW ZHDNQHVV RI WKH VWUDWD RYHUO\LQJ
WKHLPPHGLDWHFRDOURRIGHPDQGFDUHIXOFRQVLGHUDWLRQLQ FIG 1 - Ground reaction curve BMA
WKHGHVLJQRIWKHURRIVXSSRUWV,QDOOFDVHVDJHRWHFKQLFDO Broadmeadow mine
HYDOXDWLRQRIWKHVHDPDQGPLQLQJFRQGLWLRQVDWWKHPLQH
DQGRWKHUPLQHVZLWKDVLPLODUVHDPDQGJHRORJ\LQFORVH ZLOOVWLOORFFXUDVWKHURRIFRQYHUJHVXQWLO\LHOGSUHVVXUH
SUR[LPLW\ WR WKH VHDP WR EH PLQHG VKRXOG EH PDGH LQ LV UHDFKHG 7KH FORVXUH EHWZHHQ VHW DQG \LHOG FDQ EH
WHUPVRIPDWFKLQJWKHURRIVXSSRUWGHVLJQWRWKHPLQLQJ FDOFXODWHGIRUDJLYHQOHJFRQJXUDWLRQDQGLVGHWHUPLQHG
FRQGLWLRQV7RHYDOXDWHKRZWRLPSURYHWKHFDSDELOLWLHV E\FRPSUHVVLELOLW\RIWKHXLGLQWKHOHJDQGGLODWLRQRI
RI D WZROHJ VKLHOG VXSSRUW WKH IROORZLQJ DVSHFWV DUH WKH OHJ 2QFH WKH \LHOG SUHVVXUH LV UHDFKHG WKH OHJ ZLOO
UHFRPPHQGHGIRUFRQVLGHUDWLRQ \LHOGDVGHVLJQHG&RQVHTXHQWO\WKHSUHVVXUHLQWKHOHJ
ZLOOUHGXFHWRDSSUR[LPDWHO\SHUFHQWSHUFHQW
Support load and resistance RIWKH\LHOGSUHVVXUH3UHVVXUHZLOODJDLQLQFUHDVHLQWKH
OHJDVFRQYHUJHQFHRIWKHURRIFRQWLQXHVXQWLOWKH\LHOG
7KHUHODWLRQVKLSEHWZHHQWKHVXSSRUWORDGJHQHUDWHGE\ SUHVVXUHLVUHDFKHGDQGWKHF\FOHLVUHSHDWHG
DVKLHOGVXSSRUWDQGWKHVWLIIQHVVRIWKHVXSSRUWLQWHUPV
RIURRIFRQYHUJHQFHSULRUWRJHQHUDWLQJWKH\LHOGORDGLV :LONLQVRQKDVGHVFULEHGWKDWWKHJUDGLHQWRIWKH
FULWLFDO LQ FRQWUROOLQJ WKH URRI DERYH WKH ORQJZDOO 7KH JURXQG UHDFWLRQ FXUYH FRQWLQXDOO\ FKDQJHV XS WR WKH
VXSSRUWORDGH[SUHVVHGDVWKHVXSSRUWGHQVLW\PHDVXUHG SRLQWZKHUHWKHVWUDWDIDLOV5HIHUULQJWR)LJXUHLWFDQ
LQWRQQHVSHUPQHHGVWREHGHWHUPLQHGIRUHDFKORQJZDOO EHVHHQWKDWDWWKHORZHUDSH[RIWKHFXUYHWKHURRILVQR
PLQHVSDUWLFXODUJHRWHFKQLFDOUHTXLUHPHQWV ORQJHUDFWLQJDVDFRPSHWHQWEHDPEXWKDVH[SHULHQFHG
IUDFWXULQJ DQG LV QRW LQWDFW 7KH SXUSRVH RI K\GUDXOLF
7KHDELOLW\RIWKHVKLHOGWRFRQWUROWKHURRIVWUDWDDERYH VKLHOG VXSSRUWV LV WR SUHYHQW RU GHOD\ WKH IDLOXUH RI WKH
WKH ORQJZDOO FDQ EH H[SUHVVHG LQ D JURXQG UHDFWLRQ URRIGXULQJWKHPLQLQJRSHUDWLRQ,Q)LJXUHKLJKHUXS
FXUYHZKLFKPLUURUVWKHORDGGLVSODFHPHQWFKDUDFWHULVWLF WKH OHIWKDQG VLGH RI WKH JURXQG UHDFWLRQ FXUYH ZKHUH
FXUYH IRU D JLYHQ URFN W\SH %HIRUH HDFK QHZ ORQJZDOO WKH VXSSRUW FKDUDFWHULVWLF LQWHUVHFWV WKH FXUYH WKH URRI
LQVWDOODWLRQ ZRUN VKRXOG EH FRPSOHWHG WR GHYHORS D FRQWUROZLOOEHEHWWHU&RQYHUVHO\WKHIDUWKHUWRZDUGVWKH
VSHFLFJURXQGUHDFWLRQFXUYHIRUWKDWPLQH7KHSULQFLSOH ORZHUDSH[RQWKHULJKWKDQGVLGHRIWKHJURXQGUHDFWLRQ
RI LWV VLJQLFDQFH DV GHYHORSHG E\ :LONLQVRQ  FXUYHZKHUHWKHURRIVXSSRUWFKDUDFWHULVWLFLQWHUVHFWVWKH
IRU XVH DW %0$ %URDGPHDGRZ 0LQH LQ 4XHHQVODQG LV URRIFRQWUROZLOOEHZRUVH
LOOXVWUDWHGLQ)LJXUH
6XSSRUW VWLIIQHVV LV FRQWUROOHG E\ WKH FORVXUH RI WKH
8VLQJ)LJXUHIRU%URDGPHDGRZ0LQHDVDQH[DPSOH OHJ EHWZHHQ VHW DQG \LHOG DQG WKH VXEVHTXHQW FORVXUH
LW FDQ EH VHHQ WKDW SULRU WR VHWWLQJ WKH URRI VXSSRUW DQ FKDUDFWHULVWLF RQFH \LHOG LV UHDFKHG $ VKLHOG VXSSRUW
DPRXQW RI FORVXUH GXH WR WKH JHRORJLFDO FKDUDFWHULVWLFV ZLWKORZHUVHWWR\LHOGUDWLRZLOODOORZPRUHURRIFORVXUH
RI WKH URRI DQG FRDO VHDP ZLOO RFFXU 1R URRI VXSSRUW EHIRUH\LHOGORDGLVDFKLHYHG
V\VWHPLVDEOHWRUHVLVWWKLVEHKDYLRXU7KHWLPHSULRUWR
VHWWLQJWKHVXSSRUWZLOODOVRLQXHQFHWKHDPRXQWRIURRI 6HWSUHVVXUH
6HWWR\LHOGUDWLRLVH[SUHVVHGDV
FORVXUH2QFHWKHVXSSRUWLVVHWWRWKHURRIDQGDUHDOLVWLF <LHOGSUHVVXUH
VHWWLQJSUHVVXUHLVDFKLHYHGFORVXUHRIWKHVKLHOGVXSSRUW

0RQRJUDSK$XVWUDODVLDQ&RDO0LQLQJ3UDFWLFH 341
 7KH WRWDO DPRXQW RI URRI FORVXUH SULRU WR VWUDWD IDLOXUH
)LJXUH  LOOXVWUDWHV WKDW DOWKRXJK WKH VXSSRUW GHQVLW\ DW
YDULHV GHSHQGLQJ RQ WKH VWUDWD FKDUDFWHULVWLFV VXFK DV \LHOG ORDG LV WKH VDPH DW DSSUR[LPDWHO\ WP WKH
FRDO VWLIIQHVV DQG YHUWLFDO DQG KRUL]RQWDO VWUHVV ,W LV
LQLWLDOVHWWLQJORDGLVODUJHUIRUWKHPPOHJDWWP
K\SRWKHVLVHGE\JHRWHFKQLFDOFRQVXOWDQWVWREHEHWZHHQ FRPSDUHGWRWPIRUWKHPPOHJ7KHURRIFORVXUH
DQGPPRIVDJ WKDWRFFXUVEHWZHHQVHWDQG\LHOGIRUWKHPPGLDPHWHU
OHJ LV  PP FRPSDUHG WR  PP IRU WKH PP
*HQHUDOO\ IRU VSHFLF JURXQG FRQGLWLRQV WKH GHVLUHG
GLDPHWHUOHJIRUDVHWSUHVVXUHRIEDUDQGPP
HIIHFWVRIVXSSRUWVWLIIQHVVDUH
IRUWKHPPOHJDQGPPIRUWKHPPOHJDW
 WRFRQWUROWKHURRIDVTXLFNO\DVSRVVLEOHDWDSRLQWRQ EDUVHWWLQJSUHVVXUH
WKHJURXQGUHDFWLRQFXUYHZKHUHWKHURRILVLQDVWDEOH
5RRIVXSSRUWVWLIIQHVVFDQEHH[SUHVVHGLQWHUPVRIURRI
FRQGLWLRQDQG
VXSSRUW FORVXUH IURP VHW WR \LHOG SUHVVXUH 8VLQJ WKH
 WR FUHDWH WKH PD[LPXP EXIIHU LQ WHUPV RI URRI FRQYHUJHQFHQXPEHUVVKRZQLQWKH[D[LVLQ)LJXUHLW
FORVXUHDQGWLPHEHWZHHQWKHVHWFRQGLWLRQDQGWKH FDQEHFDOFXODWHGXVLQJWKHIRUPXODPPPP
LPPHGLDWHURRIEHFRPLQJXQVWDEOH [  WKDW WKH K\GUDXOLF VWLIIQHVV RI WKH VKLHOG VXSSRUW
$VWKHURRIGHWHULRUDWHVDQGJURXQGFRQYHUJHQFHRFFXUV ZLWKWKHPPOHJLVDSSUR[LPDWHO\SHUFHQWJUHDWHU
WKHUDWHRIFRQYHUJHQFHIRUDFRQVWDQWORDGZLOOLQFUHDVH WKDQ WKH VKLHOG VXSSRUW ZLWK WKH  PP OHJ ,W VKRXOG
7KHDGYDQWDJHZLWKDVWLIIHUVKLHOGVXSSRUWLVWKDWWKHUDWH EH QRWHG WKDW D URRI VXSSRUW ZLWK D VKRUWHU VWURNH ZLOO
RI URRI FRQYHUJHQFH LV ORZHU ZKHQ WKH VXSSRUW UHDFKHV LQXHQFHWKHVWLIIQHVVDQGULJLGLW\RIWKHOHJ
\LHOGORDGWKDQLVWKHFDVHIRUDVRIWHUVKLHOGVXSSRUW )LJXUH  LOOXVWUDWHV WZR FRPSRQHQWV RI URRI PRYHPHQW
7KH VXSSRUW FKDUDFWHULVWLF RI D ORQJZDOO VKLHOG VXSSRUW SULRUWRDFKLHYLQJ\LHOGORDGQDPHO\QDWXUDOFRQYHUJHQFH
FDQEHGHWHUPLQHGE\ DQGK\GUDXOLFVXSSRUWFRQYHUJHQFH

 WKHORDGRUVXSSRUWGHQVLW\DSSOLHGWRWKHURRIDWERWK  1DWXUDO FRQYHUJHQFH LV D IXQFWLRQ RI WKH VWUDWD
VHWDQG\LHOGSUHVVXUHVH[SUHVVHGLQWPDQG WKH RSHUDWLQJ F\FOH DQG WKH FKDUDFWHULVWLFV RI WKH
LPPHGLDWH URRI DQG RRU PDWHULDO (VWLPDWHG
 WKHFRQYHUJHQFHUDWHRIWKHURRIUHODWLYHWRWKHRRU UDQJHVRIFRQYHUJHQFHYDOXHVKDYHEHHQDVVXPHGDV
DWVHWDQG\LHOGSUHVVXUHV IROORZV
)RU H[DPSOH IRU %URDGPHDGRZ 0LQH WKH DSSUR[LPDWH
VXSSRUWFKDUDFWHULVWLFIRUDVKLHOGGHVLJQLQYROYLQJERWK
DQGPPERUHOHJVLVVKRZQLQ)LJXUH
D 1DWXUDOVWUDWDPRYHPHQWFDXVHGE\WKHUHOD[DWLRQ
RI VWUDWD DIWHU WKH ZHE LV FXW ZKLFK FDQQRW EH
SUHYHQWHG LUUHVSHFWLYH RI WKH FDSDFLW\ RI URRI
VXSSRUW 7KLV PRYHPHQW LV GHSHQGHQW RQ URRI
VWUDWD EHKDYLRXU DQG VXSSRUW UHVLVWDQFH RI WKH
FRDOVHDPDQGLVEHOLHYHGWRUDQJHEHWZHHQWR
PP
E ,UUHVSHFWLYHRIWKHFDSDFLW\RIWKHURRIVXSSRUW
EURNHQ URRI PDWHULDO RQ WRS RI WKH FDQRS\ DQG
ORRVH RU VRIW RRU PDWHULDO XQGHU WKH VKLHOG
VXSSRUW EDVH SRQWRRQV KDYH VRPH QDWXUDO
FRPSDFWLRQ EHIRUH \LHOG ORDG LV DFKLHYHG 7KLV
YDULHV GHSHQGLQJ RQ URRI DQG RRU W\SH IDFH
PDQDJHPHQW HTXLSPHQW GHVLJQ DQG VWUDWD
PDWHULDO FKDUDFWHULVWLFV )RU PDWHULDO DERYH WKH
FDQRS\WKHYDOXHLVDFRQVHUYDWLYHWRPPDQG
IRUWKHPDWHULDOXQGHUWKHEDVHWRPP
 $OWKRXJK QR SK\VLFDO PHDVXUHPHQWV KDYH EHHQ
WDNHQ WKHUH LV D QHHG WR XVH DQ DVVXPSWLRQ
LQYROYLQJDUDQJHRIWRPP,WLVUHDVRQDEOH
WR WDNH WKH PLG SRLQW RI  PP 7KH VHQVLWLYLW\
RI WKLV SDUDPHWHU ZRXOG REYLRXVO\ DIIHFW WKH
SHUPLVVLEOH URRI VXSSRUW FORVXUH SULRU WR URRI
IDLOXUH
 +\GUDXOLFVXSSRUWFRQYHUJHQFHFDQEHGHQHGLQWZR
ZD\V
D &RQYHUJHQFH RI WKH VXSSRUW EHWZHHQ EHLQJ VHW
FIG 2 - Support load and roof convergence WRWKHURRIDQGZKHQLWDFKLHYHVIXOO\LHOGORDG
characteristics BMA Broadmeadow Mine GXH WR FRQYHUJHQFH RI WKH URRI LQFUHDVLQJ WKH
SUHVVXUHLQWKHOHJ

342 &KDSWHU
 E &RQYHUJHQFH RI WKH VXSSRUW DW \LHOG SUHVVXUH
ZKLFK LV D IXQFWLRQ RI WKH GLIIHUHQWLDO EHWZHHQ
\LHOG SUHVVXUH DQG WKH UHVHW SUHVVXUH 7KH
UHVHWSUHVVXUHDIWHUXLGKDVEHHQH[KDXVWHGWR
DWPRVSKHUHWKURXJKWKH\LHOGYDOYHVKRXOGEHDV
FORVHWR\LHOGSUHVVXUHDVSUDFWLFDOO\DFKLHYDEOH
7KH UDWH RI SUHVVXUH EXLOGXS IURP UHVHW WR
\LHOG SUHVVXUH LV D IXQFWLRQ RI WKH UDWH RI URRI
WKH %RZHQ %DVLQ SHUKDSV GXH WR SRRU RSHUDWLQJ DQG
RU PDQDJHPHQW SUDFWLFHV WKH RSHUDWLQJ H[SHULHQFH RI
XVLQJ WKHVH KLJK SUHVVXUH VHW V\VWHPV KDV QRW SURYHG D
GHSHQGDEOHVROXWLRQWRURRIFRQWURO+LJKVXSSRUWVWLIIQHVV
FDQEHDFKLHYHGPRUHUHOLDEO\DQGFRQVLVWHQWO\E\XVLQJ
D ODUJHU  PP GLDPHWHU OHJ 7KHVH SURYLGH VLPLODU
VWLIIQHVVWRDPPGLDPHWHUOHJZLWKRXWDSSOLFDWLRQRI
WKHKLJKSUHVVXUHVHWV\VWHPDQGKDYHFRQVLGHUDEO\EHWWHU
FRQYHUJHQFH
7KH FDOFXODWHG VXSSRUW FRQYHUJHQFH EHWZHHQ VHW DQG
\LHOGIRUWKHPPDQGPPGLDPHWHUOHJVLVVKRZQ
LQ7DEOH,IWKHQRPLQDOSXPSSUHVVXUHLVEDUWKH
ZRUVWSUHVVXUHRQWKHIDFHLVOLNHO\WREHDSSUR[LPDWHO\
EDU,IDKLJKSUHVVXUHVHWV\VWHPLVXVHGWKHVHWWLQJ
SUHVVXUHFRXOGEHXSWREDU+RZHYHUDVEDULV
WRR FORVH WR WKH \LHOG SUHVVXUH WKHUH LV D QHHG WR DOORZ
IRUK\VWHULVLVHIIHFWVEHWZHHQ\LHOGDQGUHVHWSUHVVXUH,Q
WKLVFLUFXPVWDQFHWKHKLJKSUHVVXUHVHWIRUWKHPP
GLDPHWHUOHJZRXOGKDYHWREHORZHUHGWREDU
7KHUHIRUH WKH WRWDO FRQYHUJHQFH RU WKH SRVVLEOH WRWDO
PRYHPHQWRIWKHVKLHOGVXSSRUWZLWKWKHPPOHJLV
YHU\ FORVH WR H[SHFWHG URRI FORVXUH DW WKH SRLQW RQ WKH
JURXQGUHDFWLRQFXUYHZKHUHWKHURRIPDWHULDOEHFRPHV
XQVWDEOHDQGUDSLGFRQYHUJHQFHRUURRIIDOOVPD\RFFXU
8VLQJ WKH DERYH ORJLF D ODUJHU GLDPHWHU OHJ VD\ WKH
PP GLDPHWHU OHJ XVHG LQ FRPELQDWLRQ ZLWK D
YHUVDWLOH DQG H[LEOH KLJK SUHVVXUH VHW V\VWHP ZRXOG
SURYLGH VXSHULRU URRI FRQWURO FRPSDUHG WR WKH  PP
GLDPHWHUOHJ7KHGRZQVLGHRIXVLQJDODUJHUGLDPHWHUOHJ
IRU LPSURYHG WHFKQLFDO DQG RSHUDWLRQDO RXWFRPHV LV WKH
DGGLWLRQDOFDSLWDOUHTXLUHGWRSXUFKDVHWKHVHODUJHUXQLWV
Support stiffness
0RVW RI WKH VKLHOG VXSSRUWV DUH VXSSOLHG E\ -2< DQG
'%7DQGDUHGHVLJQHGWRXVHPPLQWHUQDOGLDPHWHU
OHJVFRPELQHGZLWKDKLJKSUHVVXUHVHWV\VWHP$OWKRXJK
WKHRUHWLFDOO\ WKLV FRPELQDWLRQ SURYLGHV UHDVRQDEOH
VWLIIQHVV WKH RSHUDWLRQDO ULVN RI WKH KLJK SUHVVXUH VHW
V\VWHP QRW EHLQJ DYDLODEOH RU EHLQJ VZLWFKHG RII IRU
RSHUDWLRQDOUHDVRQVLVKLJK,IWKHV\VWHPLVWXUQHGRIIIRU
DQ\UHDVRQIRULQVWDQFHWREHWWHUQHJRWLDWHGHWHULRUDWHG
URRI WKHUH LV D ULVN WKDW LW PD\ QRW EH WXUQHG RQ DJDLQ
VRRQ HQRXJK 6XFK DQ HYHQW FRXOG UHVXOW LQ URRI IDOOV
LQIURQWRIWKHURRIVXSSRUWVWKDWZRXOGVORZGRZQWKH
PLQLQJSURFHVVDQGPD\UHVXOWLQWKHQHHGIRUH[SHQVLYH
UHVLQ LQMHFWLRQ SUDFWLFHV WR EH HPSOR\HG &XUUHQWO\ LQ
TABLE 1 - Convergence between set and yield
High pressure set
Leg diameter
pressure
(mm)
(bar)
380 400
400 380
0RQRJUDSK$XVWUDODVLDQ&RDO0LQLQJ3UDFWLFH 343
DSSUR[LPDWHO\  SHU FHQW KLJKHU VWLIIQHVV WKDQ WKH
PPOHJZLWKKLJKSUHVVXUHVHW$VPHQWLRQHGDERYH
GXH WR K\VWHULVLV HIIHFWV EHWZHHQ WKH \LHOG SUHVVXUH DQG
WKH UHVHW SUHVVXUH WKH KLJK SUHVVXUH VHW IRU D  PP
GLDPHWHUOHJZRXOGEHEHVWVHWDWEDUDVFRPSDUHGWR
EDUIRUWKHPPOHJ
7KH VWLIIQHVV RI D VXSSRUW DQG LWV UHVXOWDQW HIIHFW RQ
URRI FRQWURO LV FULWLFDO WR WKH RSHUDWLRQ 7KH  PP
GLDPHWHUOHJVDVVLVWLQPLWLJDWLQJWKHULVNVRISRRUJURXQG
FRQGLWLRQV DQG WKHUHIRUH DUH D VXEVWDQWLDO EHQHW WR WKH
PLQLQJRSHUDWLRQV3RVLWLYHURRIFRQWUROKDVSURYHQWREH
RQHRIWKHPRVWFUXFLDORSHUDWLRQDOIDFWRUVLQDFKLHYLQJ
FRQVLVWHQWORQJZDOOSURGXFWLRQ7KLVLVFHUWDLQO\WUXHRI
ORQJZDOO PLQHV LQ WKH %RZHQ %DVLQ $ VWLIIHU VXSSRUW
V\VWHPLVDELJDGYDQWDJHDQGFRQWULEXWHVVLJQLFDQWO\WR
LQFUHDVLQJWKHSRWHQWLDOVXFFHVVRIORQJZDOOPLQLQJ
7KHUH LV DQ LQFUHDVLQJ HPSKDVLV E\ JHRWHFKQLFDO
FRQVXOWDQWVWRUHFRPPHQGWKHLQWHUQDOGLDPHWHURIWKHOHJV
EHLQFUHDVHGIURPWRPPDQGDOVRWRLQFRUSRUDWH
DOODSSURSULDWHFKDQJHVLQOHJGHVLJQWRIXUWKHUHQKDQFH
WKHVH VWURQJHU OHJV ZLWK D ODUJHU ERUH 6XFK FKDQJHV
VLJQLFDQWO\ LQFUHDVH WKH VWLIIQHVV RI WKH URRI VXSSRUW
E\ DSSUR[LPDWHO\  SHU FHQW DQG UHGXFH WKH DPRXQW
RI URRI FRQYHUJHQFH WKDW FDQ RFFXU EHWZHHQ VHWWLQJ WKH
VKLHOGVXSSRUWDWWKHVWDQGDUGEDUDQGUHDFKLQJ\LHOG
SUHVVXUH7KHHIIHFWRIVXFKFKDQJHVLVVKRZQLQ7DEOH
(DFKPLQHVKRXOGGHWHUPLQHIURPDQLQWHUQDOJHRWHFKQLFDO
HQJLQHHURUDQH[WHUQDOFRQVXOWDQWWKHDOORZDEOHDPRXQW
RIPD[LPXPURRIFRQYHUJHQFHSULRUWRURRIIDLOXUH2QH
FRQVXOWDQWV RSLQLRQ LV WKDW WKH URRI FRQYHUJHQFH RI WKH
PPOHJRSHUDWLQJLQWKH*RRQ\HOOD0LGGOH6HDPLV
EH\RQG RU FORVH WR WKH SUREDEOH SUDFWLFDO OLPLW RI URRI
FORVXUHDQGWKHUHIRUHDPPOHJLVUHFRPPHQGHG
$QRWKHUSRWHQWLDOEHQHWRIDPPGLDPHWHUOHJLVLW
FDQLQFUHDVHWKH\LHOGORDGFDSDFLW\RIWKHVXSSRUWEXWDW
WKHVDFULFHRIWKHURRIVXSSRUWVIDWLJXHOLIH7KLVFRXOG
EH DGYDQWDJHRXV LI XQH[SHFWHG F\FOLFDO ORDGLQJ VWUDWD
EHKDYLRXULVHQFRXQWHUHG7KLVDGYDQWDJHLVFRXQWHUHGE\
WKHIDFWWKDWDURRIVXSSRUWLVGHVLJQHGWRKDYHDVWUXFWXUHG
Leg convergence
Leg convergence
between high pressure
between set @ 325 bar
set and yield pressure
and yield pressure (mm)
(mm)
23.7 9.9
14.8 7.0
 TABLE 2 - Comparison of 380 mm and 400 mm legs
Parameter
Set pressure
Yield pressure
Support density at set load (before the cut)
Support density at yield load (before the cut)
Roof closure (set to yield)
Natural roof convergence
Total roof convergence:
OLIHRIVD\F\FOHVIRUDORDGFDSDFLW\RIWWKDW
RFFXUV ZKHQ WKH \LHOG SUHVVXUH UHDFKHV  EDU ,I WKH
\LHOGSUHVVXUHLVLQFUHDVHGE\SHUFHQWWREDUWKH
FDSDFLW\RIWKHVXSSRUWZLOOEHLQFUHDVHGE\SHUFHQW
WRW+RZHYHUDVWKHVWUXFWXUHRIWKHVXSSRUWZDV
GHVLJQHGIRUWRSHUDWLQJDWWPHDQVLWVIDWLJXH
OLIHLVUHGXFHGE\SHUFHQWWRF\FOHV
High pressure set
$ QRUPDOO\ DFFHSWHG FRQFHSW LV WR LQFUHDVH VXSSRUW
VWLIIQHVVE\LQVWDOOLQJDKLJKSUHVVXUHVHWV\VWHPRQWKH
IDFH 7KHRUHWLFDOO\ LW DOORZV WKH VHWWLQJ SUHVVXUH RQ
PPOHJVWREHLQFUHDVHGIURPWREDU7KLV
V\VWHPRSHUDWHVDFURVVWKHHQWLUHIDFH+RZHYHULIURRI
FRQGLWLRQVDERYHRQHRUPRUHVXSSRUWVUHTXLUHWKHKLJK  &DQRS\ DVSHFW UDWLR DQG ORDG GLVWULEXWLRQ RQ WKH
SUHVVXUH VHW WR EH VZLWFKHG RII LQ RUGHU WR DGYDQFH WKH
IDFH WKHQ WKH FRPSOHWH IDFH ZRXOG EH ZLWKRXW KLJK
SUHVVXUHVHW
$OWKRXJKVXSSRUW\LHOGORDGVDUHFULWLFDOGHVLJQSDUDPHWHUV
IRUDQ\ORQJZDOOVKLHOGVXSSRUWV\VWHPWKHPDQQHUDQG
FRQVLVWHQF\ZLWKZKLFKWKHORDGLVDSSOLHGWRWKHURRIDQG
WKHEHKDYLRXURIWKHVKLHOGVXSSRUWDUHHTXDOO\LPSRUWDQW
7KHIROORZLQJFKDUDFWHULVWLFVRIWKHVKLHOGVXSSRUWUHODWLYH
WRWKHSUREDEOHURRIDQGVHDPFRQGLWLRQVDUHFRQVLGHUHG
VLJQLFDQW WSHUVKLHOGVXSSRUWV\VWHPLVRQO\UHDOLVWLFDOO\
 6WLIIQHVVRIWKHVKLHOGVXSSRUWLQWHUPVRIWKHTXDQWLW\
RIURRIFRQYHUJHQFHSULRUWRDFKLHYLQJ\LHOGORDG
 /RDG GLVWULEXWLRQ EHWZHHQ WKH FDQRS\ DQG URRI WR WKDW WKH VKLHOG VXSSRUW LV VHW DW WKH UHTXLUHG SUHVVXUH
SUHYHQW FUXVKLQJ RI WKH URRI DGMDFHQW WR WKH JRDI WR SODFH ORDG RQWR WKH URRI DQG DFKLHYH DSSURSULDWH
HGJH
 2SWLPLVLQJ FDQRS\ WLS ORDG *HQHUDOO\ D KLJKHU WLS
ORDGZRXOGEHSUHIHUDEOHIRUVRIWHUURRIFRQGLWLRQV
&DQRS\WLSFRQWDFWDQGHIIHFWLYHWLSWRIDFHGLVWDQFH
QHHGWREHFRQWUROOHGDQGXQVXSSRUWHGURRIEHWZHHQ
WKHFDQRS\WLSDQGWKHFRDOIDFHPLQLPLVHG$OWKRXJK
GHVLJQ RI ORQJZDOO VKLHOG VXSSRUWV FDWHUV IRU D DW
KRUL]RQWDOURRIZLWKDWKHRUHWLFDOWLSWRIDFHGLVWDQFH
RI DSSUR[LPDWHO\  PP WKH HIIHFWLYH WLS WR IDFH
GLVWDQFHLVGHSHQGHQWRQFDQRS\RULHQWDWLRQUHODWLYH
WR WKH URRI 7KH QRPLQDO URRI SUROH LV GHSHQGHQW
RQ VHDP XQGXODWLRQV VWHSV FXW E\ RSHUDWRUV DQG
344 &KDSWHU
Units 380 mm leg 400 mm leg
Bar 325 325
Bar 410 410
t/m 97 97
t/m 122 122
mm 23.7 14.8
mm +/- 9 +/- 9
mm 32.7 23.8
PDWHULDO WKDW PD\ IDOO IURP WKH URRI 7KHVH LVVXHV
DUHODUJHO\UHODWHGWRPLQLQJFRQGLWLRQVDQGRSHUDWRU
SURFLHQF\ DQG DUH EH\RQG WKH FRQWURO RI WKH
VKLHOG VXSSRUW GHVLJQHU ([SHULHQFH VKRZV KRZHYHU
WKDW PDQ\ PRGHUQ KLJKFDSDFLW\ WZROHJ VKLHOG
VXSSRUWVKDYHDWHQGHQF\WRFUXVKZHDNRUIUDFWXUHG
URRIDGMDFHQWWRWKHJRDIHGJHGXHWRWKHKLJKORDG
FRQFHQWUDWLRQEHWZHHQWKHWRSGHDGFHQWUHRIWKHOHJ
DQGWKHUHDUFRQWDFWSRLQWRIWKHURRIDWWKHJRDIHQG
RI WKH FDQRS\ 7KLV UHVXOWV LQ WKH FDQRS\ KDYLQJ D
WHQGHQF\WRSXQFKLQWRWKHURRIRUOLIWDWWKHUHDUHQG
&RQVHTXHQWO\ FRQWDFW EHWZHHQ WKH IDFH HQG WLS RI
WKHFDQRS\FDQEHDIIHFWHG,QZHDNHUURRIVWUDWDLWLV
DOZD\VSUHIHUDEOHWRPDLQWDLQFDQRS\WLSFRQWDFWDQG
PD[LPLVHWLSORDG
FDQRS\SOD\DVLJQLFDQWUROHLQFRQWUROOLQJFDQRS\
RULHQWDWLRQ
 +\GUDXOLF LQWHJULW\ RI WKH VKLHOG VXSSRUW RYHU LWV
H[SHFWHG VHUYLFH OLIH LV FULWLFDO 7KH UHOLDELOLW\ DQG
PDLQWDLQDELOLW\RIWKHVXSSRUWKDVDGLUHFWDIIHFWRQ
WKH SHUFHQWDJH RI DYDLODEOH K\GUDXOLF ORDG FDSDFLW\
WKDWFDQEHDSSOLHGWRWKHURRI)RUH[DPSOHLISHU
FHQWRIWKHOHJDQGRUYDOYHVRQWKHIDFHDUHOHDNLQJ
RU PDOIXQFWLRQLQJ WKH HIIHFWLYH VXSSRUW ORDG RI
DQDYHUDJHRIW
*XDUDQWHHGKLJKSUHVVXUHVHWV\VWHPVDVVLVWLQHQVXULQJ
VWLIIQHVV 7KHVH V\VWHPV DUH RIWHQ PRVW YDOXDEOH ZKHQ
WKHURRIFRQGLWLRQVDUHSRRUGXHWRZHDNURRIJHRORJLFDO
GLVWXUEDQFHV DQGRU ZKHUH KLJK VWUHVV FRQGLWLRQV H[LVW
8QGHU WKHVH FRQGLWLRQV RSHUDWRUV KDYH D WHQGHQF\ WR
WXUQ WKHVH V\VWHPV RII WR SUHYHQW LQGLYLGXDO VXSSRUWV
SXQFKLQJLQWRWKHURRIRUURRIFDYLWLHV2QFHWKHV\VWHPV
DUHWXUQHGRIIWKH\DUHRIWHQQRWVZLWFKHGEDFNRQZKHQ
LW LV DSSURSULDWH WR GR VR 7KHUHIRUH LW LV FULWLFDO WKDW
JXDUDQWHHG DQG KLJK SUHVVXUH VHW V\VWHPV DUH GHVLJQHG
WR EH DV H[LEOH DV SRVVLEOH7KLV ZRXOG LGHDOO\ HQDEOH
VKLHOGRSHUDWRUVWRHDVLO\DQGUDSLGO\GLVHQJDJHDQGUH
HQJDJHWKHKLJKSUHVVXUHVHWRQHDFKLQGLYLGXDOVXSSRUW
DVRSHUDWLQJFRQGLWLRQVGLFWDWH
2QHVHQVLEOHRSWLRQSURSRVHVWKDWVROHQRLGYDOYHVEHWWHG ,Q 7DEOH  DQ LQFUHDVH RI  PP WR WKH UHDU FDQRS\
WRHDFKVKLHOGWRDOORZLQQLWHO\H[LEOHRSHUDWLRQRIWKH SURMHFWLRQKDVDVLJQLFDQWLPSDFWRQWKHFDQRS\DVSHFW
KLJK SUHVVXUH VHW V\VWHP 7KLV VROXWLRQ PDNHV WKH KLJK UDWLRFKDQJLQJLWIURPWRSHUFHQWZKLOH
SUHVVXUHVHWV\VWHPRSHUDWLRQDOO\H[LEOHDQGSUDFWLFDOO\ RQO\KDYLQJDPDUJLQDOQHJDWLYHLPSDFWRQVXSSRUWORDG
PDQDJHDEOH DQG WKLV ZRXOG DOORZ LQGLYLGXDO VXSSRUWV
WR EH LVRODWHG DQG UHFRQQHFWHG WR WKH KLJK SUHVVXUH VHW
V\VWHP DV UHTXLUHG )RU H[DPSOH '%7 KDYH D KLJK
SUHVVXUH JXDUDQWHHG VHW V\VWHP WKDW FRPSOLHV ZLWK WKLV
SULQFLSOHE\LQFRUSRUDWLQJLQGLYLGXDOVROHQRLGFRQWURORI
WKLVIXQFWLRQRQHDFKVXSSRUW$QRWKHULQLWLDWLYHLQYROYHV
HDFK OHJ LQ WKH VXSSRUW EHLQJ DEOH WR EH PHFKDQLFDOO\
LVRODWHGVRWKHKLJKSUHVVXUHVHWFDQVWLOOEHXVHGLIRQH
OHJLVOHDNLQJRUE\SDVVLQJ
$GGUHVVLQJ WKHVH LVVXHV SURDFWLYHO\ UHFRJQLVHV WKDW
VXSSRUW VWLIIQHVV LV D FULWLFDO LVVXH 8VH RI  PP
GLDPHWHU OHJV DQG WKH VROHQRLGRSHUDWHG KLJK SUHVVXUH
VHW V\VWHP VKRXOG LPSURYH RSHUDWLRQDO H[LELOLW\ ZKHQ
JURXQG FRQGLWLRQV GHWHULRUDWH 7KLV DFWLRQ FRPHV DW DQ
LQFUHPHQWDO FRVW EXW LW SURYLGHV DQRWKHU VROXWLRQ WKDW
FDQ EH TXLFNO\ LQLWLDWHG LQ DQ XQIRUHVHHQ HYHQW ,I WKH
KLJKSUHVVXUHVHWV\VWHPGRHVEUHDNGRZQWKHPP
GLDPHWHUOHJSURYLGHVJUHDWHUDQGPRUHDGHTXDWHVWLIIQHVV
WKDQ D  PP OHJ 7KH FRPELQDWLRQ RI WKH WZR ZLOO
SURYLGHDQH[WUHPHO\VWLIIVXSSRUWWKDWVKRXOGDGHTXDWHO\
FRQWUROWKHVHDPURRI
Canopy control and canopy aspect
ratio
7KHFDQRS\RULHQWDWLRQDQGVWDELOLW\RIDWZROHJVKLHOG
LV QRUPDOO\ HYDOXDWHG LQ WHUPV RI WKH UDWLR EHWZHHQ WKH
IRUZDUGFDQRS\SURMHFWLRQFDQRS\WLSFRQWDFWWRWRSGHDG
GHQVLW\SHUFHQW7KHUHGXFWLRQLQFRQWDFWSUHVVXUH
RQ WKH WRWDO UHDU DUHD RI WKH VKLHOG VXSSRUW FDQRS\ LV
DSSUR[LPDWHO\  SHU FHQW ORZHU LI WKH UHDU FDQRS\
SURMHFWLRQZDVLQFUHDVHGE\PP+RZHYHULQZHDN
URRI FRQGLWLRQV LI WKH URRI FUXVKHV RU EUHDNV RXW 
WR PP EDFN IURP WKH JRDI HGJH RI WKH FDQRS\ WKH
LQXHQFH RI WKH  PP LQFUHDVH LQ FDQRS\ OHQJWK LV
SURSRUWLRQDOO\JUHDWHU
/DUJH FDSDFLW\ WZROHJ VKLHOGV KDYH D WHQGHQF\ WR
FUXVK WKH LPPHGLDWH URRI DGMDFHQW WR WKH JRDI HGJH
7KLV FDXVHV WKH UHDU RI WKH FDQRS\ WR SXVK XS LQWR WKH
URRI DQG GURSV WKH IURQW RI WKH FDQRS\ LQFUHDVLQJ WKH
HIIHFWLYH WLS WR IDFH GLVWDQFH 6XFK EHKDYLRXU FDQ EH
GHWULPHQWDOWRHIIHFWLYHURRIFRQWUROLQZHDNRUIUDFWXUHG
VWUDWD 2QH VROXWLRQ LQYROYHV LQFUHDVLQJ WKH OHQJWK RI
WKHUHDUFDQRS\SURMHFWLRQ7KLVDVVLVWVE\UHGXFLQJWKH
FDQRS\DVSHFWUDWLRWKXVLPSURYLQJFDQRS\FRQWURO*HR
WHFKQLFDOO\DFDQRS\DVSHFWUDWLRRIDSSUR[LPDWHO\
RUHYHQORZHULVSUHIHUUHGWRDFKLHYHDQRSWLPDORXWFRPH
6HULRXV FRQVLGHUDWLRQ PXVW EH JLYHQ WR WKLV UDWLR LQ WKH
GHVLJQSKDVHIRUWKHSDUWLFXODUJURXQGFRQGLWLRQVWKHURRI
VXSSRUWVDUHWRHQFRXQWHU
7KHFRQWURORIWKHRULHQWDWLRQDQGVWDELOLW\RIWKHVKLHOG
VXSSRUW FDQRS\ LV D FULWLFDO HOHPHQW FRQWULEXWLQJ WR
HIIHFWLYH URRI FRQWURO RQ D ORQJZDOO $OWKRXJK WZR
OHJVKLHOGVXSSRUWVDUHHTXLSSHGZLWKDVWDELOLVHURUWLOW
UDP EHWZHHQ WKH FDQRS\ DQG FDYLQJ VKLHOG WKLV GHYLFH
LV QRW GHVLJQHG WR FRQWURO FDQRS\ RULHQWDWLRQ RQFH VHW
FHQWUH RI OHJ DQG WKH UHDU FDQRS\ SURMHFWLRQ WRS GHDG WR WKH URRI7KH ORDG DSSOLHG WR WKH FDQRS\ E\ WKH OHJV
FHQWUHRIOHJWRUHDUFRQWDFWSRLQWRIFDQRS\UHIHUUHGWR LV IDU JUHDWHU WKDQ WKDW LQGXFHG E\ WKH VWDELOLVHU UDP
DVWKHFDQRS\DVSHFWUDWLR &RQVHTXHQWO\RQFHWKHURRIVXSSRUWFRPPHQFHVVHWWLQJ
WKHFDQRS\RULHQWDWLRQFKDQJHVXQWLOWKHORDGGLVWULEXWLRQ
)URQWFDQRS\SURMHFWLRQ RYHUWKHFDQRS\DFKLHYHVHTXLOLEULXP
OHQJWK $VWKHORDGFDSDFLW\RIWKHWZROHJVKLHOGLQFUHDVHVVR
&DQRS\$VSHFW5DWLR GRHVWKHFRQWDFWSUHVVXUHRIWKHFDQRS\DJDLQVWWKHURRI
5HDUFDQRS\SURMHFWLRQ
HVSHFLDOO\LQWKHDUHDDGMDFHQWWRWKHJRDIHGJH,QZHDN
OHQJWK
MRLQWHGRUJHRORJLFDOO\GLVWXUEHGJURXQGWKHURRIDERYH
DODUJHWZROHJVKLHOGDGMDFHQWWRWKHJRDIFDQRIWHQEH
$V DQ H[DPSOH WKH PRGLHG FDQRS\ GHVLJQV SURSRVHG REVHUYHGWREUHDNRUFUXVKFDXVLQJWKHUHDURIWKHFDQRS\
E\-2<DQG'%7IRU%URDGPHDGRZ0LQHLQWKH%RZHQ WRUDLVHDQGWKHWLSRIWKHFDQRS\WRORZHU7KLVHIIHFWLYHO\
%DVLQGHDOLQJZLWKWKLVLVVXHDUHVXPPDULVHGLQ7DEOH LQFUHDVHVWKHFDQRS\WLSWRIDFHGLVWDQFHDQGFDQUHVXOWLQ
URRIGHWHULRUDWLRQDQGURRIIDOOV

TABLE 3 - Comparative canopy designs

Original design Final design

Parameter Description JOY DBT JOY DBT
Total Canopy Length (mm) 4505 4420 4605 4520
Front Canopy Projection (mm) 3280 3195 3180 3195
Rear Canopy Projection (mm) 1325 1225 1425 1325
Canopy Aspect Ratio (mm) 2.47:1 2.61:1 2.23:1 2.41:1

0RQRJUDSK$XVWUDODVLDQ&RDO0LQLQJ3UDFWLFH 345
 Leg design EH DFKLHYHG E\ WKH RSWLPLVDWLRQ RI WKH GHVLJQ RI WKH
PRXQWLQJEUDFNHWIRUWKHYDOYHVDQGFRQWUROV
'XH WR WKH SRRU KLVWRU\ RI OHJ UHOLDELOLW\ LQ PDQ\
$XVWUDOLDQORQJZDOOVWKHSURSRVHGGHVLJQIRUHDFKPLQHV :KHQ WKH VKLHOG VXSSRUWV DGYDQFH XS WR WKH $)& WKH
VXSSRUWPXVWEHVFUXWLQLVHGDQGNQRZQSRWHQWLDOSUREOHP IURQWZDONZD\FDQEHHUJRQRPLFDOO\GLIFXOWWRQHJRWLDWH
DUHDV HYDOXDWHG ,Q UHFHQW \HDUV -2< UHYLHZHG WKH )HDWXUHV OLNH WKH VORSH RQ WKH WRH RI WKH SRQWRRQV WKH
UHOLDELOLW\ RI WKHLU OHJV DQG KDV LPSOHPHQWHGVLJQLFDQW ORFDWLRQRIWKHEDVHOLIWLQJOXJWKHKHLJKWRIWKHVSLOOSODWH
GHVLJQLPSURYHPHQWVWRDGGUHVVDQGRYHUFRPHSUHYLRXV DQGFDEOHWUD\UHODWLYHWRZDLVWOHYHORIDQDYHUDJHSHUVRQ
ZHDNQHVVHV7KHFKDQJHVLQOHJGHVLJQLQFOXGH PD\ PHDQ LW LV QHFHVVDU\ WR VORZO\ ZDON VLGHZD\V LQ
IURQWRIWKHVXSSRUWVZKHQWKHIDFHLVFORVHGXS,QORZHU
 FKDQJHG WHVW UHJLPH WR   F\FOHV ZLWK PXFK FXWWLQJKHLJKWRSHUDWLRQVEHORZPFORVHDWWHQWLRQWR
JUHDWHUFORVXUHFULWHULD WKHVHDVSHFWVDQGRWKHUVGXULQJWKHGHVLJQSKDVHVKRXOG
 LQFUHDVHG EHDULQJ RYHUODS RQ PDMRU DQG PLQRU RFFXUWRHQVXUHSHRSOHFDQZDONDORQJWKHIURQWRIWKHURRI
VWDJHV VXSSRUWVVDIHO\DQGHIFLHQWO\HYHQZKHQWKHVXSSRUWVDUH
FORVHGXS
 LQFUHDVHG EHDULQJ VWULSV IURP WZR WR WKUHH RQ WKH
SLVWRQKHDG ,I LQ WKH IXWXUH WKH VKHDUHU DQGRU $)& DUH XSJUDGHG
UHVXOWLQJLQDQLQFUHDVHLQWKHFURVVVHFWLRQZLGWKRIWKH
 FKDQJHG EHDULQJ PDWHULDO WR SURSULHWDU\ PDWHULDOV IDFHHTXLSPHQWWKHIROORZLQJFKDQJHVDUHSUREDEOH
OLNH7*$
 7KH FDEOH WUD\ DQG VSLOO SODWHV PD\ KDYH WR EH
 LPSURYHGSLVWRQVHDODUUDQJHPHQWV LQFUHDVHGLQKHLJKWWRFOHDUWKHWRHRIWKHEDVHGXULQJ
 FKDQJHGEOLSSHUYDOYHLQWKHVPDOOHUOHJF\OLQGHUWRD DGYDQFH
VRIWVHDWGHVLJQWRHQVXUHWKDWLWGRHVQRWVWLFNZKHQ  7KH ZLGWK RI WKH IURQW ZDONZD\ ZLOO EH UHGXFHG
WKHVXSSRUWVDUHEHLQJORZHUHGRUDGYDQFHG EHWZHHQDQGPPUHQGHULQJLWPRUHGLIFXOW
 LPSURYHGZLSHUULQJGHVLJQ WR PRYH DORQJ HIFLHQWO\ ZKHQ WKH VKLHOGV DUH
DGYDQFHG7KLVORVVRIHUJRQRPLFHIFLHQF\ZLOOKDYH
 EURQ]H SODWLQJ RI JODQG QXW WKUHDGV WR SUHYHQW DQLPSDFWRQSURGXFWLRQDQGWKHSURGXFWLYLW\RIIDFH
FRUURVLRQDQG PDQDJHPHQWRSHUDWRUVDQGPDLQWHQDQFHSHUVRQQHO
 WRSFDSRIWKHQDUURZF\OLQGHURQDWZRVWDJHOHJLV /RVV RI WKLV DPHQLW\ FDQ KDYH GLUH FRQVHTXHQFHV
GHVLJQHGWRPLQLPLVHVSKHULFDOGLVWRUWLRQ DQGHQGXSLQFUHDVLQJFRVWVUDWKHUWKDQDFKLHYLQJWKH
RSSRVLWHREMHFWLYH
'%7KDYHQRWH[SHULHQFHGSUREOHPVWRWKHVDPHH[WHQW
,QSDUWLFXODUWKHUHKDYHEHHQIHZHUZHDUVWULSSUREOHPV
ZKLFKPD\EHDWWULEXWDEOHWRWKHLUORQJHUEHDULQJRYHUODS Torsional rigidity
GLPHQVLRQVRQWKHPDMRUDQGPLQRUOHJVWDJHV $W RSHUDWLQJ KHLJKWV RI JUHDWHU WKDQ  P WKHUH LV
FRQVLGHUDEOH SRWHQWLDO IRU VLGHZD\V PRYHPHQW RI WKH
Walkway dimensions and ergonomics VXSSRUW FDQRS\ UHODWLYH WR WKH EDVH 7KLV PRYHPHQW LV
GXHWRDFFXPXODWHGWROHUDQFHVLQWKHOHPQLVFDWHOLQNDJHV
,QWKLFNHUVHDPVZLWKPLQLQJKHLJKWVJUHDWHUWKDQWR SLQWROHUDQFHVDQGWRUVLRQDOPRYHPHQWRIWKHVWUXFWXUHV
 P LW LV QRUPDO SUDFWLFH WR XVH WKH UHDU ZDONZD\ WR
HQVXUH WKH VDIHW\ RI WKH IDFH SHUVRQQHO 7KHUHIRUH WKH 7KHLPSDFWRIWRUVLRQRQWKHURRIVXSSRUWFDQEH
ZLGWK RI WKH UHDU ZDONZD\ DW ZDLVW OHYHO QHHGV WR EH  OHJ GDPDJH GXH WR H[FHVVLYH WRUVLRQ RQ WKH URRI
FRQVLGHUHGIURPDQHUJRQRPLFDVSHFWWRDOORZIRUODPSV VXSSRUWV
DQGVHOIUHVFXHUVZRUQE\XQGHUJURXQGSHUVRQQHO
 GDPDJHWRVLGHVKLHOGVFDXVHGE\RYHUODSRIDGMDFHQW
7KH KRUL]RQWDO GLPHQVLRQ DFURVV DQ DYHUDJH SHUVRQV FDQRSLHVDQG
ZDLVWZKHQFDUU\LQJDODPSDQGDVHOIUHVFXHURQWKHLUEHOW
LVEHWZHHQWRPP$OORZLQJIRUVRPHSUDFWLFDO  SUHPDWXUH FUDFNLQJ RI OHPQLVFDWH VWUXFWXUHV GXH WR
FOHDUDQFHDUHDUZDONZD\ZLGWKRI PPDWZDLVW H[FHVVLYHWRUVLRQDOORDGV
KHLJKW LV UHTXLUHG WR SHUPLW HUJRQRPLFDOO\ HIIHFWLYH *HQHUDOO\ WKH RULJLQDO HTXLSPHQW PDQXIDFWXUHUV 2(0V
SDVVDJHRISHRSOHDORQJWKHIDFHVRWKHLUSURGXFWLYLW\LV DJUHHWKDWWKHWRUVLRQDOULJLGLW\RIWKHVKLHOGVXSSRUWFRXOG
QRWXQQHFHVVDULO\LPSHGHG7KHZDONZD\VKRXOGEHIUHHRI EHLQFUHDVHGE\GHVLJQLQJWKHORZHUOHPQLVFDWHOLQNVZLWK
REVWUXFWLRQVVXFKDVKRVHVFDEOHVVSHDNHUER[HVYDOYHV DWRUVLRQER[VWUXFWXUHEHWZHHQWKHPWRLQFUHDVHOLQNDJH
DQGFRQWHQWV7KHZLGWKRIWKHUHDUZDONZD\DWIRRWDQG ULJLGLW\ 7RUVLRQDO ULJLGLW\ FDQ EH IXUWKHU LPSURYHG E\
DQNOHOHYHODOVRQHHGVWREHFRQVLGHUHG&RQVHTXHQWO\WKH UHGXFLQJ WKH DFFXPXODWHG WROHUDQFHV WKURXJK LPSURYHG
OHQJWKRIWKHEDVHRIWKHURRIVXSSRUWQHHGVWREHDQDO\VHG IDEULFDWLRQ WHFKQLTXHV DQG UHGXFLQJ WKH FOHDUDQFHV
DQG SHUKDSV OHQJWKHQHG WKURXJK WKH UHDU ZDONZD\ DUHD EHWZHHQ ERUHV DQG OHPQLVFDWH SLQV E\ PDFKLQLQJ WKH
DQG PD\EH WKH FDQRS\ OHQJWK LQFUHDVHG E\ D VLPLODU SLQV
DPRXQW WR PDLQWDLQ WKH JHRPHWU\ RI WKH OHPQLVFDWH
OLQNDJH$OWHUQDWLYHO\ RU LQ FRPELQDWLRQ ZLWK DQ\ EDVH %RWK PDMRU 2(0V KDYH SURSRVHG VLPLODU VROXWLRQV WR
PRGLFDWLRQWKHGHVLUHGZLGWKRIWKHUHDUZDONZD\FDQ LPSURYHWRUVLRQDOULJLGLW\7KHVHLQFOXGH

346 &KDSWHU
 PDFKLQLQJRIOHPQLVFDWHSLQVDQGOLQHERULQJRIERUHV RIWKHVSULQJV7KLVGRHVQRWSURYLGHDQHIIHFWLYHPHDQV
WRUHGXFHFOHDUDQFHWROHUDQFHV WR SXVK VXSSRUWV DORQJ WKH IDFH EXW GRHV QHJDWH WKH
SRVVLELOLW\RIZLQGXSLQZKLFKFRQGLWLRQWKHFDQRS\LV
 UHGXFLQJIDEULFDWLRQWROHUDQFHVWRLPSURYHWKHWXS
QRWDOLJQHGZLWKWKHEDVHLQWKHYHUWLFDOSODQH:LQGXS
JDSVEHWZHHQWKHOHPQLVFDWHOLQNVEDVHDQGFDYLQJ
RFFXUVGXHWRPDQXDORSHUDWLRQRIVLGHVKLHOGSXVKLQWKH
VKLHOGDQG
RSSRVLWHGLUHFWLRQWRIDFHFUHHSWKLVFDXVHVFDQRSLHVWR
 XVLQJWRUVLRQER[HVEHWZHHQWKHXSSHUOLQNVRQWKLFN EHSXVKHGVLGHZD\VUHVXOWLQJLQVWUHVVHVEHLQJSODFHGRQ
VHDPWZROHJVKLHOGV OHJVDQGVHDOV
$Q RSWLRQ LQYROYHV FRQVLGHULQJ DGGLQJ D EDVH VWHHULQJ
Side shields UDP WR SXVK VXSSRUWV VLGHZD\V GXULQJ VKLHOG DGYDQFH
7KLV DSSOLHV ORDG WR WKH VXSSRUW FORVHU WR WKH FHQWUH RI
7KH FRQJXUDWLRQ DQG RSHUDWLRQ RI VLGH VKLHOGV VSDUNV
JUDYLW\DQGVKRXOGQRWFDXVHZLQGXSEHWZHHQFDQRSLHV
D FRQVLGHUDEOH DPRXQW RI GHEDWH HVSHFLDOO\ DPRQJVW
DQG EDVHV ,QVWDOOLQJ D VLGH VWHHU UDP LQWR WKH FHQWUH RI
RSHUDWRUV DQG PDQDJHPHQW RSHUDWLQJ DERYH D  P
WKHEDVHXVXDOO\EHORZWKHUHDUZDONZD\SXVKHVDJDLQVW
ZRUNLQJ KHLJKW ,Q RQH VLWXDWLRQ -2< OLPLWHG WKH VLGH
WKH DGMDFHQW EDVH GXULQJ VXSSRUW DGYDQFH 'HYLFHV RI
VKLHOG VWURNH VR WKDW WKH ZLGWK RI WKH VXSSRUW FDQRS\
WKLV W\SH KDYH EHHQ HIIHFWLYHO\ XVHG LQ (DVWHUQ (XURSH
GLG QRW H[FHHG WKH QRPLQDO VXSSRUW FHQWUH VSDFLQJ RI
IRU PDQ\ \HDUV RQ VWHHS VHDP IDFHV 7KH DSSOLFDWLRQ
PP ZKHQ IXOO\ H[WHQGHG 7KLV VLGH VKLHOG GHVLJQ
RI EDVH VWHHULQJ PD\ DOVR UHGXFH WKH QHHG IRU VRPH RI
LVDQ/VKDSHGFRQJXUDWLRQZLWKDK\GUDXOLFWUDYHORI
WKH IHDWXUHV RI FDQRS\ VLGH VKLHOGV 3URVSHFWLYH EX\HUV
PP:LWKDQRPLQDOFDQRS\ZLGWKRIPPDQG
VKRXOG VHULRXVO\ HYDOXDWH WKLV VR WKDW WKH VLGH VKLHOG
VXSSRUWFHQWUHVRIPPWKLVSURYLGHVQRRYHUSXVK
V\VWHPLVGHVLJQHGZLWKWKHIDFLOLW\IRUJUHDWHUWUDYHODQG
LH PP
,PSOHPHQWLQJ WKLV GHVLJQ SULQFLSOH DSSHDUV WR REYLDWH
SRWHQWLDOGDPDJHWRURRIVXSSRUWVFDXVHGE\FXPXODWLYH
RYHUSXVK RI FDQRSLHV -2< FODLP WKHLU H[SHULHQFHV RI
URRIVXSSRUWVRSHUDWLQJLQWKLFNVHDPFRXQWHUVWKHLPSDFW
RI SRRU IDFH PDQDJHPHQW SUDFWLFHV ZKLFK FDQ FDXVH
PLVDOLJQPHQWRIWKHVKLHOGVXSSRUWVWRWKH$)&
2QHLPSOLFDWLRQRI-2<VGHVLJQLVWKDWJDSVXSWR
WRPPEHWZHHQDGMDFHQWURRIVXSSRUWFDQRSLHVFRXOG
RFFXU7KLVFRXOGFUHDWHDULVNRILQMXU\GXHWRPDWHULDO
IDOOLQJIURPWKHFDQRS\.HHSLQJWKHUHDUZDONZD\FOHDQ
ZRXOG DOVR EHFRPSURPLVHG,QDORZWRPHGLXPVHDP
WKLFNQHVVRIOHVVWKDQP-2<VSURSRVDOVKRXOGQRWKDYH
VHULRXVLPSOLFDWLRQV+RZHYHUIRURSHUDWLQJKHLJKWVRI
WRPWKHKHLJKWIURPZKLFKPDWHULDOFDQIDOODQGWKH
JDSVWKDWFDQRSHQXSEHWZHHQDGMDFHQWVXSSRUWVEHFRPH
IDUPRUHVLJQLFDQW
7KHUH DUH PDQ\ ORQJZDOO IDFHV RSHUDWLQJ DW  WR  P
KLJK ZKLFK KDYH URRI VXSSRUWV ZLWK RYHUSXVK RI VLGH
VKLHOGVDQGZKHUHURRIVXSSRUWDOLJQPHQWWRWKH$)&LV
FRQWUROOHGWKURXJKHIIHFWLYHIDFHPDQDJHPHQWSUDFWLFHV
+RZHYHULIWKHRYHUSXVKIDFLOLW\RQDVKLHOGVXSSRUWLV
LQDSSURSULDWHO\PDQDJHGLWFDQUHVXOWLQDVFHQDULRZKHUH
WKHFDQRSLHVEHFDPHSURJUHVVLYHO\RIIVHWIURPWKHEDVHV
RI WKH VKLHOG VXSSRUWV GXH WR WKH FXPXODWLYH DIIHFW RI
FDQRS\VLGHVKLHOGRYHUSXVK
'%7 SURSRVH D GLDPHWULFDOO\ RSSRVLWH DSSURDFK ZLWK D
DOVR FRQVLGHU D IDFLOLW\ WR OLPLW WKH WUDYHO YLD D VLPSOH
PHFKDQLFDOVWRSDUUDQJHPHQW
7KH SULQFLSOH RI XVLQJ FDQRS\ VLGH VKLHOGV WR VWHHU WKH
ORQJZDOOIDFHVKLHOGDWRSHUDWLQJKHLJKWVLQH[FHVVRIP
LVDZHGDVWKHUHLVQWHQRXJKIRUFHRUVWUHQJWKRUULJLGLW\
LQ WKH XSSHU SRUWLRQV RI WKH URRI VXSSRUW VWUXFWXUHV WR
HIIHFWLYHO\DFKLHYHWKLVUHTXLUHPHQW'XHWRWKHJHRPHWU\
FHQWUHRIJUDYLW\DQGWKHZLGWKDWWKHWRSDQGERWWRPRI
WKHWZROHJWKLFNVHDPVKLHOGWKLVSUDFWLFHFDQFRQWULEXWH
WRFDQRS\DQGEDVHPLVDOLJQPHQWSUREOHPVDQGUHVXOWLQ
H[WHQVLYHDQGH[SHQVLYHPHFKDQLFDOGDPDJHWRWKHURRI
VXSSRUWDQGLQSDUWLFXODUWKHOHJV
7KHSUHIHUUHGQRUPDOSUDFWLFHLVIRUVKLHOGVXSSRUWVWRKDYH
EHWZHHQDQGPPRIVLGHVKLHOGWUDYHOLQH[FHVVRI
WKDWUHTXLUHGWRFRYHUWKHQRPLQDOVXSSRUWFHQWUHVSDFLQJ
7KLVLVSULPDULO\XVHGWRHQVXUHIXOOFDQRS\VLGHVKLHOG
FRQWDFWZKHQWKHVXSSRUWVDUHQHJRWLDWLQJXQGXODWLRQVLQ
WKHVHDP:KHUHWKHVLGHVKLHOGVDUHVSULQJDSSOLHGWKH
VLGHORDGDSSOLHGWRWKHVLGHVKLHOGLVQRUPDOO\ZHOOEHORZ
WRWDQGGRHVQRWKDYHWKHDELOLW\WRHIIHFWLYHO\VWHHU
WKHIDFH,QWKHHYHQWWKDWWKHVLGHVKLHOGVKDYHDK\GUDXOLF
H[WHQVLRQIXQFWLRQPXFKODUJHUORDGVLQWKHRUGHURIWR
WFDQEHJHQHUDWHGDQGWKHVHVLGHVKLHOGVFDQEHXVHG
WRVWHHUWKHIDFH,QWKLVFDVHLQDSSURSULDWHPDQDJHPHQW
DQG RSHUDWLRQ RI WKLV IDFLOLW\ FDQ FUHDWH FDQRS\ WR EDVH
PLVDOLJQPHQW
,W VKRXOG EH QRUPDO RSHUDWLQJ SUDFWLFH WKDW D VKLHOG
FDQRS\RIPLQLPXPSUDFWLFDOZLGWKPPDQGVLGH
VKLHOGV ZKLFK H[WHQG  PP ZLWK DQ HIIHFWLYH RYHU
SXVKRIWRPP7KH'%7VLGHVKLHOGLVDVSULQJ
DSSOLHGK\GUDXOLFUHWUDFWGHVLJQZKLFKVKRXOGQHJDWHWKH
SRVVLELOLW\ RI RSHUDWRU PDOSUDFWLFH RI SXVKLQJ WKH URRI
VXSSRUWVFDQRSLHVLQWKHRSSRVLWHGLUHFWLRQWRIDFHFUHHS
6LQFHWKHVHVLGHVKLHOGVDUHVSULQJDSSOLHGZLWKDORDGRI
DSSUR[LPDWHO\WRWZKHQH[WHQGHGWKH\GRQRWFUHDWH
VKLHOGVWHHULQJSUREOHPV7KH'%7VLGHVKLHOGVDUHVSULQJ
DSSOLHGDQGK\GUDXOLFUHWUDFWVRWKDWWKHIRUFHDSSOLHGWR
WKH DGMDFHQW VXSSRUW YDULHV GHSHQGLQJ RQ WKH H[WHQVLRQ
0RQRJUDSK$XVWUDODVLDQ&RDO0LQLQJ3UDFWLFH 347
VXSSRUW ZKHQ DGYDQFHG LV IUHH WR UHDOLJQ WKH FDQRS\ WR
WKHEDVHDQGWKDWWKHVLGHVKLHOGORDGDSSOLHGWRLWGXULQJ
DGYDQFHLVHTXDORQERWKVLGHV
Future developments
)XWXUH SURGXFWLRQ FDSDFLW\ RU UHOLDELOLW\ UHTXLUHPHQWV
VKRXOGEHFRQVLGHUHGDVSDUWRIWKHURRIVXSSRUWVHOHFWLRQ
SURFHVV7KLVPD\HQWDLORSHUDWLQJZLWKDQHZVKHDUHUDQG
RU$)&ZKLFKFRXOGFRQWDLQWKHODWHVWJHQHUDWLRQKLJKHU
FDSDFLW\ WHFKQRORJ\ 7KLV PD\ FRQVLGHUDEO\ ZLGHQ WKH
 GLVWDQFHIURPIDFHOLQHWRWKHUHDURIWKHFDQRS\FRPSDUHG IDEULFDWLRQ IRU WKH FRQQHFWLRQ WR WKH VWDJH ORDGHU 7KH
ZLWKWKHH[LVWLQJVXLWHRIHTXLSPHQW GLVFKDUJH RQWR WKH VWDJH ORDGHU FDQ EH D VLGH GLVFKDUJH
RUDQHQGGLVFKDUJH,QVWDOODWLRQVZKLFKKDYHODUJHFRDO
,W ZRXOG QRW EH GHVLUDEOH WR DFFRPPRGDWH WKLV ODUJHU
OXPSV XVH D VLGH GLVFKDUJH DUUDQJHPHQW ZKLFK SORXJKV
HTXLSPHQW E\ VWHSSLQJ WKH URRI VXSSRUWV EDFN  WR
WKHFRDOIURPWKH$)&RQWRWKHVWDJHORDGHU+RZHYHULI
PP IURP WKH IDFH +RZHYHU D FRPSURPLVH RI
VODEE\VWRQHLVWREHKDQGOHGDQHQGGLVFKDUJHFRXOGEHD
LQFUHDVLQJ IRUZDUG SURMHFWLRQ FDQRS\ OHQJWK E\  WR
EHWWHUFKRLFH9LUWXDOO\DOO$)&VGHOLYHUHGDWWKHSUHVHQW
 PP DQG PDNLQJ SURYLVLRQ WR VWHS WKH URRI VXSSRUW
WLPHDUHVLGHGLVFKDUJH
EDFNE\DIXUWKHUPPVKRXOGEHDVVHVVHGDVSDUWRILWV
IXWXUHDFFHSWDELOLW\,IDZLGHUDQGKLJKHUFDSDFLW\$)& $VLGHGLVFKDUJHDUUDQJHPHQWSORXJKVWKHFRDOIURPWKH
LVLQVWDOOHGWKHWHOHVFRSLFUHOD\EDUPXVWKDYHDGMXVWPHQW $)& DQG JXLGHV LW RQWR WKH VWDJH ORDGHU 7KLV W\SH RI
KROHVWRDOORZWKHVKLHOGVXSSRUWWREHEURXJKWIRUZDUG V\VWHPLVDEOHWRKDQGOHODUJHOXPSVRIFRDOEXWWKHFKDLQ
 PP WR FORVH WKH WLS WR IDFH GLVWDQFH 7KLV IDFLOLW\ DQGLJKWSHUIRUPDQFHFDQEHUHGXFHGLIVODEE\VWRQHLV
ZLOOKHOSPDLQWDLQRURIIVHWWKHSRWHQWLDOLQFUHDVHGWLSWR HQFRXQWHUHG7KHLPSRUWDQWIHDWXUHVRIWKLVDUUDQJHPHQW
IDFH GLVWDQFH 7KH VHQVLWLYLW\ RI WLS WR IDFH GLVWDQFH RQ DUH
URRIFRQWUROFDQEHWHVWHGE\VWHSSLQJVRPHRIWKHURRI
 WKHVKDSHDQGWKHORFDWLRQRIWKHSORXJKSODWH
VXSSRUWVEDFNLQPPLQFUHPHQWVDQGPRQLWRULQJWKH
LPSDFW 6XFK WHVWV FDQ EH DFKLHYHG XVLQJ DQ DGMXVWDEOH  WKH VKDSH DQG FXWDZD\ RI WKH $)& GHFNLQJ SODWH
WHOHVFRSLFUHOD\EDU LPPHGLDWHO\EHQHDWKWKHSORXJKSODWH
 WKH SRVLWLRQ RI WKH VWDJH ORDGHU LQ UHODWLRQ WR WKH
Possible cost implications FHQWUHOLQHRIWKHFRQYH\RUEHOW

,QFRUSRUDWLQJ DOO WKH UHTXLUHG GHVLJQ LPSURYHPHQWV KDV  WKHDWWDFKPHQWVRIWKHVWDJHORDGHUWRWKH$)&GULYH

GHQLWHFRVWLPSOLFDWLRQV,QWHUPVRIWKHWRWDOYDOXHRI
WKHORQJZDOOLQVWDOODWLRQDQGWKHWRWDOFDSLWDOLQYHVWPHQW
RIWKHSURMHFWWKHSURSRVHGFRVWVVKRXOGEHMXVWLDEOHLQ
WHUPVRIWKHYDOXHDGGHGULVNPLQLPLVDWLRQDQGLQFUHDVHG
H[LELOLW\$OORIZKLFKVKRXOGSURYLGHKLJKHUSURGXFWLRQ
DQGORZHUFRVWV$GGLWLRQDOO\WKHVHLQFUHPHQWDOXSIURQW
FRVWVDUHEXWDIUDFWLRQRIWKHWRWDOFRVWRIRZQHUVKLSIRU
DVHWRIURRIVXSSRUWV3RRUSURGXFWLRQUDWHVGXHWRSRRU
HTXLSPHQWGHVLJQDQGVHOHFWLRQZLOOFRVWWKHRZQHURIWKH
PLQHIDUPRUHHDFK\HDUWKDQDVPDOOH[WUDXSIURQWFDSLWDO
FRVW$RQFHRIIVDYLQJLVIDOVHHFRQRP\ZKHQFRPSDUHG
WR VHOHFWLQJ EHWWHU GHVLJQHG DQG FULWLFDOO\ DVVHVVHG
HTXLSPHQW WKDW SURYLGHV LPSURYHG KHDOWK DQG VDIHW\
JLYHVJUHDWHUSURGXFWLRQKLJKHURSHUDWLRQDOSURGXFWLYLW\
DQG UHOLDELOLW\ DQG DVVLVWV LQ DFKLHYLQJ D ORZHU FRVW SHU
WRQQH
ARMOURED FACE CONVEYER,
CRUSHER AND BEAM STAGE
LOADER TECHNOLOGY
IUDPHEDVHDQG
 WKH VWUXFWXUDO VWUHQJWK RI WKH XQGHUIUDPH RI WKH
PDLQJDWH GULYH IUDPH SDUWLFXODUO\ WKH SRLQWV RI
DWWDFKPHQWIRUWKHURRIVXSSRUWVDQGWKHFRQQHFWLRQ
WRWKH$)&SDQOLQH
7KH NH\ HOHPHQWV RI WKH $)& LQFOXGH WKH KHDG DQG
WDLO IUDPHV OLQH SDQV JHDUER[HV VSURFNHWV FRXSOLQJV
DQG VKHDUHU KDXODJH V\VWHPV 7RGD\ WKH GHVLJQ RI WKLV
HTXLSPHQWLVVLPSOHUDQGPRUHUHOLDEOHXVLQJZHOOSURYHQ
FRPSXWHULVHG GHVLJQ WHFKQRORJ\ DQG PDQXIDFWXULQJ
PHWKRGVWKDWDLPWRSURYLGHPRUHFRQWLQXRXVSURGXFWLRQ
ZKLOH FRQWULEXWLQJ WR D VDIHU DQG PRUH HUJRQRPLFDOO\
HIFLHQWIDFHRSHUDWLRQ
:LWK DGYDQFHV LQ FRPSXWHU WHFKQRORJ\ WKH GHVLJQ RI
WKHFRPSRQHQWVUHVXOWVLQHTXLSPHQWEHLQJEXLOWWRPRUH
H[DFWLQJ WROHUDQFHV &DVWLQJ WHFKQRORJ\ KDV LPSURYHG
DQG QRZ DOORZV WLJKWHU WROHUDQFHV DQG UHGXFHG XVH RI
ZHOGHGIDEULFDWLRQRIFOHYLVHVGRJERQHKRXVLQJVDQGOLQH
SDQFRQQHFWLRQVZKLFKKDYHSUHYLRXVO\EHHQLQKHUHQWO\
XQUHOLDEOH
$OOVXSSOLHUVRIWKHVHSURGXFWVURXWLQHO\XVHULVNDQDO\VLV
7KH VHOHFWLRQ RI DQ DUPRXUHG IDFH FRQYH\HU $)& PHWKRGVDQGZRUNWRFRQWLQXDOO\LPSURYHWKHLUHTXLSPHQW
FUXVKHU DQG EHDP VWDJH ORDGHU %6/ LV GHWHUPLQHG E\ RYHUWKDWFXUUHQWO\LQRSHUDWLRQE\JDWKHULQJDQGDQDO\VLQJ
REMHFWLYHO\DQDO\VLQJWKHWHFKQLFDOPHFKDQLFDOHOHFWULFDO RSHUDWLRQDOGDWDXVXDOO\ZLWKVRPHDVVLVWDQFHIURPPLQH
DQG VWUXFWXUDO HQJLQHHULQJ DVSHFWV RI WKH HTXLSPHQW RSHUDWRUV
EHLQJ RIIHUHG DVVHVVLQJ WKH JHRWHFKQLFDO LQIRUPDWLRQ 7KH WDLOJDWH GULYH LV FRQVWUXFWHG WR WKH ORZHVW SRVVLEOH
DYDLODEOH IRU WKH PLQH DQGRU XVLQJ JHRWHFKQLFDO SUROH WR DOORZ WKH VKHDUHU WR FXW SDVW WKH GULYH IUDPH
LQIRUPDWLRQJDLQHGWKURXJKWKHXVHRIWKLVHTXLSPHQWDW DSSUR[LPDWHO\  PP PHDVXUHG DW WKH FHQWUH OLQH RI
VLPLODURUQHLJKERXULQJORQJZDOORSHUDWLRQV2EYLRXVO\ WKH GUXP 7KH VXSSRUW DWWDFKPHQW EHDP RI WKH WDLOJDWH
FRPPHUFLDO FRQVLGHUDWLRQV HVSHFLDOO\ WRWDO FDSLWDO FRVW GULYHDQGWKHDGMRLQLQJSDQVHFWLRQSURYLGHDQDWWDFKPHQW
DQGSHUKDSVZDUUDQW\ZLOOLQXHQFHWKHQDOGHFLVLRQWR SRLQWIRUWKHWKUHHWDLOJDWHVXSSRUWVDQGPXVWEHUREXVWO\
SXUFKDVH D SDUWLFXODU VHW RI HTXLSPHQW ,Q VHOHFWLQJ DQ FRQVWUXFWHGWRDFFHSWWKHORDGLQJV
$)&%6/DQGFUXVKHUWKHSXUFKDVHUVKRXOGIRFXVRQWKH
WRWDOFRVWRIRZQHUVKLSRYHUWKHHQWLUHOLIHRIWKHDVVHW 7KH IDFH VLGH IXUQLVKLQJ DVVLVWV LQ WKH FOHDQXS DV WKH
FRQYH\RU LV SXVKHG RYHU DQG PD\ SURYLGH D SODWIRUP
7KHPDLQJDWHGULYHDUUDQJHPHQWFRQWDLQVWKHPRWRUDQG IRU WKH VKHDUHU UROOHUV 7KH JRDI VLGH IXUQLVKLQJV
JHDU UHGXFWLRQ IRU WKH PDLQJDWH GULYH VSURFNHW DQG WKH

348 &KDSWHU
SURYLGH D PHDQV RI DWWDFKPHQW IRU WKH URRI VXSSRUWV WR WHHWKKDYHDORQJHUOLIHGXHWRWKHZLGHUUDFNWKDWDOORZV
WKH FRQYH\RU D PHDQV RI PRXQWLQJ WKH VSLOOSODWHV DQG WKH WHHWK WR EH PDGH ZLGHU 5DFNV FDQ EH IRUJHG RU
DWWDFKPHQW RI WKH FKDLQOHVV KDXODJH FRPSRQHQWV 7KH IDEULFDWHG0RUHUHFHQWGHVLJQVRIIHUHGKDYHDKHDY\GXW\
VSLOOSODWHV DUH FRQVWUXFWHG WR SURYLGH D WURXJK IRU WKH IRUJHGUDFNV\VWHPGHVLJQHGWRSURYLGHORQJHUVSURFNHW
VKHDUHUFDEOHKDQGOHUDQGPRXQWLQJEUDFNHWVIRUWKHKRVH DQGWUDSSLQJVKRHOLIHWKDWFDQEHWWHUPDQDJHVHYHUHVHDP
DQGFDEOHUXQVWRWKHFHQWUHRIWKHIDFHDQGWKHWDLOJDWH XQGXODWLRQV$ PRVW DWWUDFWLYH IHDWXUH LQYROYHV D GLUHFW
GULYHV\VWHPWKDWLQFUHDVHVWKHWXQQHOFOHDUDQFHXQGHUWKH
/LQHSDQVXVHGLIIHUHQWJUDGHVRIDEUDVLRQUHVLVWDQWVWHHO
VKHDUHUDQGDKLJKHUSURGXFWLRQUDWHSDVWWKHVKHDUHU
WRLPSURYHWKHOLIHRIWKHXSSHUGHFNSODWHV2QHVXSSOLHU
FDQ SURYLGH D SDQ ZLWK DQ H[FKDQJHDEOH XSSHU WURXJK 7KH%6/FUXVKHUDQGPRELOHEHOWWDLOHQGDUHDOVRFULWLFDO
'RJERQH UDWLQJV KDYH EHHQ  W IRU VRPH \HDUV DQG WR WKH DFKLHYHPHQW RI D VDIH HIFLHQW DQG SURGXFWLYH
QRZKDYHUDWLQJVXSWRW7KHVLJPDVHFWLRQGHVLJQ ORQJZDOO V\VWHP 2SWLPXP SHUIRUPDQFH DQG UHOLDELOLW\
RSWLPLVHVJXLGDQFHIRUWKHLJKWEDUVWRPLQLPLVHIULFWLRQ RIWKLVLQWHJUDWHGXQLWLVDFKLHYHGWKURXJKDGHVLJQWKDW
DQG DGG VWUHQJWK WR HDFK OLQH SDQ 8VH RI DXWRPDWLF FRPSOHPHQWV WKH RSHUDWLQJ SDUDPHWHUV RI WKH RWKHU
ZHOGLQJ HTXLSPHQW LPSURYHV SURGXFW HIFLHQF\ DQG HTXLSPHQW QDPHO\ WKH W\SH RI PDWHULDO EHLQJ KDQGOHG
ZHOGUHOLDELOLW\'HFNSODWHWKLFNQHVVFDQEHYDULHGWRVXLW DQGWKHURDGZD\FRQGLWLRQV
VSHFLF PLQH UHTXLUHPHQWV 3DQ MRLQWV RU HQGV DUH QRZ
7KH%6/FDSDFLW\LVGHVLJQHGWREHJUHDWHUWKDQWKH$)&
RYHUODSSHG DQG FDQ EH PDFKLQHG WR UHGXFH QRLVH DLG
7KLV LV DFKLHYHG E\ LQFUHDVLQJ WKH ZLGWK LQVWDOOLQJ D
ZLWKDQXQREVWUXFWHGLJKWSDWKDQGLPSURYHGHFNSODWH
KLJKHUFKDLQVSHHGDQGE\GHFUHDVLQJWKHLJKWVSDFLQJ
DOLJQPHQWV WR HQKDQFH SDQ SHUIRUPDQFH DQG RSHUDWLQJ
7KHFKDLQVHFWLRQVLJKWVDQGLJKWFRQQHFWLRQVVKRXOG
OLIH 7KH XVH RI  PP FKDLQ LV DOPRVW WKH LQGXVWU\
EH VXIFLHQWO\ UREXVW WR ZLWKVWDQG WKH LPSDFWLQJ RI WKH
VWDQGDUG HVSHFLDOO\ RQ WKH QHZHU RU XSJUDGHG ORQJZDOO
FUXVKHU7KHUHDUHLPSRUWDQWIHDWXUHVWREHFRQVLGHUHGLQ
V\VWHPV
WKHGHVLJQRIDVWDJHORDGHU
6SURFNHWVXVHGDWHDFKHQGRIWKHIDFHWHQGWREHVLQJOHXQLW
 WKHVHFWLRQEHWZHHQWKHWUDQVIHUSRLQWDQGWKHFUXVKHU
FRQVWUXFWLRQFRPSULVHGRIDGULYHVKDIWLQERDUGEHDULQJ
PXVWEHH[LEOH
DQGVSURFNHWULQJVZKLFKDUHOXEULFDWHGDXWRPDWLFDOO\LQ
DIXOO\VHDOHGXQLW*RRGGHVLJQDQGIDEULFDWLRQPHWKRGV  WKH VHFWLRQ RI WKH VWDJH ORDGHU LQ FRQWDFW ZLWK WKH
DUHHVVHQWLDODQGLQYROYHHQODUJLQJWKHSRFNHWSUROHRQ RRUPXVWEHXQGHUSODWHGWRSUHYHQWRRUVWRQHEHLQJ
WKHVSURFNHWWRSURYLGHLQFUHDVHGFKDLQDQGVSURFNHWOLIH JDWKHUHGXSE\WKHUHWXUQFKDLQ
DQG DOORZ WKH VSURFNHW WR EH XVHG RQ HLWKHU HQG RI WKH
 WKH RXWE\H HQG RI WKH FUXVKHU VHFWLRQ VKRXOG EH
$)&8VHRIDFUDGOHVXSSRUWSURYLGHVDVDIHUDQGVLPSOHU
GHVLJQHGWRIRUPDSORXJKRUDVNLGWRSORXJKDVLGH
DVVHPEO\VLPSOHUPDLQWHQDQFHDQGHDVLHUUHSODFHPHQW
ORRVHRRUPDWHULDO
*HDUER[ GHVLJQV WHQG WR EH FRPSOHWHG LQ KRXVH E\ WKH
 WKHGULYHDVVHPEO\VXEEDVHPXVWKDYHERWKKRUL]RQWDO
2(0 $OO HPSOR\ FRPSXWHU PRGHOOLQJ WHFKQLTXHV WR
DQGYHUWLFDOPRYHPHQWVWRDOORZWKHVWDJHORDGHUWR
FRPSOHPHQWWKHLUYDVWDPRXQWVRIRSHUDWLQJH[SHULHQFH
UXQDORQJWKHFRQYH\RUERRWHQG
DQGNQRZOHGJH7KLVDIIRUGVWKHHQGXVHUWKHFKRLFHRI
KHOLFDODQGSODQHWDU\GHVLJQZLWKDSURYHQSRZHUUDWLQJ  WKHDWWDFKPHQWVRIWKHVWDJHORDGHUWRWKH$)&PXVW
RIXSWR0:,QWKHIRUHVHHDEOHIXWXUHGULYHVZLOOEH DOORZIRUKRUL]RQWDODQJXODUGLVSODFHPHQWERWKVLGHV
FDSDEOHRI0: RIDQG
'ULYHV\VWHPVSUHGRPLQDQWO\XVHHLWKHU&67JHDUER[HV  WKHSDWKZD\RIWKHLJKWFKDLQVVKRXOGEHDVVWUDLJKW
RU 7ULSOH 7 XLG GULYH V\VWHPV %RWK V\VWHPV SURYLGH DV SRVVLEOH SDUWLFXODUO\ WKH UHWXUQ FKDLQ ZKHUH LW
KLJKWRUTXHVWDUWLQJFDSDELOLW\IRUORQJDQGKLJKFDSDFLW\ SDVVHVXQGHUWKHFUXVKHU
$)&V7KHVHV\VWHPVDOORZPRWRUVWRVWDUWXSXQGHUQR 7KH%6/LVLQKHUHQWO\VLPSOHDQGSURYLGHVKLJKDYDLODELOLW\
ORDGDQGDOVRUHGXFHWKHLPSDFWRIYROWDJHGURSLQPLQHV WKURXJKWKHXVHRIKHDY\GXW\FRPSRQHQWVLQDUHDVOLNH
ZKHUH WKH KLJK WHQVLRQ SRZHU VXSSO\ ODFNV UREXVWQHVV SDQVLGHVHFWLRQVDQGKLJKLPSDFWLJKWSDQV7KHEHDP
0LFURSURFHVVRU FRQWURO RI WKH GULYHV UHVXOWV LQ WRUTXH EHKLQGWKHGULYHIUDPHLVVHOIVXSSRUWLQJDQGLQFRUSRUDWHV
EHLQJ SURJUHVVLYHO\ DSSOLHG WR WKH $)& FKDLQ DV LW KHDY\GXW\OLQHSDQVZLWKVSLOOSODWHV7KHRRUPRXQWHG
DFFHOHUDWHV WR IXOO VSHHG7KH XVH RI &67 JHDUER[HV RU VHFWLRQFRQWDLQVWKHFUXVKHUDQGKDVDYHUWLFDODUWLFXODWLQJ
7ULSOH7'ULYHVHIIHFWLYHO\FRQWUROVWKHHQRUPRXVIRUFHV KLQJHRQWKHRXWE\HHQG7KLVSDUWRIWKH%6/FDQIROORZ
JHQHUDWHGGXULQJRSHUDWLRQDQGHVSHFLDOO\DWVWDUWXSRI WKHFRQWRXUVRIWKHPDLQJDWHURDGZD\ZLWKRXWLQGXFLQJ
WKH$)&DQGKDVWKHDGGHGEHQHWVRILQFUHDVLQJFKDLQ H[FHVVLYH EHQGLQJ LQWR WKH V\VWHP ,QVSHFWLRQ SDQV DUH
VSURFNHWDQGJHDUER[OLIH SURYLGHGWRDOORZDFFHVVWRWKHERWWRPFKDLQV
7KH VKHDUHU KDXODJH V\VWHP DWWDFKHG WR WKH $)& LV &UXVKHUV DUH VXSSOLHG LQ YDULRXV VL]HV FDSDFLWLHV DQG
WKH PHFKDQLFDO LQWHUIDFH DLPHG DW RSWLPLVLQJ VKHDUHU VWUHQJWKV WR PHHW D ZLGH UDQJH RI RSHUDWLQJ FRQGLWLRQV
SHUIRUPDQFH $ YDULHW\ RI KDXODJH V\VWHPV KDYH EHHQ $OO FUXVKHUV RSHUDWHG LQ $XVWUDOLDQ DUH GLUHFW GULYHQ
GHYHORSHG E\ WKH PDMRU 2(0V 7KH GLIIHUHQW PRGHOV WKURXJKDJHDUER[RSHUDWLQJDWKLJKVSHHGDQGZLWKKLJK
RIIHUHG E\ HDFK 2(0 KDYH EHQHWV ZKLFK FDQ LQFOXGH HQHUJ\&UXVKHUVKDYHWRZLWKVWDQGWKHKHDY\GXW\DQGDUH
UHWURWWLQJH[LVWLQJSDQV\VWHPVZLWKQHZHUGHYHORSHG IDEULFDWHGZLWKWKLFNVWHHOSODWHWRZLWKVWDQGWKHLPSDFW
V\VWHPV7KHQHZUDFNV\VWHPVDUHVWURQJHUWKHVSURFNHW RI FUXVKLQJ WKH PDWHULDO9HUWLFDO DGMXVWPHQW RI WKH UROO

0RQRJUDSK$XVWUDODVLDQ&RDO0LQLQJ3UDFWLFH 349
 FUXVKHU VKDIW LV DFKLHYHG XVLQJ K\GUDXOLF F\OLQGHUV WR $FWLYHGHEDWHFRQWLQXHVEHWZHHQDOOVWDNHKROGHUVLQWKH
PDNH UDSLG DGMXVWPHQWV WR VXLW WKH VL]H RI WKH PDWHULDO ORQJZDOOLQGXVWU\DERXWWKHUHODWLYHPHULWVDQGGHPHULWV
EHLQJFUXVKHG RIXVLQJFDVW$)&FRPSDUHGWRUROOHGKLJKDOOR\VLJPD
DQG FRPSRVLWH ZHOGHG SDQV $IWHU DOO WKH GLIIHUHQFHV
7KH QDO FRPSRQHQW PDNLQJ XS WKH $)& FUXVKHU DQG
LQ PDWHULDO XVHG DQG WKHLU GHVLJQ DQG FRQVWUXFWLRQ DUH
WKH %6/ XQLW LV WKH PRELOH ERRW HQG7KHVH XQLWV FRPH
LQYHVWLJDWHGLWLVH[WUHPHO\GLIFXOWWRGHWHUPLQHZKLFK
LQPDQ\GLIIHUHQWFRQJXUDWLRQVDOOZLWKWKHREMHFWLYHRI
W\SH LV PRUH REMHFWLYHO\ VXSHULRU /LPLWLQJ VXFK D
DOORZLQJWKHORQJZDOOWRUHWUHDWZLWKRXWVWRSSLQJWKHEHOW
GHWHUPLQDWLRQWRWKHVHPDQXIDFWXULQJYDULDEOHVLVORRNLQJ
DQGWKHFRDORZIURPORQJZDOOIDFH'LIIHUHQWPRGHOV
DWDUHODWLYHO\VPDOOSDUWRIWKHFRVWRIRZQLQJDQ$)&
LQFOXGH D 0DWLOGD VW\OH XQLW DV ZHOO DV VHOI SURSHOOHG
%6/DQGFUXVKHU7KHGHWHUPLQDWLRQQHHGVWRDOVRIRFXV
FUDZOHUDQGVNLGPRXQWHGXQLWV7KHVHOISURSHOOHGERRW
RQ RWKHU HOHPHQWV WKDW FRQWULEXWH WR WKH WRWDO FRVW RI
HQGVHLWKHUXVHWKHLURZQK\GUDXOLFSXPSRUDUHSRZHUHG
RZQHUVKLSRYHUWKHOLIHRIWKHDVVHW7KLVVKRXOGLQFOXGH
IURP WKH URRI VXSSRUW K\GUDXOLF V\VWHP 7KH FUDZOHU
DVVHVVLQJ WKH RSHUDWLQJ DQG PDLQWHQDQFH SUDFWLFHV DW D
PRXQWHGXQLWVKDYHKHDY\GXW\WUDFNSDGVDQGKDYHGULYHV
PLQH&OHDUO\LIWKHVHSUDFWLFHVDUHEHVWLQFODVVSUREDEO\
ZLWKLQWHUQDOSODQHWDU\JHDUV5RRIMDFNVDQGEHOWZLSHUV
WKURXJK WKH XVH RI TXDOLW\ PDQDJHPHQW WHFKQLTXHV OLNH
DUHVWDQGDUGHTXLSPHQWDVDUHWKHOHYHOOLQJMDFNVORFDWHG
6L[6LJPDDQ$)&WKDWLVKDQGOLQJVRIWHUFRDOZLWKORZHU
RQHDFKFRUQHUIRUOLQLQJDQGOHYHOOLQJWKHERRWHQG
DVKFOD\DQGVLOLFDFRQWHQWZLOOKDYHUHGXFHGZHDUUDWHV
&OHDUO\ZHDUUDWHVRIPPSHUPLOOLRQWRQQHVDWDPLQH
Recent developments in AFC design VKRXOGUHVXOWLQSHUFHQWORQJHU$)&OLIHWKDQDWDPLQH
ZKRVHZHDUUDWHLVPPSHU0W7KLVDVVXPHVFRPPRQ
7KHUH LV D WUHQG WR VHSDUDWH ZHDU FRPSRQHQWV IURP
RSHUDWLQJ DQG PDLQWHQDQFH SUDFWLFHV DUH HPSOR\HG DW
VWUXFWXUDO FRPSRQHQWV )RU KLJKZHDU DUHDV YHU\ KDUG
HDFKPLQH&OHDUO\WKLVLVDELJDVVXPSWLRQDQGGLIFXOW
ZHDUUHVLVWDQW PDWHULDOV DUH EHLQJ XVHG LQ LQFUHDVLQJ
WRDVVHVVLQDQREMHFWLYHPDQQHU7KHGHEDWHDERXWZKLFK
DPRXQWV7KLVUHVXOWVLQORQJHUVHUYLFHOLIHDQGIDUORZHU
FRQVWUXFWLRQLVVXSHULRUZLOOFRQWLQXHIRUVRPH\HDUVXQWLO
RYHUDOOSDQZHDUDOEHLWDWKLJKHUFRVW
DQREMHFWLYHDSSURDFKLVDGRSWHGWRGHWHUPLQHZKLFKLV
0D[LPLVLQJWKHFRQWDFWVXUIDFHEHWZHHQWKHLJKWEDUDQG PRUH YDOXDEOH WR WKH PLQH RSHUDWRU RYHU WKH ZKROH OLIH
WKHWRSSRUWLRQRIWKHVLJPDVHFWLRQSUROHPLQLPLVHVWKH RIWKH$)&
VXUIDFHSUHVVXUHIURPWKHLJKWEDUVRQWRWKHKLJKZHDU
7RSGHFNWKLFNQHVVHVKDYHLQFUHDVHGXSWRPPJLYLQJ
DUHDVWKDWRFFXUHVSHFLDOO\ZKHQWKH$)&LVEHLQJVQDNHG
DORQJHUSRWHQWLDOOLIHKRZHYHUPRWRUGULYHVKDYHSURYHQ
GXULQJLWVDGYDQFHDQGDOVRZKHQQHJRWLDWLQJXQGXODWLQJ
UDWLQJVRIXSWR0:DQGFRXSOLQJVDQGJHDUER[HVKDYH
JURXQGFRQGLWLRQV)XUWKHUGHYHORSPHQWVDQGUHQHPHQWV
LPSURYHG,QWKHHQGLWLVFKDLQWHFKQRORJ\HJFKDLQVL]H
LQ WKH ERWWRP UDFH KDYH UHVXOWHG LQ D ODUJH LQFUHDVH LQ
VWUHQJWKPHWDOOXUJ\DQGSUROHWKDWZLOOEHWKHFULWLFDO
WKH FRQWDFW VXUIDFH DUHDV WKXV UHGXFLQJ WKH ZHDU RQ WKH
IDFWRULQVXFFHVVIXOO\RZQLQJRSHUDWLQJDQGPDLQWDLQLQJ
LJKWEDUVKRXOGHU7KLVRSWLPLVDWLRQRIFRQWDFWVXUIDFH
DQ$)&%6/DQGFUXVKHUWKDWSURYLGHVDOLIHLQH[FHVVRI
DUHDVKDVWKHDGGLWLRQDODGYDQWDJHRIRSWLPLVLQJIULFWLRQ
0WKDQGOHVRYHUWKDQGLVXVHGRQIDFHOHQJWKV
OHYHOV DQG WKHUHIRUH GHFUHDVLQJ SRZHU UHTXLUHG WR GULYH
H[FHHGLQJP
WKH$)&FKDLQ$OVRWKHVXUIDFHOLIHRIWKHLJKWEDUVDQG
VLJPDSUROHVDUHH[WHQGHGDQGRSHUDWLQJQRLVHOHYHOVDUH 7KH QH[W VWHS LV WR GHYHORS DQG PDQXIDFWXUH WKH
ORZHUHG WHFKQRORJ\ WR KDYH $)& %6/ DQG FUXVKHUV RSHUDWLQJ
FRVWHIIHFWLYHO\ DQG URXWLQHO\ DFURVV D ZLGH YDULHW\ RI
,QQHZGHVLJQVWKHVWUHQJWKRIWKHGRJERQHKDVLQFUHDVHG
ORQJZDOO DSSOLFDWLRQV LQFOXGLQJ IDFH OHQJWKV RI  P
ZLWK EUHDNLQJ IRUFHV RI XS WR  N1 7KLV KDV IRUFHG
,WVQRWIDUDZD\
VRSKLVWLFDWHG GHVLJQ LPSURYHPHQWV RI IRUJH FDVWLQJV
VXFK DV WKH FULWLFDO DUHDV RI WKH GRJERQH KRXVLQJ DQG
WKHSDQLWVHOI&RQVHTXHQWO\GRJERQHSRFNHWVQRZKDYH SHEARER
ORQJHUVHUYLFHOLIHOHVVGDQJHURIGDPDJLQJWKHFRQYH\RU
RU WKH GRJERQH KRXVLQJ 0RVW LPSRUWDQWO\ GHVSLWH WKH
6KHDUHUVXVHGIRUFXWWLQJFRDOKDYHHYROYHGHQRUPRXVO\
LQFUHDVHGVWUHQJWKRIWKHGRJERQHVWKHGRJERQHLVVWLOO
RYHU WKH ODVW IWHHQ \HDUV 0RVW GHYHORSPHQWV KDYH
PDQXIDFWXUHG WR EUHDN UVW DV WKH SUHIHUUHG VDFULFLDO
UHVXOWHGLQELJJHUDQGPRUHSRZHUIXOPDFKLQHVZHLJKLQJ
HOHPHQWGXULQJKLJKVWUHVVVSLNHV
XSWRW+LJKFDSDFLW\KDXODJHV\VWHPVQRZSURYLGH
,PSURYHG GHVLJQ RI WKH SDQ OLQHV KDV PD[LPLVHG WKHLU KLJKHUFXWWLQJVSHHGVWRFRPSOHPHQWWKHLQFUHDVHGFXWWLQJ
VWDELOLW\ DQG H[LELOLW\ /LQH SDQV FDQ DUWLFXODWH XS WR SRZHU XS WR  0: LQ WKH UDQJLQJ DUPV &XUUHQWO\
  WR  YHUWLFDOO\ DQG   WR  KRUL]RQWDOO\7KLV VKHDUHUVKDYHVLJQLFDQWO\EHWWHUFRQWUROFRPPXQLFDWLRQ
LPSURYHVWKHVWHHULQJRIWKH$)&DOORZLQJVKRUWHUVQDNHV DQGGLDJQRVWLFV\VWHPV1HZOHYHOVRIDXWRPDWLRQKDYH
ZKHQUHTXLUHGDQGEHWWHUDGDSWDWLRQWRXQGXODWLQJVHDPV LPSURYHG WKH HIFLHQF\ IRU D ZLGH YDULHW\ RI FXWWLQJ
7KHVHGHVLJQDQGPDQXIDFWXULQJLPSURYHPHQWVSURYLGH VHTXHQFHV HVSHFLDOO\ WKURXJK WKH XVH RI VWDWH EDVHG
DPRUHSUHFLVHWEHWZHHQSDQVPLQLPLVLQJWKHRYHUDOO FRQWUROV\VWHPVWKDWFDQLISURJUDPPHGDXWRPDWLFDOO\
ZHDURISDQHQGVLJKWEDUVDQGWKHFKDLQ0DLQWHQDQFH SRVLWLRQ WKH UDQJLQJ DUPV DQG FRQWURO VKHDULQJ VSHHGV
UHTXLUHPHQWV DUH IXUWKHU UHGXFHG DQG WURXEOH IUHH DW GLIIHUHQW SRVLWLRQV DORQJ WKH IDFH DQG DW VSHFLHG
RSHUDWLRQRIWKHFKDLQLQERWKGLUHFWLRQVLVHQKDQFHG WLPHV 7KHVH FRQWUROV KDYH EHHQ DFKLHYHG E\ LQVWDOOLQJ
VRSKLVWLFDWHG DOJRULWKPV DQG IHHGEDFN ORRSV LQWR WKH

350 &KDSWHU
VKHDUHU$OVRWKHDGYHQWRIPRGHUQFRQWURODQGPRQLWRULQJ 7KH VSLUDOYDQH FXWWLQJ GUXPV PXVW EH GHVLJQHG WR VXLW
V\VWHPVDFURVVWKHWRWDOORQJZDOOV\VWHPKDVDOORZHGWZR WKH FXWWLQJ DQG ORDGLQJ FKDUDFWHULVWLFV RI WKH FRDO VHDP
ZD\FRPPXQLFDWLRQSURWRFROVWREHHVWDEOLVKHGEHWZHHQ LQFRQMXQFWLRQZLWKGUXPURWDWLRQDOVSHHGVKHDUHUOLQHDU
WKH NH\ SLHFHV RI HTXLSPHQW EXW ZLWK WKH VKHDUHU QRZ VSHHGDQGJDXJHOHQJWKRIWKHSLFNVLQXVH'UXPVHOHFWLRQ
EHLQJ WKH FHQWUDO DQG PRVW LPSRUWDQW FRPSRQHQW IRU VKRXOGWDNHLQWRDFFRXQW
RSWLPLVLQJ SURGXFWLRQ UDWHV IURP WKH ORQJZDOO XQGHU D
 QXPEHURIYDQHVRUVWDUWV
YDULHW\RIFLUFXPVWDQFHVRUSURJUDPPHGVWDWXVSRLQWV
 QXPEHURISLFNVOLQH
'HVSLWHWKHVHLPSURYHPHQWVWKHEDVLFFRPSRQHQWVWKDW
EXLOGXSDVKHDUHUKDYHQRWFKDQJHGH[FHSWIRUPHFKDQLFDO  GLVWDQFHEHWZHHQWKHSLFNOLQHV
HOHFWULFDODQGHOHFWURQLFGHVLJQLPSURYHPHQWV6KHDUHUV
 YDULDEOHSLWFKDQJOHRIWKHYDQHVDFURVVWKHGUXP
KDYHWKHVHIXQGDPHQWDOFRPSRQHQWV
 DQJOHRIZUDSRIWKHYDQHV
 KHDY\ GXW\ PDLQIUDPHV WKDW VLW RQ IRXU OHJV DQG
WZR GRZQ GULYHV RQWR WKH KDXODJH FRPSRQHQWV  GHSWK RI WKH YDQHV WR EH DGHTXDWH WR ORDG WKH FRDO
WKLV VWUXFWXUH PD\ LQFRUSRUDWH D UROO VWHHULQJ EXW QRW XQQHFHVVDULO\ GHHS VR DV WR FUHDWH ]RQHV RI
DUUDQJHPHQW VWDJQDQWFRDO
 WRSRUERWWRPPRXQWHGUDQJLQJDUPF\OLQGHUV  VKDSHDQGWKHFOHDUDQFHRIWKHIDFHVLGHRIWKHGUXP
 VORXJKLQJSODWHVWRGHHFWFRDOIDOOLQJIURPWKHIDFH  VWUXFWXUDOGHVLJQ
RQWRWKHIDFHVLGHRIWKHVKHDUHUVRLWFDQEHORDGHG  VHOHFWLRQDQGW\SHRIWKHFXWWHUSLFNDQGLQSDUWLFXODU
RXWE\WKHIDFHFRQYH\HU LWVOHQJWK
 WZRUDQJLQJDUPV  PD[LPXPFXWWLQJVSHHGRIWKHVKHDUHU
 WZRKDXODJHXQLWVLQFOXGLQJPRWRUV  UHYROXWLRQVSHUPLQXWHRIWKHFXWWLQJGUXPDQG
 GLUHFWGRZQGULYHV  ZDWHUVSUD\V\VWHPDQGWKHVL]HRIZDWHUSDVVDJHV
 WUDQVIRUPHUER[ 'XVW VXSSUHVVLRQ LV DFKLHYHG E\ ZDWHU VSUD\ V\VWHPV
 SRZHUSDFN VXSSRUWHG E\ D KLJK SUHVVXUH ERRVW SXPS7KH SULPDU\
VSUD\ V\VWHP FRQVLVWV RI VSUD\V LQ WKH VKHDUHU GUXPV
 SXPSPRWRUIRUK\GUDXOLFSRZHU
ZKLFK SURYLGH SLFN IDFH DQG SLFN ERG\ XVKLQJ7KHVH
 HOHFWULFDO FRQWURO ER[ ZKLFK QRUPDOO\ FRQWDLQV VSUD\V DUH JHQHUDOO\ RI D TXLFNUHOHDVH W\SH ZLWK  WR
WKH VKHDUHU FRQWURO V\VWHP HJ '%7 &203$&7 PPVSUD\MHWVL]H7KHGUXPVPD\DOVRKDYHDVSUD\
6\VWHP WKH VKHDUHU DXWRPDWLRQV V\VWHP KHDOWK SDVVDJH WKURXJK WKH SLFN ERG\ ZKLFK SURYLGHV D VSUD\
PRQLWRULQJSDFNDJHDQGWKHKDXODJHFRQWUROV\VWHPV LPPHGLDWHO\EHKLQGWKHSLFNFXWWLQJWLS7KHZDWHUVXSSO\
DQG WRWKHGUXPVSUD\VLVXVXDOO\OLPLWHGRQO\E\WKHSUHVVXUH
UDWLQJRIWKHURWDU\VHDOVLQWKHUDQJLQJDUPDQGSHUKDSV
 DX[LOLDU\ HOHFWULFDO PDWHULDO ZKLFK LQFOXGHV WKH
WKHRLOFRROLQJHOHPHQWVLQWKHJHDUFDVHV7KHDLPRIWKH
HOHFWULFDO FRQWURO V\VWHP WUDQVPLWWHUV DXGLEOH SUH
GXVW VXSSUHVVLRQ V\VWHP LV WR FRQWDLQ WKH GXVW EHWZHHQ
VWDUWZDUQLQJVDQGPHWKDQRPHWHUV
WKH VKHDUHU DQG WKH FRDO IDFH 7KH VSUD\ QR]]OHV DUH
7KH UDQJLQJ DUPV FRQWDLQ WKH JHDU WUDLQ WR WUDQVPLW WKH SODFHGWRGLUHFWWKHVSUD\ZDWHULQWKHVDPHGLUHFWLRQDV
SRZHUWRWKHFXWWLQJGUXP7KHLPSRUWDQWIHDWXUHVRIWKLV WKHYHQWLODWLQJDLU
H[SHQVLYHSDUWRIWKHPDFKLQHDUH
$ VHFRQG FLUFXLW RI WKH VSUD\ V\VWHP VXSSOLHV ZDWHU WR
 WKH DELOLW\ WR DOORZ WKH GUXPV WR UHDFK RXW LQWR WKH D VHULHV RI VSUD\V SODFHG DORQJ WKH WRS RI WKH PDFKLQH
WDLOJDWH DQG PDLQJDWH DQG FXW WKH FOHDUDQFH IRU WKH DQG DORQJ WKH UDQJLQJ DUPV WR IRUP D VFUHHQ RI VSUD\
$)&GULYHIUDPHV ZDWHUHQGHDYRXULQJWRFRQWDLQWKHGXVWDJDLQVWWKHFRDO
IDFH7KHVHVSUD\VDUHSRVLWLRQHGWRVSUD\LQWKHGLUHFWLRQ
 WKH VWUXFWXUDO VWUHQJWK FDSDEOH RI ZLWKVWDQGLQJ DQG
RI WKH DLU RZ7KH RSHUDWLQJ SUHVVXUH WR WKLV FLUFXLW LV
WUDQVPLWWLQJWKHFXWWLQJIRUFHVEDFNWRWKHERG\RIWKH
03DZLWKYHU\QHVSUD\QR]]OHV
PDFKLQH
1HZWHFKQRORJ\EHLQJLQWURGXFHGEXWQRW\HWZLGHO\XVHG
 WKHQDOSODQHWDU\GULYHWRWKHVKHDUHUGUXPVFDSDEOH
LQWKHXQGHUJURXQGFRDOLQGXVWU\WRDLGFRPPXQLFDWLRQV
RIDFFHSWLQJWKHIXOOORDGWRUTXHRIWKHPRWRU
EHWZHHQ V\VWHP FRPSRQHQWV LQFOXGHV ZLUHOHVV HWKHUQHW
 WKHGHVLJQRIWKHRXWVLGHGLDPHWHUPLQLPLVHGWRDOORZ ZKLFK LV D QHZ SURYHQ LQQRYDWLRQ IRU FRPPXQLFDWLRQ
WKH EHVW SRVVLEOH YDQH GHSWK WR EH DFKLHYHG LQ WKH EHWZHHQ FRQWURO V\VWHPV ,Q DGGLWLRQ WKHUH LV QRZ DQ
FXWWLQJGUXPV DELOLW\WRWDQLQHUWLDOQDYLJDWLRQV\VWHPDVDQLQWHJUDO
XQLW LQWR D VSHFLDO FRPSDUWPHQW DV D UHVHDUFK DQG
 WKHSURYLVLRQRIKROORZVKDIWYHQWXULYHQWLODWLRQIURP
GHYHORSPHQW LQLWLDWLYH WR DXWRPDWH IDFH DOLJQPHQW DQG
WKHIDFHVLGHRIWKHFXWWLQJGUXPVDQG
XOWLPDWHO\KRUL]RQFRQWURODFURVVWKHHQWLUHIDFHOHQJWK
 WKH ORFDWLRQ DQG GHVLJQ RI WKH K\GUDXOLF UDQJLQJ
2WKHUIDFWRUVWREHFRQVLGHUHGZKHQSXUFKDVLQJDVKHDUHU
F\OLQGHUVVXFKDVWRFDXVHPLQLPXPUHVWULFWLRQWRWKH
IURPDQ2(0LQFOXGHFRPSOHWLQJRUREWDLQLQJ
FRDORZRQWRWKHFRQYH\RU

0RQRJUDSK$XVWUDODVLDQ&RDO0LQLQJ3UDFWLFH 351
  &RPSDWLELOLW\WULDOVZLWKRWKHUSURYLGHGHTXLSPHQW DYDLODEOHDQGPD\SURYHPRUHHIFLHQWDQGFRVWHIIHFWLYH
&KDQJLQJ WKH FXWWLQJ V\VWHP PD\ SURYLGH WKH VROXWLRQ
 0LQLEXLOGIRURSHUDWRUDQGPDLQWHQDQFHWUDLQLQJ
RUDWOHDVWDQRWKHUDOWHUQDWLYHWRPD[LPLVHSURGXFWLYLW\
 2YHUVHDVIUHLJKW DQG LPSURYH WKH HQYLURQPHQWDO DQG IDFH PDQDJHPHQW
SUDFWLFHV
 /DQGLQJDQGFOHDULQJFKDUJHV
7HFKQRORJ\KDVFKDQJHGWKHZD\WKHLQGXVWU\FDQPDQDJH
 ,QODQGIUHLJKW
ORQJZDOOV 7RGD\ PLQHV FRPPRQO\ XVH ELGLUHFWLRQDO
 'RFXPHQWDWLRQUHODWLQJWRHTXLSPHQWDSSURYDOVDQG FXWWLQJRUXQLGLUHFWLRQDOFXWWLQJZLWKDEDFNZDUGIRUZDUG
FHUWLFDWLRQ WR HQVXUH WKH VKHDUHU PHHWV VWDWXWRU\ RUUHYHUVHVQDNHGHSHQGLQJRQJHRORJLFDOHQYLURQPHQWDO
FRPSOLDQFH UHTXLUHPHQWV 2WKHU GRFXPHQWDWLRQ RU PDQDJHPHQW FRQGLWLRQV 5HFHQWO\ PLQHV KDYH EHHQ
LQFOXGHV SDUWV PDQXDOV JHQHUDO DUUDQJHPHQW ORRNLQJ DW WKH KDOI ZHE V\VWHP DQG YDULDWLRQV RQ WKLV
GUDZLQJVDQGQDOO\PDLQWHQDQFHRSHUDWLQJPDQXDOV PHWKRGDVDQDOWHUQDWLYHWRWKHROGV\VWHPV
7KHVHPDWHULDOVDUHQRZVXSSOLHGLQERWKKDUGFRS\
7KHGLIFXOW\LVWRGHWHUPLQHZKLFKV\VWHPLVEHVWIRUD
DQGLQDQHOHFWURQLFIRUPDW
SDUWLFXODU PLQH 2QO\ SHUVRQQHO IDPLOLDU ZLWK WKH PLQH
 &RPSHWHQF\ EDVHG WUDLQLQJ RI RSHUDWRUV DQG HQYLURQPHQW DQG FXUUHQW ORQJZDOO WHFKQRORJLHV ZLOO
PDLQWHQDQFHSHUVRQDOIROORZLQJRQIURPDVLWHQHHGV NQRZ WKH EHQHWV ULVNV DQG FRVWV WKDW ZLOO SURYLGH WKH
DQDO\VLVDQGULVNDVVHVVPHQW FRUUHFWDQVZHU$PLQHWKDWKDVDOZD\VXVHGRQHV\VWHP
 3URMHFWPDQDJHPHQWIRUVXSSO\RIWKHVKHDUHUIURP PD\QRWNQRZZKHWKHUDQRWKHUV\VWHPZRXOGEHWWHUVXLW
SODFHPHQW RI WKH RUGHU WKURXJK WR GHOLYHU\ DQG WKHLU FRQGLWLRQV DQG SURYLGH KHDOWK DQG VDIHW\ EHQHWV
FRPPLVVLRQLQJ WKH HTXLSPHQW 2QFH DJDLQ WKH DQGSURGXFWLRQLQFUHDVHVDWDQDFFHSWDEOHFRVW
DSSOLFDWLRQ RI ULVN PDQDJHPHQW WHFKQLTXHV DQG WKH 7KH PDMRULW\ RI ORQJZDOO RSHUDWLRQV LQ$XVWUDOLD XVH D
FRQVHTXHQWLDORXWFRPHVQHHGWREHFRQVLGHUHG XQLGLUHFWLRQDO FXWWLQJ WHFKQLTXH WKDW SURYLGHV VLPSOH
 3D\PHQWRILPSRUWGXW\ZKLFKLVFXUUHQWO\FKDUJHG RSHUDWLRQHQYLURQPHQWDOEHQHWVPLQLPDOPDQQLQJDQG
DW WKUHH SHU FHQW RI WKH LPSRUWHG YDOXH XQOHVV D LPSURYHG KRUL]RQ FRQWURO +RZHYHU LQ D FRVWGULYHQ
FRQFHVVLRQ WR UHPRYH WKLV GXW\ LV PDGH XQGHU DQ VXSSO\VHQVLWLYH DQG WKXV FRPSHWLWLYH PDUNHWSODFH
$XVWUDOLDQ *RYHUQPHQW LQLWLDWLYH NQRZQ DV WKH XVLQJ WKH FRQYHQWLRQDO RU WUDGLWLRQDO PLQLQJ VHTXHQFHV
(QKDQFHG3URMHFW%\ODZ6FKHPH(3%67KLVGXW\ RUFXWWLQJF\FOHVPD\QRWDOORZWKHHTXLSPHQWWRUHDOLVH
DOVR DSSOLHV WR WKH LPSRUWDWLRQ RI RWKHU HTXLSPHQW LWV SURGXFWLRQ SRWHQWLDO $V FRPSDQLHV VWULYH IRU D
WKDWPDNHVXSWKHORQJZDOORSHUDWLQJV\VWHP FRPSHWLWLYH HGJH WKH PDUNHW OHDGHUV VHHN WR QG QHZ
PHWKRGVWRJDLQVPDOOSURGXFWLYLW\LQFUHPHQWVWKDWZLOO
 6LWHVHUYLFHHQJLQHHULQJFRPPLWPHQWWKDWLVQRUPDOO\ SRVLWLYHO\UHSRVLWLRQWKHPRQWKHLQGXVWU\VHJPHQWFRVW
UHTXLUHG IRU WKH FRPSDWLELOLW\ DQG PLQLEXLOG DQG FXUYH
IRU WKH VLWH LQVWDOODWLRQ RI WKLV HTXLSPHQW DQG PD\
LQFOXGHXQGHUJURXQGLQVWDOODWLRQDQGFRPPLVVLRQLQJ 7KHXVHRIELGLUHFWLRQDOFXWWLQJKDVDOZD\VEHHQVHHQDV
DQGWKHLQLWLDOWKUHHPRQWKVSURGXFWLRQGXULQJZKLFK PRUHSURGXFWLYHHVSHFLDOO\RQORQJHUIDFHV$VVKHDUHU
WLPHDFFHSWDQFHWULDOVDUHFRQGXFWHG SRZHUDQGKDXODJHVSHHGVKDYHLQFUHDVHGWKLFNHUVHDPV
DUHWDUJHWHGDQGPLQHHQYLURQPHQWDOLVVXHVUHTXLUHJUHDWHU
2IWHQ WKH VKHDUHU LV LQVSHFWHG SULRU WR WKH HQG RI HDFK FRQVLGHUDWLRQ XQLGLUHFWLRQDO FXWWLQJ KDV EHFRPH PRUH
ORQJZDOO EORFN DQG HVSHFLDOO\ GXULQJ WKH PLQLQJ RI FRPSHWLWLYHDQGLQVRPHFDVHVFDQEHPRUHSURGXFWLYH
WKH UVW ORQJZDOO $VVLVWDQFH LV SURYLGHG ZLWK WKH UVW
ORQJZDOOWUDQVIHUDQGWKHUVWZHHNVRISURGXFWLRQRQWKH ,Q DGGLWLRQ OHYHOV RI DXWRPDWLRQ FRPSXWHU SRZHU DQG
VHFRQGORQJZDOOSDQHO8VXDOO\SD\PHQWIRUWKLVVHUYLFH SURJUDPPLQJ KDYH LQFUHDVHG &RPSXWHU SRZHU RQ
LVPDGHWRWKH2(0DWWKHLUDJUHHGVFKHGXOHRIUDWHV ORQJZDOO IDFHV KDV HQDEOHG VXSSRUW FRQWURO V\VWHPV WR
EHFRPHPRUHVRSKLVWLFDWHGDOORZLQJIXUWKHUDOWHUQDWLYH
FXWWLQJV\VWHPVWREHGHYHORSHG$QH[DPSOHLVWKHKDOI
Cutting methods and sequences ZHEFXWWLQJF\FOHXVHGLQRQHSDUWLFXODUIRUPDW7ZHQW\
0LOHPLQHLQWKH86$
:LWKROGHUFRQWUROWHFKQRORJ\DQGHTXLSPHQWLQFUHDVHG
SURGXFWLRQLVGLIFXOWWRDWWDLQ+RZHYHULQUHFHQW\HDUV 7KH KDOIZHE FXWWLQJ V\VWHP FDQ EH XVHG DV D YLDEOH
PDQ\FXWWLQJRSWLRQVDQGIHDWXUHVKDYHEHHQGHYHORSHG DOWHUQDWLYH WR FRQYHQWLRQDO V\VWHPV 5XWKHUIRUG 
LQ WKH GHVLJQ VRIWZDUH WKDW DOORZ SURGXFWLRQ LQFUHDVHV KDV GHYHORSHG D FXWWLQJ YDULDQW RQ WKH V\VWHP WKDW LV
IRU OLWWOH RU QR DGGLWLRQDO FRVW ,Q PDQ\ FDVHV PLQH VXLWDEOHIRU$XVWUDOLDQWKLFNVHDPFRQGLWLRQV
PDQDJHPHQW PD\ QRW EH DZDUH WKDW WKHVH RSWLRQV RU
7KH KDOIZHE V\VWHP LV EDVLFDOO\ D XQLGLUHFWLRQDO
WHFKQRORJLHVH[LVW,WLVLPSRUWDQWIRUPLQHPDQDJHPHQW
V\VWHPRIH[WUDFWLRQLQPLGIDFHZLWKELGLUHFWLRQDOJDWH
WRNHHSXSGDWHGRQWKHVHWHFKQRORJLFDOLPSURYHPHQWV
VHTXHQFHV)DVWHUVKHDULQJVSHHGVDQGFXWWLQJF\FOHVPD\
/RRNLQJEDFNWHQ\HDUVWKHFXWWLQJF\FOHRSWLRQVDYDLODEOH EHSRVVLEOHDVWKHVKXIHUHTXLUHGIRUWKHELGLUHFWLRQDO
ZHUH ELGLUHFWLRQDO RU XQLGLUHFWLRQDO FXWWLQJ HPSOR\HG FXWWLQJLVQRWQHFHVVDU\DQGORDGLQJRQWKHVKHDUHUGUXPV
RQ WKH UHWUHDW ORQJZDOO H[WUDFWLRQ PHWKRG 1RWKLQJ LV LVUHGXFHG
JDLQHGE\UHPDLQLQJZLWKWKHVDPHROGV\VWHPEHFDXVH
7KH KDOIZHE LV DFKLHYHG E\ SXVKLQJ WKH$)& IRUZDUG
WKDW LV DOO ZH KDYH HYHU XVHG ZKHQ DOWHUQDWLYHV DUH
SHUFHQWDIWHUWKHVXSSRUWVKDYHDGYDQFHGWRSURYLGH

352 &KDSWHU
D KDOI ZHE FXW IRU WKH UHWXUQ VKHDUHU UXQ 8VLQJ PLG LPSOHPHQWDWLRQRIDXWRPDWLRQDQGFRQWUROV\VWHPVRQWR
VHDPGUXPSRVLWLRQLQJDSUHVSOLWWLQJHIIHFWRQWKHFRDO QHZRUXSJUDGHGHTXLSPHQW
RFFXUVWKXVUHGXFLQJOXPSV,QWKHULJKWVHDPFRQGLWLRQV
DQGLIPDQDJHGFRUUHFWO\WKLVWHFKQLTXHFDQHTXDOLVHWKH Bi-directional cutting system
FRDORZLQHDFKFXWWLQJGLUHFWLRQ7KHKDOIZHEV\VWHP
UHTXLUHVDPRGHUQVXSSRUWFRQWUROV\VWHPVXFKDVWKH-R\ %LGLUHFWLRQDO%LGLFXWWLQJLVGHVFULEHGDVWKHIXOOZHE
56RU'%730V\VWHPRUQHZHUJHQHUDWLRQV\VWHPV H[WUDFWLRQRIWKHVHDPLQWKHRQHSDVVDORQJWKHORQJZDOO
WRRSHUDWHHIIHFWLYHO\6XSSRUWK\GUDXOLFVQHHGWREHZHOO IDFH(DFKWLPHWKHVKHDUHUFXWVIURPRQHHQGRIWKHIDFH
PDLQWDLQHG KLJKO\ HIFLHQW DQG FRQWUROOHG ZLWK WLJKW WRWKHRWKHUDIXOOZHERIFRDOLVH[WUDFWHG$VWKHVKHDUHU
GLVFLSOLQH&RQVHTXHQWO\VLJQLFDQWFXWWLQJF\FOHEHQHWV FXWVDORQJWKHIDFHWKHVXSSRUWVDUHDGYDQFHGDQGWKHQ
VKRXOGDULVHUHVXOWLQJLQDQLQFUHDVHGFXWWLQJUDWH WKH$)&LVDGYDQFHGIROORZLQJWKHVXSSRUWV
,QWKHODVWWRPRQWKVWULDOVKDYHEHHQFRPSOHWHGDWD 7RHQDEOHIXOOH[WUDFWLRQWRRFFXULQHDFKGLUHFWLRQWKH
QXPEHURIPLQHVXVLQJWKHKDOIZHEV\VWHPRYHUDQXPEHU VKHDUHUPXVWEHVKXIHGLQWRWKHQH[WFXWDWHDFKHQG
RIVKLIWVDQGVLJQLFDQWEHQHWVDQGLPSURYHPHQWVKDYH RIWKHIDFHE\UXQQLQJEDFNDURXQGWKHVQDNHDQGWKHQ
EHHQVHHQLQWKHIROORZLQJPDWWHUV EDFN LQWR WKH JDWH 7KH VKXIH VHTXHQFH WDNHV WLPH
 SURGXFWLRQ F\FOH WLPHV XS WR  SHU FHQW DQG FDQ LQFUHDVH ZHDU RQ WKH HTXLSPHQW LI WKH VQDNH LV
LPSURYHPHQW WRRWLJKW7KLVQHHGWRPDNHWKHVKXIHPDNHV%LGL
FXWWLQJ LQHIFLHQW RQ VKRUW IDFHV RI OHVV WKDQ  P
 UHGXFHG OXPS VL]H DQG EORFNDJHV RQ WKH $)& DQG OHQJWK'HSHQGLQJRQVKHDUHUVSHHGDQGVXSSRUWV\VWHP
%6/ FDSDELOLWLHV JDWH HQG WXUQDURXQGV WLPH VSHQW GRXEOH
 FRDOKDQGOLQJ FOHDQLQJRRUDQGFKDQJLQJVKHDUHUGLUHFWLRQDQGWLPH
VSHQWGRLQJWKHVKXIHVDUHFULWLFDOWRF\FOHWLPHV
 HTXLSPHQWORDGLQJDQGZHDUUDWHV
%LGLFXWWLQJFDQEHHQYLURQPHQWDOO\OHVVGHVLUDEOHWKDQ
 HQYLURQPHQWDOPDQDJHPHQWDQG DOWHUQDWLYHVLIWKHV\VWHPJHQHUDWHVKLJKYROXPHVRIGXVW
 IDFHPDQDJHPHQWDQGFRQWURO HLWKHU IURP WKH VKHDUHU RU VXSSRUW DGYDQFH 2SHUDWRUV
VKRXOGUHVWULFWDFWLYLWLHVRQWKHUHWXUQVLGHRIWKHVKHDUHU
+RZHYHU WKHUH KDV EHHQ D SRRU UHVSRQVH WR WKH XVH RI IRU KHDOWK DQG VDIHW\ UHDVRQV DQG LW LV QHFHVVDU\ IRU
WKLV LQQRYDWLYH V\VWHP 3HUKDSV WKH LQGXVWU\ LV VWLOO WRR WKH VXSSRUW FRQWURO V\VWHP WR DXWRPDWLFDOO\ LQLWLDWH WKH
WUDGLWLRQDOO\ IRFXVHG DQG VORZ WR FKDQJH DQG WKHUH LV D VXSSRUWF\FOH7KHGHYHORSPHQWRIDXWRPDWLRQDVVRFLDWHG
ODFN RI XQGHUVWDQGLQJ RI KRZ WKH V\VWHP FRXOG RSHUDWH ZLWKQHZURRIVXSSRUWFRQWUROV\VWHPVFDQHOLPLQDWHWKH
LQ $XVWUDOLDQ FRQGLWLRQV 2QH DUHD RI FRQFHUQ LV WKH QHHGIRUDURRIVXSSRUWRSHUDWRUWRZRUNRQWKHUHWXUQVLGH
UHTXLUHPHQW WR KDYH D VXSSRUW FRQWURO V\VWHP DYDLODEOH RIWKHVKHDUHU+RZHYHULWLVHVVHQWLDOWKDWWKHV\VWHPLV
 SHU FHQW RI WKH RSHUDWLRQDO WLPH &RQWURO V\VWHP ZHOOPDLQWDLQHGDQGRSHUDWHG
UHOLDELOLW\LVQRZH[WUHPHO\LPSRUWDQWDVLVWKHQHHGWRWUDLQ
RSHUDWRUVWUDGHVSHRSOHDQGHQJLQHHUVWREHFRPSHWHQWLQ %LGL FXWWLQJ PD\ JLYH DGGHG VXSSRUW LQ SRRU JURXQG
WKHXVHDQGPDLQWHQDQFHRIWKHVHPRUHFRPSOH[V\VWHPV DOORZLQJGRXEOHFKRFNLQJLQVRPHLQVWDQFHV,QWKLFN
DQGSURJUDPV VHDPV WKH IXOO H[WUDFWLRQ PD\ QRW EH SRVVLEOH ZLWKRXW
ODUJHUGLDPHWHUGUXPVDQGVORZHUFXWWLQJVSHHGVZKLFK
,QWKHSDVWURRIVXSSRUWFRQWUROV\VWHPVKDYHEHHQXVHG PD\KDYHDQHJDWLYHLPSDFWRQSURGXFWLRQOHYHOV
XQWLOWKHLUPDLQWHQDQFHHIFLHQF\KDVUHGXFHGSURGXFWLYLW\
WR VXFK D ORZ OHYHO WKDW WKH ORQJZDOO LV QR ORQJHU FRVW &ULWLFDO IDFWRUV WKDW PD\ OLPLW WKH XVH RI %LGL FXWWLQJ
HIIHFWLYH5HQHZLQJWKHVXSSRUWFRQWUROV\VWHPDWDFRVW DUH
RIRYHUPLOOLRQGHSHQGLQJRQIDFHOHQJWKZLOOLQFUHDVH  WKHDJHDQGUHOLDELOLW\RIWKHVXSSRUWFRQWUROV\VWHP
SURGXFWLRQDQGSURGXFWLYLW\OHYHOV+RZHYHUWKHVXSSRUW
VWUXFWXUHV DQG K\GUDXOLF V\VWHP PXVW EH VXLWDEOH WR  WZRVKHDUHURSHUDWRUVPD\EHUHTXLUHG
RSHUDWHDWWKHKLJKHUF\FOHWLPHVSURYLGHGE\WKHVHODWHVW  KRUL]RQFRQWUROQHHGVWREHKLJKTXDOLW\
JHQHUDWLRQ FRQWURO V\VWHPV ,I QRW WKH LQYHVWPHQW PD\
EHLQHIIHFWLYHEHFDXVHWKHGRZQVWUHDPRUFRQVHTXHQWLDO  $)&%6/DQGRXWE\HV\VWHPFDSDFLW\PD\GHWHUPLQH
RZRQHIIHFWVKDYHQRWEHHQSURSHUO\HYDOXDWHGDVSDUW FXWWLQJVSHHGV
RIDUREXVWPDQDJHPHQWSURFHVV  ODFN RI H[LELOLW\ LQ WKH FXWWLQJ F\FOH UHTXLULQJ
0LQHRSHUDWRUVVKRXOGQRWVK\DZD\IURPSXUFKDVLQJQHZ RSHUDWRUV WR KDYH D JRRG NQRZOHGJH RI WKH V\VWHP
ORQJZDOOHTXLSPHQWRQWKHEDVLVWKDWH[LVWLQJHTXLSPHQW SUREOHPVDQGIDXOWVDQG
LW LV RQO\ WHQ \HDUV ROG 7KH ORQJZDOO WHFKQRORJ\ KDV  WKHQHHGIRUDGGLWLRQDORSHUDWRUVLIDXWRPDWLRQLVDWD
DGYDQFHG VXEVWDQWLDOO\ LQ WKH ODVW WHQ \HDUV DQG WKH ORZWHFKQLFDOOHYHO
$XVWUDOLDQ LQGXVWU\ PXVW LQYHVW LQ WKLV WHFKQRORJ\ WR
%HQHFLDOIDFWRUVRI%LGLFXWWLQJPD\EH
UHPDLQFRPSHWLWLYHZLWKRSHQFXWVDQGQHZGHYHORSPHQWV
RYHUVHDV7KH$XVWUDOLDQLQGXVWU\PXVWORRNDWLWVFXUUHQW  UHGXFHG GHPDQG RQ VXSSRUW V\VWHP UHTXLUHPHQWV
RSHUDWLRQV PRUH FULWLFDOO\ DFWLYHO\ FRQVLGHU HPEUDFLQJ HVSHFLDOO\LQWKLFNVHDPV
WKHQHZWHFKQRORJ\HVSHFLDOO\HOHFWURQLFVXVHGLQRXWVLGH
 WKH DELOLW\ WR VXSSRUW WKH IDFH EHWWHU LQ SRRU
LQGXVWULHV DQG SRVLWLYHO\ PDQDJH WKH GHYHORSPHQW DQG
FRQGLWLRQV

0RQRJUDSK$XVWUDODVLDQ&RDO0LQLQJ3UDFWLFH 353
  JUHDWHU EHQHWV LQ WKLQQHU VHDPV ZKHUH FOHDUDQFH 2QDPIDFHWKHVKHDUHUVSHHGPXVWEHLQFUHDVHGWR
XQGHUVXSSRUWVLVFULWLFDODQG !PPLQWRF\FOHDWWKHVDPHUDWHDV%LGLFXWWLQJDW
PPLQ
 VQDNLQJLQERWKGLUHFWLRQVZLOONHHSIDFHFUHHSWRD
PLQLPXP &ULWLFDO IDFWRUV WKDW PD\ OLPLW WKH XVH RI 8QLGL FXWWLQJ
DUH
%LGLFXWWLQJLVVKRZQLQ)LJXUHLQZKLFKWKHIROORZLQJ
F\FOHWLPHFDQEHHVWLPDWHG  WKH LQFUHDVHG VSHHG RI WKH VKHDUHU PD\ LQFUHDVH
GHPDQGRQWKHVXSSRUWV\VWHP
 &\FOHWLPHPHWUHIDFH#PPLQ
 WKH QHHG WR KDYH D IDVWHU KDXODJH VSHHG RQ WKH
 PDLQFXWVKXIHWXUQDURXQG
VKHDUHU
 [[
 DGGLWLRQDORSHUDWRUVPD\EHQHHGHGLIDXWRPDWLRQLV
 PLQ DWDORZWHFKQLFDOOHYHO
 VXSSRUW DGYDQFH LQ WKH WDLOJDWH KDV WKH VDPH
Uni-directional cutting system HQYLURQPHQWDO HIIHFWV DV ELGLUHFWLRQDO FXWWLQJ LI D
UHYHUVHVQDNHLVXVHGDQG
8QLGLUHFWLRQDO 8QLGL FXWWLQJ LV GHVFULEHG DV WKH
H[WUDFWLRQRIWKHZHELQWZRSDVVHVDFURVVWKHORQJZDOO  FUHHSPD\EHFDXVHGE\VQDNLQJLQRQHGLUHFWLRQHDFK
IDFH,QEDVLFWHUPVWKHVKHDUHUPXVWSDVVDFURVVWKHIDFH VKHDU
WZLFH WR H[WUDFW WKH ZHE 2Q WKH UVW FXWWLQJ SDVV WKH %HQHFLDOIDFWRUVPD\EH
VXSSRUWVDUHDGYDQFHGDQGRQWKHUHWXUQSDVVWKH$)&LV
DGYDQFHG  WUDLQLQJ UHTXLUHPHQWV PD\EH UHGXFHG EHFDXVH WKH
V\VWHPLVVLPSOHU
8QLGLFXWWLQJUHPRYHVWKHQHHGWRVKXIHWKHVKHDUHU
LQWR WKH QH[W ZHE DW HDFK HQG RI WKH IDFH UHGXFLQJ WKH  RQO\ RQH GUXP QHHGV WR EH FRQWUROOHG DFURVV WKH
WLPHVSHQWDWHDFKHQG7KLVLVRIIVHWE\WKHQHHGWRFURVV F\FOH
WKHIDFHWZLFHIRUHDFKFXWUHTXLULQJWKHVKHDUHUWRWUDYHO  PRUH HQYLURQPHQWDOO\ GHVLUDEOH EHFDXVH VXSSRUW
IDVWHUWRHTXDWHWR%LGLFXWWLQJ DGYDQFH LV GHVLJQHG WR EH RQ WKH UHWXUQ VLGH RI WKH
RSHUDWRUGHSHQGLQJRQVQDNHGHVLJQDWWKHWDLOJDWH

FIG 3 - Bi-di cutting sequence (after Rutherford, 2001)

354 &KDSWHU
 ORDGLQJ RQ WKH HTXLSPHQW FDQ EH PRUH HDVLO\ 7KHUHDUHDQXPEHURIYDULDWLRQVRQ8QLGLFXWWLQJWKDWFDQ
UHJXODWHG EHXVHGIRUHQYLURQPHQWDOUHDVRQVXVXDOO\IRUUHGXFLQJ
SHUVRQQHOH[SRVXUHWRDLUERUQHGXVW
 $)&%6/ORDGLQJDQGRXWE\HV\VWHPFDQEHUHJXODWHG
E\ YDU\LQJ H[WUDFWLRQ RQ HDFK SDVV HVSHFLDOO\ LQ
Forward snake
WKLFNVHDPV
7KHFRQYHQWLRQDO8QLGLFXWWLQJV\VWHPKDVDEDFNZDUG
 KRUL]RQ FRQWURO LV OHVV FULWLFDO DV WKH $)& FDQ EH VQDNHDWWKHWDLOJDWHUHTXLULQJWKHVKHDUHUWRFXWQHDUWKH
SXOOHGEDFNWRUHJUDGHWKHRRUDQG URRIJRLQJLQWRWKHWDLOJDWH7KHUHIRUHWKHURRIVXSSRUWV
 WKHUHLVJUHDWHUH[LELOLW\LQFXWWLQJF\FOHDQGVXSSRUW PXVW EH DGYDQFHG RQ WKH LQWDNH VLGH RI WKH VKHDUHU
FRQWUROV\VWHPRSHUDWLRQ RSHUDWRUZKHQFXWWLQJLQWRWKHWDLOJDWH
8QLGLFXWWLQJLVVKRZQLQ)LJXUHLQZKLFKWKHIROORZLQJ ,Q VRPH VLWXDWLRQV WKH GXVW FUHDWHG IURP WKH VXSSRUW
F\FOHWLPHVFDQEHHVWLPDWHG DGYDQFHPDNHVWKLVV\VWHPHQYLURQPHQWDOO\XQGHVLUDEOH
 &\FOHWLPHPHWUHIDFH#PPLQ 7R DOOHYLDWH WKLV GXVW SUREOHP WKH V\VWHP FDQ EH UXQ
ZLWKDQDGYDQFHGRUIRUZDUGVQDNHDWWKHWDLOJDWH7KLV
 PDLQFXWWXUQDURXQG UHPRYHVWKHQHHGWRDGYDQFHVXSSRUWVRQWKHLQWDNHVLGH
[[ EXWUHTXLUHVWKH$)&WREHVQDNHGLQUHYHUVHWRZDUGV
WKH PDLQJDWH RU QRUPDOO\ ZLWK D GRXEOH VQDNH EHLQJ
 PLQ
IRUPHGRQWKHIDFHDVVKRZQLQ)LJXUH
 &\FOHWLPHPHWUHIDFH#PPLQ
&RQYHQWLRQDOO\ RSHUDWHG 8QLGL FXWWLQJ V\VWHPV RIWHQ
 PDLQFXWWXUQDURXQG VZLWFK WR D UHYHUVH VQDNH WR UHGXFH WKH UDWH RI FUHHS
[[ WRZDUGV D SDUWLFXODU JDWHURDG ZKHQ VQDNLQJ LQ RQH
GLUHFWLRQ DOO WKH WLPH ,Q JHQHUDO WKH 8QLGL FXWWLQJ
 PLQ RSWLRQLVPRUHWROHUDQWRIRSHUDWRUDQGHTXLSPHQWIDXOWV
6KHDUHUVSHHGVDUHQRZFRPPRQO\RYHUPSHUPLQXWH RUSUREOHPVDQGIRUWKLVUHDVRQLVPRUHZLGHO\XVHG
DOORZLQJ 8QLGL FXWWLQJ WR EH FRPSHWLWLYH ZLWK EL
GLUHFWLRQDOFXWWLQJRQORQJHUIDFHV

FIG 4 - Uni-directional cutting sequence with backward snake (after Rutherford, 2001)

0RQRJUDSK$XVWUDODVLDQ&RDO0LQLQJ3UDFWLFH 355
 FIG 5 - Uni-directional cutting sequence with forward snake (after Rutherford, 2001)
Half web
7KHKDOIZHEFXWWLQJV\VWHPKDVEHHQYHU\SURGXFWLYHO\
XVHGDW7ZHQW\0LOH0LQHLQWKH86$IRUVHYHUDO\HDUV
7KHV\VWHPSURYLGHVDUHGXFHGORDGLQJRQWKHHTXLSPHQW
DQGDOORZVWKHJURXQGVWUHVVOHYHOVRUZHLJKWLQJRQWKH
IDFH WR EUHDN WKH FRDO 7KLV RXWFRPH SURYLGHV KLJKHU
SURGXFWLRQ UDWHV DV WKH VKHDUHU VSHHG FDQ EH LQFUHDVHG
EHFDXVHRIDORZHUFXWWLQJORDGSHUSDVV7KHVHSDUWLFXODU
JHRORJLFDOFRQGLWLRQVDOORZJUHDWHUSURGXFWLRQOHYHOVWR
EHFRQVLVWHQWO\DFKLHYHG7KHEHQHWVIURPLPSOHPHQWLQJ
WKLVV\VWHPDW7ZHQW\0LOH0LQHDOORZHGDQLQYHVWPHQW
LQKLJKHUFDSDFLW\HTXLSPHQWZLWKIDVWHUVKHDUHUVSHHG
WHFKQRORJ\ WR HQDEOH WKH HIFLHQW XVH RI WKH %LGL
FRQJXUDWLRQ IRU WKH FXW WR WKH PDLQJDWH ZKHUH WKH
SHUFHQWSXVKIROORZVWKHVXSSRUWDGYDQFH)ROORZLQJ
WKLV WKH XQLGL V\VWHP LV HPSOR\HG IRU WKH UXQ EDFN WR
WKH WDLOJDWH ZKHUH WKH $)& LV SXVKHG WR  SHU FHQW
IROORZLQJ WKH VKHDUHU ,W WKHUHIRUH UHTXLUHV D GLIIHUHQW
RU PRUH FRPSOH[ SURJUDP WR RSHUDWH LQ KLJK OHYHOV RI
DXWRPDWLRQDQGFRQWURO
7KH HQYLURQPHQWDO EHQHWV RI UHGXFHG GXVW H[SRVXUH
UHPDLQDVIRUWKH8QLGLV\VWHPEHFDXVHDOOWKHVXSSRUWV
DUHDGYDQFHGRQWKHUHWXUQVLGHRIWKHRSHUDWRU
7KH XVH RI ELGL RSHUDWLRQV UHTXLUHV VXSSRUW RSHUDWLRQ
IDVWHUVXSSRUWRSHUDWLRQDQGEHWWHURXWE\HV\VWHPVWREH
UHOLDELOLW\WREHKLJK7KHVXSSRUWFRQWUROV\VWHPPXVWEH
MXVWLHGWRWDNHDGYDQWDJHRIWKHFRQGLWLRQV
HIIHFLHQWPRGHUQDQGUHOLDEOHHJWKH56V\VWHPIURP
$XVWUDOLDQFRQGLWLRQVGRQRWPDWFKWKRVHRI7ZHQW\0LOH -R\RUWKH30V\VWHPIURP'%7
PLQH )RU WKLV UHDVRQ DQG SHUKDSV EHFDXVH RI D ODFN RI
7KH VXSSRUW HOHFWURK\GUDXOLF V\VWHP PXVW LQFRUSRUDWH
XQGHUVWDQGLQJRIWKHV\VWHPWKHKDOIZHEKDVQRWEHHQ
UHHG URGV DQG FKHFN YDOYHV LQ WKH SXVK UDPV WR
XVHG XQWLO UHFHQWO\ LQ WKLV FRXQWU\ 7ULDOV KDYH EHHQ
DFFRPPRGDWHWKHSHUFHQWSXVK$UHOLDEOHPRQLWRULQJ
FRPSOHWHG DW 'DUWEURRN 0HWURSROLWDQ .HVWUHO 6RXWK
V\VWHP FDQ EH D EHQHW WR RSHUDWRUV ZKHUH VXSSRUWV GR
%XOJD DQG 0RRQHH DOO ZLWK SRVLWLYH UHVXOWV +RZHYHU
QRWDGYDQFHFRUUHFWO\
IRU YDULRXV UHDVRQV WKH V\VWHP KDV QRW EHHQ UHDGLO\
DFFHSWHG 7KHSRWHQWLDODGYDQWDJHVRIWKHV\VWHPDUH
+DOI ZHE LV D PL[WXUH RI D 8QLGL PLGIDFH DQG %LGL  GLVWDQFHV WUDYHOOHG E\ WKH VKHDUHU DUH WKH VDPH DV
IDFHHQGVV\VWHP,WFDQEHFRQVLGHUHGD8QLGLV\VWHP ZLWK8QLGLFXWWLQJ
EHFDXVHLWUHTXLUHVWZRSDVVHVRIWKHIDFHWRH[WUDFWRQH
 HQYLURQPHQWDO FRQGLWLRQV DUH VXSHULRU WR ERWK
ZHERIFRDO
%LGL DQG 8QLGL DQG HTXDWH WR WKH IRUZDUG VQDNH
7KH URRI VXSSRUW FRQWURO V\VWHP PXVW EH RI DGYDQFHG FRQGLWLRQVLQ8QLGL

356 &KDSWHU
 DVVXPLQJPLQLQJFRQGLWLRQVDUHDFFHSWDEOHVKHDUHU QRWEHSRVVLEOHLQKDUGFXWWLQJFRQGLWLRQVRULQYHU\ORZ
VSHHGV FDQ EH LQFUHDVHG DV OHVV FRDO LV FXW LQ WKH VHDPV
PDLQFXWLQFUHDVLQJSRWHQWLDOFXWWLQJDQGSURGXFWLRQ
7KH .DLVHU V\VWHP LV XVHG DW 7ZHQW\0LOH PLQH ZLWK
UDWHV
VKHDUHU VSHHGV DW ! P SHU PLQXWH DQG JHQHUDWHV XS
 WKH FXWWLQJ SUROH LV XVHG WR UHGXFH OXPSV E\ SUH WR  0W SHU PRQWK SURGXFWLRQ 7KH V\VWHP LV LGHDO IRU
FXWWLQJWKHVHDPRQHDFKUXQXSDQGGRZQWKHIDFH WKHLUSDUWLFXODUFRQGLWLRQVZLWKFRDOEXUVWLQJDFURVVWKH
IDFHDQGSUHFXWWLQJWKHFHQWUHXWLOLVHVWKHVWUDWDHIIHFWVWR
 WKH  SHU FHQW SXVK IURP WDLOJDWH DOORZV D JUHDWHU
PD[LPLVHFXWWLQJUDWHV
GLVWDQFHEHWZHHQIDFHDQG$)&VSLOOSODWHVIRUPRYLQJ
OXPSVPRUHHDVLO\ 7KHV\VWHPRISUHFXWWLQJWKHIDFHSURGXFHVDQXQGHUFXW
WKDW DOORZV URRI DQG RRU VWRQH WR EH WULPPHG PRUH
 GUXP SRVLWLRQV FDQ E\ YDULHG WR DOORZ WKH WRQQDJH
HDVLO\RQWKHUHWXUQUXQ$QDGGLWLRQDOEHQHWLVWKDWWKH
FXWWREHPRUHHYHQO\GLVWULEXWHGRQHDFKSDVVRIWKH
SUHFXWFDQVSOLWOXPSVWKDWPD\IDOORIIWKHIDFHKDYLQJ
IDFHDJUHDWEHQHWLQWKLFNVHDPV
DEHQHFLDOHIIHFWRQSURGXFWLRQE\UHGXFLQJGRZQWLPH
 KDOI ZHE FDQ EH YDULHG ZLWKLQ WKH VXSSRUW FRQWURO IRUOXPSEUHDNLQJDFURVVWKHIDFHEHKLQGWKHVKHDUHURU
V\VWHPSURJUDPWRDOORZWKHDGYDQFHWREHYDULHGWR DWWKHPDLQJDWH
VXLWPLQHFRQGLWLRQVDQGSRWHQWLDOSUREOHPV
7KHSRWHQWLDOEHQHWVRIWKHV\VWHPDUH
 VQDNLQJGLVWDQFHVDUHVKRUWHUDQGOHVVVHYHUHUHGXFLQJ
 UHGXFHG ORDGLQJ RQ WKH VKHDUHU FRPSDUHG WR
ZHDUDQGGDPDJHSRWHQWLDO
FRQYHQWLRQDOV\VWHPV
 VQDNLQJGLVWDQFHVDUHKDOYHGDQGVRFXWWLQJLQWRJDWHV
 DIDVWHUVKHDUHUVSHHGFDQEHDOORZHG
LVTXLFNHU
 WKH VKRUWHU VQDNH DOORZV WKH VKHDUHU D KLJKHU VSHHG
 FUHHSPD\EHEHWWHUFRQWUROOHGDVVQDNLQJLVGRQHLQ
IXUWKHULQWRWKHJDWH
ERWKGLUHFWLRQV
 UHGXFHGOXPSVRQWKH$)&DQG
 DVLQD8QLGLV\VWHPWKHPDMRULW\RIKRUL]RQFRQWURO
FXWWLQJLVGRQHZLWKWKHPDLQJDWHGUXPVRQRWDLOJDWH  WKHUHLVKLJKHUSRWHQWLDORXWSXWZKHQVKHDUHUGUXPV
RSHUDWRULVUHTXLUHGDQG DUHGHVLJQHGDQGPDWFKHGWRVHDPKHLJKW
 LWDOORZVDXWRVWHHULQJWREHXVHGDVLQ8QLGLFXWWLQJ
Thick seam variant
DQG WKHUHIRUH VKHDUHU RSHUDWLRQV UHPDLQ VLPLODU WR
H[LVWLQJFRQGLWLRQV 7KH WKLFN VHDP YDULDQW RI KDOI ZHE V\VWHP GHYHORSHG
E\ 5XWKHUIRUG  LV ZHOO VXLWHG WR$XVWUDOLDQ WKLFN
7KHSRWHQWLDOGLVDGYDQWDJHVDUH VHDPVDQGKDVPDQ\DGYDQWDJHVRYHURWKHUPHWKRGV,W
 DV LQ D %LGL V\VWHP LW LV D VOLJKWO\ PRUH FRPSOH[ KDVWKHIROORZLQJEHQHWV
RSHUDWLRQGXHWR$)&SXVKLQERWKGLUHFWLRQV  LPSURYHG ORDG EDODQFLQJ RQ WKH $)&FRQYH\RU
 FDQEHFRPSOH[ZKHQPDQXDOO\RSHUDWLQJWKHV\VWHP V\VWHPFRPSDUHGWRRWKHUV\VWHPV
DQGPD\UHTXLUHWKHRSHUDWRUWRZRUNRQWKHUHWXUQ  UHGXFHG ORDGLQJ RQ WKH VKHDUHU DQG$)& FRPSDUHG
VLGHRIVXSSRUWDGYDQFH WRRWKHUV\VWHPVGXHWRWKHKDOIZHEDQGKDOIVHDP
 LIFRDOVWUHQJWKLVZHDNWKHWLSWRIDFHGLVWDQFHFDQ FXW
LQFUHDVHZKHQWRSFRDOIDOOVDGGLQJWRWKHSRWHQWLDO  VKHDUHUV FDQ RSHUDWH DW KLJK VSHHGV ZLWK UHGXFHG
IRUURRIIDOOVLQIURQWRIWKHURRIVXSSRUWV ORDGLQJDQGSRZHUUHTXLUHPHQWV
 WKH V\VWHP GRHV JLYH WKH SRWHQWLDO IRU OXPSV WR EH  UHGXFHGOXPSVRQWKH$)&
WUDSSHGRQWKHWDLOJDWHVLGHRIWKHVKHDUHUZKLFKFDQ
VORZRSHUDWLRQVDQG  WKH V\VWHP VXSSRUWV VOXPSLQJ IDFHV E\ OHDYLQJ D
EHQFK
 DVLQWKH%LGLV\VWHPURRIVXSSRUWDQG$)&DGYDQFH
RFFXUVEHKLQGWKHRSHUDWRUVRQWKHFXWWLQJUXQWRWKH  KLJKHU RXWSXW SRWHQWLDO ZKHQ VKHDUHU GUXPV DUH
PDLQJDWH GHVLJQHGWRPDWFKVHDPKHLJKWDQG
7KHUHDUHWZRYDULDWLRQVRIWKHKDOIZHEV\VWHPDQGHDFK  FOHDQXS LV LPSURYHG EHFDXVH GHSHQGLQJ RQ GUXP
KDVSDUWLFXODUDGYDQWDJHVLQFHUWDLQFRQGLWLRQV GHVLJQWKHUHLVOHVPDWHULDOWREHORDGHG
3UHFXWWLQJ WKH IDFH LQFUHDVHV WKH IUHH IDFHV DYDLODEOH WR
Kaiser half web EUHDN RXW WKH FRDO UHGXFHV WKH ORDGLQJ RQ WKH VKHDUHU
7KH .DLVHU KDOI ZHE V\VWHP VLPLODU WR WKDW XVHG DW GUXPVDQGWKHSURGXFWLRQRIODUJHOXPSVIURPDVOXPSLQJ
7ZHQW\0LOH PLQH LV SUREDEO\ EHVW VXLWHG WR ORZHU IDFHE\VSOLWWLQJWKHPEHIRUHWKH\VSDOOIURPWKHIDFH
KHLJKW VHDPV DQG LV XVHG WR SUHFXW WKH VHDP WR UHGXFH
7KHKDOIZHEV\VWHPLOOXVWUDWHGLQ)LJXUHFDQVXSSRUW
ORDGLQJ RQ WKH VKHDUHU DQG DOORZ D IDVWHU VKHDUHU VSHHG
DVOXPSLQJIDFHE\OHDYLQJDEHQFK%\YDU\LQJWKHKDOI
GXULQJWKHPDLQFXW,QWKLQQHUVHDPVWKHORDGLQJRQWKH
SXVKDQ\URRIFRDOWKDWIDOOVFDQEHUHWDLQHGRQWKHIDFH
$)&LVQRWEDODQFHGLQERWKGLUHFWLRQVXQOHVVWKHGUXP
VLGH WR DOORZ WKH VKHDUHU WR FXW SULRU WR ORDGLQJ &\FOH
GLDPHWHU LV PDWFKHG WR WKH H[WUDFWLRQ KHLJKW 7KLV PD\
WLPHVFDQEHHVWLPDWHGDVIROORZV

0RQRJUDSK$XVWUDODVLDQ&RDO0LQLQJ3UDFWLFH 357
  &\FOHWLPHPHWUHIDFH#PPLQ :LWK UHGXFHG ORDGLQJ RQ WKH VKHDUHU ZLWK IHZHU OXPS
SUREOHPVDQGEDODQFHGRXWSXWWKHSRWHQWLDOWRUXQIDVWHU
 PDLQFXWWXUQDURXQG%LGLFXW
LQERWKGLUHFWLRQVDOORZVKDOIZHEWREHDKLJKHUDQGPRUH
 [[ SURGXFWLYHV\VWHPHVSHFLDOO\LQWKLFNVHDPVDQGVKRXOG
 PLQ EH FRQVLGHUHG E\ DOO RSHUDWLRQV ZLWK PRGHUQ VXSSRUW
FRQWUROV\VWHPV

 &\FOHWLPHPHWUHIDFH#PPLQ
General considerations
 PDLQFXWWXUQDURXQG
7RREWDLQWKHEHVWIURPDORQJZDOOV\VWHPGHVLJQHUVPXVW
 [[ SODQIRUPD[LPXPRXWSXWZLWKVKHDUHURSHUDWLQJVSHHGV
 PLQ !PSHUPLQXWH7KLVZLOOVHWQHZFKDOOHQJHVIRUWKH
URRI VXSSRUW DQG$)& PDQXIDFWXUHUV ZKR PXVW GHVLJQ
7KH KDOI ZHE FDQ DOORZ D IDVWHU VKHDUHU VSHHG WKDQ V\VWHPVWRPDWFKWKHSDFHRIWKHVKHDUHU6XFKFKDQJHV
DYDLODEOH IRU %LGL RU 8QLGL HVSHFLDOO\ LQ WKH WKLFNHU
LQFUHDVH WKH LPSHUDWLYH WR LQWHJUDWH IXUWKHU DXWRPDWLRQ
VHDPVZKHQORDGLQJQHHGVWREHEDODQFHGWRRSWLPLVHWKH DFURVV WKH HQWLUH ORQJZDOO V\VWHP 7KLV GHYHORSPHQW
IXOOFRQYH\RUV\VWHPFDSDFLW\)RUH[DPSOHWKHFXWWLQJ ZLOOLQFUHDVHSURGXFWLRQDQGSURGXFWLYLW\UDWHVLPSURYH
SUROHVVKRZWKDWIRUDJLYHQWKLFNVHDP8QLGLFXWWLQJ KHDOWKDQGVDIHW\IRUDOOIDFHRSHUDWRUVE\UHGXFLQJWKHLU
ZRXOGJHQHUDOO\WDNHSHUFHQWRIWKHVHDPRQWKHPDLQ SHUVRQDOH[SRVXUHWRDLUERUQHGXVWDQGSUR[LPLW\WRXOWUD
FXW ZKHUHDV KDOI ZHE FDQ EDODQFH WKLV WR  SHU FHQW
KLJK SUHVVXUH KRVHV DQG DOORZ VWDQGDUGLVDWLRQ RI WKH
GHSHQGLQJ RQ FRDO FKDUDFWHULVWLFV ,I WKH VKHDUHU VSHHG
ORQJZDOORSHUDWLQJV\VWHPE\UHGXFLQJYDULDWLRQWKURXJK
LV HTXDWHG WR YROXPH FXW WKHQ WKH SRWHQWLDO SURGXFWLRQ
OHVVPDQXDOLQWHUYHQWLRQ
LQFUHDVHZLOOEHSHUFHQW)XUWKHUPRUHGHSHQGLQJRQ
WKH GUXP GHVLJQ WKH FOHDQXS PLJKW EH LPSURYHG GXH WR ,Q 7DEOH  D FRPSDULVRQ KDV EHHQ PDGH EHWZHHQ WKH
WKHUHGXFWLRQLQPDWHULDOWREHPRYHGDFURVVWRWKH$)& FXWWLQJ V\VWHPV DQG LGHQWLHV WKH UHDVRQV ZK\ 8QLGL
KDVEHHQWKHSUHIHUUHGPHWKRGRIFXWWLQJLQUHFHQW\HDUV
DQGKRZWKHKDOIZHEPHWKRGPD\LPSURYHSURGXFWLYLW\
RSWLRQVLQWKHIXWXUH

FIG 6 - Half web cutting sequence (after Rutherford, 2001)

358 &KDSWHU
 7$%/(6XPPDU\RIV\VWHPEHQHWVDQGGLIFXOWLHV

Bi-directional Half Web High Seam

Cutting System Uni-directional Cutting Half Web Kaiser Cut
Cutting Variant

Complex because
Relative complexity of system Most complex Simple Bi-di cut is needed with More akin to Uni-di
shearer
Cycle time on 200 m face @
36 46 46 48
10 m/min
Faster shearer speed needed
No Yes - >13 m/min Yes - >13 m/min Yes - 15 m/min
for same level of production
AFC loading:
7RPDLQJDWH Standard Reduced Reduced Lower and balanced
To tailgate Standard Substantially lower Substantially lower Lower and balanced
6KXIHUHTXLUHG Yes No No No
Support advance on intake Yes (in TG backward)
Yes No No
side No (if forward snake)
Half standard but two half Half standard but two half
Snake length Standard Standard
snakes snakes
No (for backward)
Double snake on face No Yes (only 50%) Yes (only 50%)
Yes (for forward)
No (unless drum diameter Yes
Balanced AFC loading Yes No
matched to seam) (high seam especially)
Yes (depending on seam
Reduced loading on shearer No section taken on main Yes Yes
cut)
Precutting face No No Yes - middle of face Yes (top & middle of face)
Bench to support face No Yes Minimal Yes
Reduced slumping in front of
No No No Yes
shearer
Reduced lumps traveling to
No No Yes Yes
maingate
Improved loading of loose coal No No No Yes
*HRORJLFDOEHQHWV

Poor roof can be double

Yes No No No
chocked

:HDNRRUFDQEHHDVLO\
No Yes No No
monitored and corrected

Wider clearance on face side

No No Yes Yes
for coal

Variation of cutting volume:

Vertically No Yes No (in thin seam) Yes

Horizontally No No Yes Yes
Yes - but with
Yes (but with air borne Yes - but with air borne
Can be manually operated airborne dust Yes - simple
dust risks) dust risks
risks
Likelihood of lumps on TG side No (except with backward
Yes Some Less likely
of shearer snake at TG end)
In weak coal the undercut In weak coal the undercut
Tip to face distance changed No No can fall and increase the can fall and increase the
tip to face distance tip to face distance
Autosteering be used on
Yes Yes Yes Yes
shearer
Is creep affected by system Less More Less Less
Yes - if auto-
Can single operator be used Yes (if auto-steering is
steering is Yes Yes (as per Uni-di)
on shearer operating as Bi-di)
operating

0RQRJUDSK$XVWUDODVLDQ&RDO0LQLQJ3UDFWLFH 359
 LONGWALL TOP COAL CAVING Resources
7KH $XVWUDOLDQ UHVRXUFH GDWDEDVH VKRZV LQ H[FHVV RI
/RQJZDOO7RS&RDO&DYLQJ/7&&KDVEHHQGHYHORSHG  %W RI XQGHUJURXQG WKLFN VHDP FRDO ! P LQ WKH
DQGRSHUDWHGLQ&KLQDIRUWKHODVW\HDUVDQGZLWKRYHU PHDVXUHG UHVRXUFH FDWHJRU\ ULVLQJ WR  %W ZKHQ
 IDFHV LQ RSHUDWLRQ SURGXFLQJ RYHU  0W LW LV DLQGLFDWHGUHVRXUFHVDUHLQFOXGHG2IWKLVUHVRXUFHSHU
PDWXUHWHFKQRORJ\LQ&KLQHVHFRQGLWLRQV FHQWLVORFDWHGLQ16:DQGSHUFHQWLQ4XHHQVODQG6R
,Q $XVWUDOLD WKHUH LV D VLJQLFDQW SRWHQWLDO IRU DQ IURPDUHVRXUFHYLHZSRLQWWKHUHLVVLJQLFDQWSRWHQWLDO
XQGHUJURXQGWKLFNVHDPPLQLQJPHWKRGVXFKDV/7&&WR IRUWKHDSSOLFDWLRQRI/7&&LQ$XVWUDOLD
EHLQWURGXFHG&XUUHQWO\WKHUHDUHPHDVXUHGWKLFNVHDP %DVHG RQ &KLQHVH H[SHULHQFH WKH PRVW LPSRUWDQW
UHVRXUFHVRI%WVLWXDWHGLQERWK1HZ6RXWK:DOHVDQG SDUDPHWHUVIRUWKHVXFFHVVRI/7&&DUHFRDOVWUHQJWKDQG
4XHHQVODQG7KH$XVWUDOLDQ&RDO$VVRFLDWLRQ5HVHDUFK PLQLQJ GHSWK ,Q DGGLWLRQ IRU DQ HIIHFWLYH DSSOLFDWLRQ
3URJUDP$&$53UHFRJQLVHGWKHSRWHQWLDODQGIXQGHG WKHFRDOVHDPPXVWEHHDVLO\EUHDNDEOHIULDEOHRUFDYH
D VWXG\ LQWR WKH IHDVLELOLW\ RI LQWURGXFLQJ /7&& LQWR HDVLO\ ZLWK VPDOO EORFNV WKDW KDYH ZHDN WR PRGHUDWH
$XVWUDOLD&DLet al
7KHWHFKQLFDOFKDOOHQJHVLQYROYHGLQWKHLQWURGXFWLRQRI
/7&& QHHG WR EH DGGUHVVHG SURDFWLYHO\ EHIRUH LW ZLOO
JDLQ SURYHQ UHFRJQLWLRQ LQ $XVWUDOLD 7KH VXFFHVVIXO
LQWURGXFWLRQ RI /7&& DW WKH$XVWDU 0LQH LQ WKH +XQWHU
9DOOH\ LQ  E\<DQFRDO$XVWUDOLD 3W\ /WG ZLOO ERRVW
WKHLQWHUHVWLQWKHLQWURGXFWLRQRIWKLVLQQRYDWLYHPLQLQJ
PHWKRG LQ 16: DQG 4XHHQVODQG /7&& FRXOG SURYLGH
WKH LQGXVWU\ ZLWK D PHDQV RI HIIHFWLYHO\ PLQLQJ WKLFN
VHDPVLQDVDIHUDQGPRUHSURGXFWLYHPDQQHU
VWUHQJWKRIOHVVWKDQ0SD$QDO\VLVKDVVKRZQWKDW
SHUFHQWRIWKHUHOHYDQWVHDPVLQ$XVWUDOLDDUHUHDVRQDEO\
ZHDNZLWKDVWUHQJWKRIOHVVWKDQ03DDQGSHUFHQW
DUH PRGHUDWHO\ ZHDN ZLWK WKH VWUHQJWK RI EHWZHHQ 
DQG 03D 7KH UHPDLQLQJ  SHU FHQW KDYH VWUHQJWKV
H[FHHGLQJ03D
)LJXUH  VKRZV WKH SRWHQWLDO /7&& VHDPV DFFRUGLQJ WR
WKHLUGHSWKRIFRYHU
$V RXWOLQHG E\ &DL et al  WKH PDMRU SHUFHLYHG
EHQHWVRIWKH/7&&PHWKRGIRU$XVWUDOLDLQFOXGH
 5HGXFHG RSHUDWLQJ FRVWV DUH SRVVLEOH DV WKH /7&&
PHWKRG LQFUHDVHV WKH ORQJZDOO WRQQHV SHU PHWUH
UHWUHDWDQGDOVRSHUPHWUHRIJDWHURDGGHYHORSPHQW
7KLV PHWKRG ZLOO VLJQLFDQWO\ UHGXFH GHYHORSPHQW
FRVWV DQG OHVVHQ WKH ULVN RI ORQJZDOO GHYHORSPHQW
QRWEHLQJFRPSOHWHGWRWKHUHTXLUHGVFKHGXOH2WKHU
XQLWFRVWVVXFKDVODERXUSRZHUDQGIDFHHTXLSPHQW
PDLQWHQDQFHZLOOEHVLJQLFDQWO\UHGXFHG
 7KH /7&& PHWKRG SURYLGHV JUHDWHU UHVRXUFH
UHFRYHU\DVLWRIIHUVDYLDEOHPHDQVRIH[WUDFWLQJXS
WRWRSHUFHQWRIWRPWKLFNVHDPV7KHVH
VHDPV FRQVWLWXWH RYHU  SHU FHQW RI $XVWUDOLDV
PHDVXUHGDQGLQGLFDWHGXQGHUJURXQGPLQHDEOHWKLFN
VHDP UHVRXUFHV &XUUHQWO\ VLQJOH SDVV ORQJZDOO LV
RQO\SURYHQWREHYLDEOHDWDIHZPLQHVLQ$XVWUDOLD
DWDQXSSHUKHLJKWRIWRP,PSURYHGUHVRXUFH
UHFRYHU\ LQFUHDVHV PLQH OLIH DLGV VXVWDLQDEOH
GHYHORSPHQW DQG LPSURYHV OLIH RI PLQH QDQFLDO
SHUIRUPDQFHWKURXJKWKHDELOLW\WRGHSUHFLDWHPDMRU
SURMHFW LQIUDVWUXFWXUH FRVWV DQG QDQFLQJ RYHU D
ODUJHUPLQHDEOHUHVHUYH
 0LQH VDIHW\ LV LPSURYHG DV WKH FXWWLQJ KHLJKW
LV ORZHUHG UHODWLYH WR WKH KLJK UHDFK VLQJOH SDVV
ORQJZDOOPHWKRG7KLVUHVXOWVLQLPSURYHGURRIIDFH
DOLJQPHQWDQGURRIVXSSRUWFRQWUROVPDOOHUDQGOHVV
H[SHQVLYH HTXLSPHQW DQG LPSURYHG VSRQWDQHRXV
FRPEXVWLRQFRQWUROLQWKLFNVHDPVWKURXJKUHPRYDO
RIWKHPDMRULW\RIWRSFRDOIURPWKHJRDI+RZHYHU
PDQDJLQJ DLUERUQH GXVW DQG VWUDWD FRQWURO LQ WKH
PDLQJDWHDUHDZLOOUHTXLUHVLJQLFDQWHIIRUWV
360 &KDSWHU
FIG 7 - Average depth of the potential LTCC
seams
Operation
/RQJZDOOWRSFRDOFDYLQJLVDPHWKRGRIH[WUDFWLQJWKLFN
VHDPV JUHDWHU WKDQ  P 7KH PHWKRG HPSOR\V ERWK
FXWWLQJRIWKHORZHUSRUWLRQRIWKHFRDOVHDPDFFRPSDQLHG
E\FDYLQJDQGUHFODPDWLRQRIWKHWRSFRDO&RDOLVUVWFXW
IURPWKHORQJZDOOIDFHXVLQJDFRQYHQWLRQDOVKHDUHUDQG
$)&DUUDQJHPHQWZRUNLQJXQGHUK\GUDXOLFIDFHVXSSRUWV
WKDW LQFRUSRUDWH D UHDU FRDO FRQYH\RU DQG FDQWLOHYHU
LSSHU DUUDQJHPHQW ORFDWHG RQ WKH ORZHU SRUWLRQ RI WKH
UHDUFDQRS\)DFHFXWWLQJKHLJKWVDUHJHQHUDOO\LQWKHUDQJH
RI  WR  P 7KH URRI VXSSRUW LV DGYDQFHG IRUZDUG
DIWHUWKHVKHDUDQGWKHUHDUFRQYH\RUUHPDLQVLQSODFHLQ
SUHSDUDWLRQIRUWKHFDYLQJVHTXHQFH7KHFDYLQJVHTXHQFH
DOORZVWKHEURNHQFRDODWWKHUHDURIWKHVXSSRUWVWRRZ
IURP WKH JRDI RQWR WKH UHDU FRQYH\RU ZKLFK FRQYH\V LW
WR WKH JDWH HQG WUDQVIHU 7KH RZ RI FRDO RQWR WKH UHDU
FRQYH\RULVFRQWUROOHGE\UHWUDFWLQJWKHUHDUFDQWLOHYHUV
RI VHOHFWHG VXSSRUWV H[SRVLQJ WKH UHDU FRQYH\RU WR WKH
JRDIFRDOZKLFKFDYHVLQWRWKHIUHHVSDFH2QFHDQDUHD
KDVEHHQFDYHGWKHUHDUFDQWLOHYHULVH[WHQGHGEDFNRXW
LQWRWKHJRDIVWRSSLQJDQ\IXUWKHULQX[RIJRDIPDWHULDO FRDOLVFULWLFDOWRWKHVXFFHVVRI/7&&DQGLVGHSHQGHQWRQ
$VHFRQGDU\FDYLQJSURFHVVPD\EHUHSHDWHGDWWKHVDPH DEXWPHQWSUHVVXUHDQGFRDOPDVVVWUHQJWK=KRQJPLQJet
SRVLWLRQLIIXUWKHUFRDOLVSUHVHQWEHIRUHWKHUHDUFRQYH\RU al7RSFRDOIUDFWXULQJRFFXUVWKURXJKVKHDUIDLOXUH
LVQDOO\DGYDQFHGIRUZDUGXQGHUWKHUHDUFDQRS\RIWKH DQG WHQVLOH FUDFNLQJ 3RRU IUDFWXULQJ ZLOO FDXVH ODUJHU
VXSSRUWUHDG\IRUWKHQH[WVKHDUHUF\FOH EORFNVWRIRUPDQGSRRUFDYLQJWKURXJKWKHUHDU$)&ZLOO
UHVXOW([FHVVLYHIUDFWXULQJZLOOLQWXUQFDXVHURRIFRQWURO
'HSHQGLQJRQWKHFRQGLWLRQVLQWKHPLQHYDULRXVFDYLQJ
LVVXHVDKHDGRIWKHURRIVXSSRUWV7KHIUDFWXULQJSURFHVV
VHTXHQFHV DUH HPSOR\HG WR PD[LPLVH WKH WRS FRDO
EHJLQVDKHDGRIWKHIDFHOLQHZKHQWKHFRDOVHDPLVDFWHG
UHFRYHU\,QPDQ\FDVHVWRSFRDOFDYLQJLVWKHSULPDU\
RQE\DEXWPHQWVWUHVV6HFRQGO\WKHWRSFRDOZLWKOLWWOHRU
SURGXFWLRQ PHFKDQLVP IURP WKH IDFH UDWKHU WKDQ FRDO
QRKRUL]RQWDOFRQQHPHQWXQGHUJRHVKRUL]RQWDOGLODWLRQ
FXWWLQJZLWKRYHUDOOIDFHF\FOHWLPHVDOVRGHSHQGHQWRQ
RQFHDFWHGXSRQE\YHUWLFDOVWUHVVEHIRUHQDOFDYLQJDW
FDYLQJUDWHVUDWKHUWKDQVKHDULQJUDWHV
WKHUHDURIWKH/7&&VXSSRUWV
*DLQLQJDIXQGDPHQWDOXQGHUVWDQGLQJRIWKHWKHRU\DQG
(VWLPDWLRQWKURXJKPRGHOOLQJRIWKHGHJUHHRIIUDFWXULQJ
SULQFLSOHVEHKLQGWKHFDYLQJSURFHVVDQGWKHLPSRUWDQFH
RFFXUULQJ GXULQJ WKLV F\FOH LV DW WKH FRUH RI SUHGLFWLQJ
RIFRDOVWUHQJWKDQGYHUWLFDOVWUHVVUHODWLRQVKLSVLVFULWLFDO
/7&& SURGXFWLRQ )LJXUH  LV D VLPSOLHG LOOXVWUDWLRQ
WRDFKLHYLQJDVXFFHVVIXODSSOLFDWLRQ/HDUQLQJIURPWKH
RI WKH VWUHVV UHJLPH VXUURXQGLQJ DQ /7&& IDFH DQG LWV
&KLQHVH FRDO HOGV H[SHULHQFH PXVW RFFXU VR WKDW WKLV
HIIHFWVRQWKHWRSFRDO
NQRZOHGJH FDQ EH WUDQVODWHG DQG DSSOLHG WR $XVWUDOLDQ
FRQGLWLRQV
Caving assessment
7KH &KLQHVH 5HVHDUFK ,QVWLWXWHV KDYH GHYHORSHG
Challenges to introducing LTCC QXPHURXVPHWKRGVIRUDVVHVVLQJWKHFDYLQJFKDUDFWHULVWLFV
7KHUHDUHWKUHHPDLQFKDOOHQJHVWRLQWURGXFLQJ/7&&LQWR RI WKHLU PLQHV EDVHG RQ HPSLULFDO PHWKRGV ODERUDWRU\
WKH$XVWUDOLDQLQGXVWU\ WHVWLQJ DQG H[SHULHQFH 7KH PHWKRGV IRU FDOFXODWLQJ
WKHVH FKDUDFWHULVWLFV UHO\ SULPDULO\ RQ WKH IROORZLQJ
Geological and geotechnical matters SDUDPHWHUV
6FLHQWLF DQG HQJLQHHULQJ VWXGLHV DQG GHWDLOHG  FRDOVWUHQJWK
LQYHVWLJDWLRQVDUHUHTXLUHGWRGHWHUPLQHDSDUWLFXODUVLWHV  YHUWLFDOVWUHVV
SRWHQWLDOIRU/7&&7REHJLQWKHUHLVDQHHGWRXQGHUVWDQG
WKHWKHRU\RI/7&&DQGDSSO\LWWRWKDWSDUWLFXODUVLWHV  WRSFRDOWKLFNQHVV
JHRORJLFDODQGJHRWHFKQLFDOHQYLURPHQW  LQWHUEXUGHQVWRQHEDQGWKLFNQHVVDQG
7KHSURFHVVRIIUDFWXULQJDQGFUDFNHYROXWLRQLQWKHWRS  GHJUHHRIIUDFWXULQJ

FIG 8 - A conceptual model of the LTCC method (after XU, 1999)

0RQRJUDSK$XVWUDODVLDQ&RDO0LQLQJ3UDFWLFH 361
 2WKHU PHWKRGV LQFRUSRUDWH VXSSRUW UHVLVWDQFH YDOXHV RU
PRUHGHWDLOHGFRDOFKDUDFWHULVWLFVVXFKDVFRDOFRKHVLRQ
LQWKHFDOFXODWLRQ2QFHWKHFDYLQJFRQGLWLRQVKDYHEHHQ
DVVHVVHG WKH DSSURSULDWH HTXLSPHQW LV VHOHFWHG DQG WKH
FDYLQJWHFKQLTXHDSSOLHGEDVHGRQWKHFDOFXODWLRQRIWKH
FDYLQJ LQGH[ IRU WKH GHSRVLW7KH LQGH[ UHODWHV WR VHDP
UHFRYHU\ DQG D JHQHULF DVVHVVPHQW RI WKH FRQGLWLRQV
$GGLWLRQDODLUERUQHGXVWZLOOEHSUHVHQWRQ/7&&IDFHV
GXH WR WKH DGGLWLRQ RI WKH FDYLQJ F\FOH WKDW SURGXFHV
ODUJHU TXDQWLWLHV RI GXVW 7KH WZR GLVWLQFW FXWWLQJ DQG
FDYLQJRSHUDWLRQVLQYROYHGLQ/7&&DUHVWDJJHUHGE\D
GLVWDQFHRIXSWRWHQURRIVXSSRUWV$VZRUNLQJWKHFDYLQJ
VHTXHQFHLQYROYHVRSHUDWRUVEHLQJORFDWHGRQWKHUHWXUQ
VLGH RI WKH VKHDUHU GXVW H[SRVXUH LVVXHV DULVH EHFDXVH
7DEOH  SUHSDUHG E\ =KRQJPLQJ -LQ  LOOXVWUDWHV FXUUHQWO\ RSHUDWRUV FDQQRW UHPRWHO\ RSHUDWH WKH FDYLQJ
WKH UHODWLRQVKLS EHWZHHQ FDYLQV LQGH[ DQG UHFRYHU\ IRU F\FOH IURP WKH LQWDNH VLGH RI WKH VKHDUHU %LGL FXWWLQJ
GLIIHUHQWPLQLQJFRQGLWLRQV VHTXHQFHVIROORZHGE\DFDYLQJF\FOHHYHU\VHFRQGVKHDU
PD\ EH HPSOR\HG WR UHGXFH DQ RSHUDWRUV H[SRVXUH WR
$XVWUDOLDQ PLQLQJ FRQGLWLRQV DUH TXLWH GLIIHUHQW IURP
GXVW 8VLQJ WKLV PHWKRG LQ $XVWUDOLD ZLOO UHTXLUH QHZ
WKH&KLQHVHFRDOHOGV&KLQHVH/7&&PLQHVDUHGHHSHU
WHFKQLTXHVWRNHHSWKHGXVWJHQHUDWHGGXULQJWKHFDYLQJ
DW DURXQG  P ZLWK PRGHUDWHO\ KDUG FRDOV ZKHUHDV
F\FOH DZD\ IURP WKH VKHDUHU RSHUDWRUV DQG WRZDUGV WKH
$XVWUDOLDQPLQHVDUHUHODWLYHVKDOORZDWWRPDQG
UHDU RI WKH VXSSRUWV %LGL FXWWLQJ PD\ DOVR UHTXLUH WKH
ZLWKUHODWLYHO\VRIWHUFRDOV
XVHRIDKLJKHUFDSDFLW\UHDUFRQYH\RUWRPDLQWDLQFDYLQJ
3DUDPHWHUVVXFKDVWKHGHJUHHRIIUDFWXULQJDUHGLIFXOW RXWSXWDVLWRFFXUVRQO\HYHU\VHFRQGVKHDU
WRREVHUYHPHDVXUHRUFDOFXODWHDQGFDQQRWEHGHWHUPLQHG
$XWRPDWLRQRIWKHURRIVXSSRUWV$)&DQGFDYLQJSURFHVV
IRU$XVWUDOLDQPLQHV7RROVPXVWEHGHYHORSHGWRHQDEOH
WRUHPRYHSHUVRQQHOFRPSOHWHO\IURPDQ\GXVW\FRQGLWLRQV
D FRPSDULVRQ RI $XVWUDOLDQ PLQLQJ SDUDPHWHUV DJDLQVW
LV WKH EHVW VROXWLRQ DQG ZLOO UHTXLUH WKH LQYROYHPHQW RI
FXUUHQW &KLQHVH /7&& PHDVXUHPHQW LQGH[HV 2QH
HTXLSPHQWPDQXIDFWXUHUVUHVHDUFKHUVDQGPLQHRSHUDWRUV
SRVVLEOH PHWKRG LQYROYHV GHYHORSLQJ WKH UHODWLRQVKLS
DOLNH
EHWZHHQ SODVWLF VWUDLQ PRGHOOHG LQ WKH WRS FRDO RI DQ
/7&&IDFHDJDLQVWWKH&KLQHVHFDYLQJLQGH[IRUWKHVDPH &KLQHVH/7&&PLQHVKDYHW\SLFDOO\ORZHUJDVFRQWHQWV
FRQGLWLRQV 8VLQJ WKLV DSSURDFK D UHODWLRQVKLS EHWZHHQ WKDQ$XVWUDOLDQPLQHV*DVPDNHLQWRDQGRXWRI/7&&
NQRZQ $XVWUDOLDQ SDUDPHWHUV DQG WKH &KLQHVH UDWLQJ JRDYHV PD\ EH VLJQLFDQWO\ GLIIHUHQW FRPSDUHG WR D
LQGH[FDQEHGHYHORSHG FRQYHQWLRQDO ORQJZDOO JRDI LQ WKH VDPH FRQGLWLRQV GXH
WRWKHODUJHUFRDOH[WUDFWLRQYROXPHDQGLWVHIIHFWRQWKH
0RGHOOLQJRIWKHFDYLQJSURFHVVLVFUXFLDOWRXQGHUVWDQGLQJ
VXUURXQGLQJVWUDWDDQGFRDOVHDPV
DQGSUHGLFWLQJWKHFDYLQJEHKDYLRUWKDWFDQEHH[SHFWHG
XQGHU$XVWUDOLDQFRQGLWLRQV6XFKPRGHOOLQJZRXOGHQDEOH 6LPLODUO\ JDV DFFXPXODWLRQV DQG YHQWLODWLRQ GHDG VSRWV
DVSHFLFFODVVLFDWLRQV\VWHPWREHGHYHORSHGDQGWKH PD\RFFXURQDQGDURXQGWKHUHDU$)&0DLQWHQDQFHDQG
SHUIRUPDQFHRIWKHURRIVXSSRUWVLQWKHVHFRQGLWLRQVWREH UHSDLUV LQ WKHVH DUHDV ZLOO QHHG WR EH VWULFWO\ FRQWUROOHG
DVVHVVHG0RGHOOLQJRI/7&&LVFRPSOLFDWHGDVWKHVWUDWD DQG YHQWLODWLRQ LQ WKHVH OHVV DFFHVVLEOH DUHDV DOWHUHG E\
PXVWEHPRGHOOHGDQGDVVHVVHGWKURXJKWKHYDULRXVORDGLQJ LQVWDOOLQJFXUWDLQVRUDLUPRYHUVIRUVSHFLFWDVNV
VWDJHVWKDWUHVXOWLQLQFUHDVLQJIUDFWXULQJRIWKHWRSFRDO
0RGHOOLQJRIJDVDQGGXVWSUREOHPVDQGWKHIRUPXODWLRQ
IURP EHLQJ LQWDFW WR IXOO\ IUDFWXUHG DQG H[SDQGHG7KLV
RI PLWLJDWLRQ VWUDWHJLHV KDYH EHHQ SHUIRUPHG IRU
UHTXLUHPHQWQHFHVVLWDWHVXVLQJWZRGLIIHUHQWDSSURDFKHV
QXPHURXVH[DPSOHVRIVLPLODUIDFHYHQWLODWLRQGXVWDQG
NQRZQDVFRQWLQXXPDQGGLVFUHWHHOHPHQWPRGHOOLQJWR
JRDIJDVLVVXHVRQFXUUHQWIDFHVZLWKVXFFHVVIXOUHVXOWV
UHSUHVHQWWKHWZRFRDOFRQGLWLRQV
&RPSXWDWLRQDO )OXLG '\QDPLFV &)' PRGHOOLQJ FRXOG
EH DSSOLHG WR WKH /7&& PHWKRG DV D WHFKQLTXH IRU
Mining environment
LGHQWLI\LQJ DLURZ SUREOHPV DURXQG WKH VKHDUHU DORQJ
8VHRIWKH/7&&PHWKRGFDXVHVFKDQJHVWRWKHPLQLQJ WKHUHDUFRQYH\RUIRUGHWHUPLQLQJR[\JHQFRQFHQWUDWLRQV
HQYLURQPHQW SDUWLFXODUO\ LQ DLURZ SDWWHUQV JDV LQWKHJRDIDQGGHVLJQLQJFRQWUROVWUDWHJLHV
HPLVVLRQV DQG DLUERUQH GXVW JHQHUDWLRQ +LVWRULFDOO\ LQ
&KLQD/7&&XVHVIRXUOHJJHGVKLHOGVXSSRUWVZLWKDUHDU
$)&ZKLFKVLJQLFDQWO\DOWHUVYHQWLODWLRQEHKDYLRXURQ
DQGDURXQGWKHIDFH

TABLE 5 - Caving index with corresponding recovery percentages and description of conditions

/7&&&ODVVLFDWLRQ 1 2 3 4 5
Minning conditions Very good Good Medium Bad Very bad
Caving index > 0.9 0.8 - 0.9 0.7 - 0.8 0.6 - 0.7 < 0.6
Seam recovery (%) > 80 65 - 80 50 - 65 30 - 50 < 30

362 &KDSWHU
Equipment design and performance WR UHSODFH VXEWOH KXPDQ REVHUYDWLRQV E\ GHYHORSLQJ
DUWLFLDOVHQVRUVDQGQHXUDOQHWZRUNVWRGHWHFWFKDQJHVLQ
7KH GHVLJQ RI /7&& HTXLSPHQW DQG WKH PHDVXUHPHQW WKHFDYLQJSURFHVVDQGWRGHYHORSDSURGXFWLYHDXWRPDWHG
RILWVSHUIRUPDQFHLVDQRWKHUDUHDFULWLFDOWRWKHVXFFHVV FDYLQJFRQWUROV\VWHP
RI /7&& 'XULQJ WKH ODVW  \HDUV &KLQHVH HTXLSPHQW
PDQXIDFWXUHUV KDYH GHYHORSHG VHYHUDO JHQHUDWLRQV RI ,Q VXPPDU\ WKH FKDOOHQJHV RXWOLQHG LQ WKLV VHFWLRQ DUH
VXSSRUWVDVPRUHZDVOHDUQWDERXWWKHFDYLQJSURFHVVDQG E\QRPHDQVDFRPSOHWHOLVWEXWDUHEDVHGRQQXPHURXV
WKHUROHSOD\HGE\/7&&VXSSRUWV&KLQHVH/7&&PLQHV QGLQJV DQG HOG REVHUYDWLRQV RI /7&& ,Q RUGHU WR
W\SLFDOO\HPSOR\IRXUOHJJHGVXSSRUWVZLWKHLWKHUULJLGRU LQWURGXFH/7&&VXFFHVVIXOO\LQWRWKH$XVWUDOLDQPLQLQJ
DUWLFXODWHGFDQRSLHV7KHVXSSRUWVDUHW\SLFDOO\UDWHGIURP LQGXVWU\VHYHUDOFKDOOHQJHVH[LVWIURPWKHXQGHUVWDQGLQJ
DURXQG  WR  W 9HU\ IHZ PLQHV HPSOR\ SRZHUHG DQGDSSOLFDWLRQRIIXQGDPHQWDOVFLHQFHWKURXJKWRVROYLQJ
VXSSRUWV DW WKH JDWH HQGV SUHIHUULQJ PDQXDOO\ VHW SURSV HYHU\GD\ HQJLQHHULQJ LVVXHV 7KH FKDOOHQJLQJ DUHDV RI
DQGOLQNEDUV)RUDQ$XVWUDOLDQDSSOLFDWLRQWRSURFHHG JHRORJ\DQGJHRWHFKQLFDODVVHVVPHQWPLQHHQYLURQPHQW
D ZRUNDEOH VROXWLRQ LQYROYLQJ XVH RI SRZHUHG VXSSRUW DQGHTXLSPHQWGHVLJQDORQJZLWKWKHVXJJHVWHGPHWKRGV
LQWKHVHDUHDVPXVWEHUHDFKHG$FFHVVWRIDFHDUHDVIRU RIPHHWLQJWKHVHFKDOOHQJHVPXVWEHDGGUHVVHGWRHQDEOH
PDLQWHQDQFHIXQFWLRQVPXVWDOVREHFRQVLGHUHGFDUHIXOO\ WKHSURFHVVWRPRYHIRUZDUG%\GRLQJVRWKHLVVXHVFDQEH
LQWKHGHVLJQSURFHVVDVWKHJDWHHQGDUHDVDUHFRQJHVWHG GHDOWZLWKDQGLQPDQ\FDVHVWKHVROXWLRQVGHULYHGIRUWKH
ZLWKWKHDGGLWLRQDOUHDU$)&GULYHV'HVLJQLQJHTXLSPHQW /7&&FDVHFDQEHDSSOLHGEDFNWRSURYLGHLPSURYHPHQWV
WRRSHUDWHLQYDULRXVJURXQGFRQGLWLRQVHVSHFLDOO\LQWKH LQVDIHW\DQGSURGXFWLYLW\WRFXUUHQWFRQYHQWLRQDOVLQJOH
PDLQJDWHHQGRIWKHIDFHZLOOEHLPSRUWDQWWRGHWHUPLQH SDVVORQJZDOOIDFHV
WKH RSWLPDO VXSSRUW GHVLJQ IRU VDIH SURGXFWLRQ )RU
H[DPSOH '%7 LQ FRQMXQFWLRQ ZLWK <DQFRDO$XVWUDOLDV
$XVWDU 0LQH DUH GHYHORSLQJ DQ LQQRYDWLYH URRI VXSSRUW STATUS OF RESEARCH AND
GHVLJQWRFRQWUROWKHURRIDWWKHPDLQJDWHHQGRIWKHIDFH DEVELOPMENT INTO LONGWALL
7LPHZLOOWHOOKRZVXFFHVVIXOWKLVVROXWLRQLVLQVRIWFRDO
AUTOMATION
,UUHVSHFWLYH RI WKH HTXLSPHQW GHVLJQ LQLWLDOO\ DQ
HTXLSPHQW PDQXIDFWXUHU DQG WKH PLQH RSHUDWRU PXVW $ /DQGPDUN /RQJZDOO$XWRPDWLRQ 3URMHFW ZDV FDUULHG
FRQVLGHUWKHGHVLJQOLIHRIWKHHTXLSPHQWIRUWKH/7&& RXWE\&6,52DQG7KH&RRSHUDWLYH5HVHDUFK&HQWUHIRU
DSSOLFDWLRQ7KLVSDUWLFXODUO\DSSOLHVWRWKHVKLHOGV$VKRUW 0LQLQJ7HFKQRORJ\DQG(TXLSPHQWQRZ&5&0LQLQJ
GHVLJQ OLIH ZLOO DOORZ IRU QHZ HTXLSPHQW GHVLJQV WR EH XQGHUWKHGLUHFWLRQRIWKH/RQJZDOO$XWRPDWLRQ6WHHULQJ
LQWURGXFHGPRUHUHJXODUO\DFFRUGLQJWRWKHLUSHUIRUPDQFH &RPPLWWHH /$6& D VXEFRPPLWWHH RI WKH $&$53
LQ WKH HOG DQG JLYH WKH RSSRUWXQLW\ WR WDNH DGYDQWDJH 8QGHUJURXQG5HVHDUFK&RPPLWWHH7KHRYHUDOOJRDOVHW
RIQHZWHFKQRORJLHV(TXLSPHQWZLWKDORQJGHVLJQOLIH E\/$6&ZDVWRGHYHORSV\VWHPVWKDWZRXOGUHVXOWLQ
ZLOO EH PRUH H[SHQVLYH WR SXUFKDVH DQG ZLOO OLPLW WKH
IUHTXHQF\ RI QHZ HTXLSPHQW GHVLJQV DQG WHFKQRORJ\ $ ORQJZDOO IDFH WKDW ZLOO RSHUDWH DXWRPDWLFDOO\ ZLWKLQ
EHLQJ LQWURGXFHG 7KH SDWK FKRVHQ ZLOO GHSHQG ODUJHO\ SUHGHQHGSDUDPHWHUVWRHQKDQFHKHDOWKDQGVDIHW\DQG
RQ WKH PLQH RSHUDWRUV FRQGHQFH LQ WKH DVVHVVPHQW RI SURGXFWLRQ FRQVLVWHQF\ WR ORZHU RSHUDWLQJ FRVWV DQG
WKHFDYLQJFRQGLWLRQVDQGHTXLSPHQWSHUIRUPDQFHSULRU LPSURYHUHWXUQRQFDSLWDO
WRPLQLQJ 7RDFKLHYHWKHSURMHFWJRDORIORQJZDOODXWRPDWLRQWHQ
$XWRPDWLRQ RI IDFH IXQFWLRQV IRU LQFUHDVHG VDIHW\ DQG RXWFRPHVRUZRUNDUHDVZHUHLGHQWLHGDQGWKHUHVHDUFK
SURGXFWLYLW\ ZLOO EH DQ HVVHQWLDO VWHS LQ WKH DSSOLFDWLRQ SURJUDPVWUXFWXUHGDURXQGWKHP7KHVHDUHDVZHUH
RI /7&& LQWR $XVWUDOLDQ PLQHV $V ZLWK DOO ORQJZDOO  )DFHDOLJQPHQWIRFXVLQJRQODWHUDOGLUHFWLRQFRQWURO
IDFHV WKH JHQHUDO JXLGHOLQHV IRU DQ HIFLHQW IDFH DUH DQGIDFHJHRPHWU\
PDLQWDLQLQJFRUUHFWIDFHDOLJQPHQWDQGKRUL]RQFRQWURO
:LWK/7&&WKHVHUXOHVZLOOEHFRPHPRUHLPSRUWDQWGXH  +RUL]RQ FRQWURO ORRNLQJ DW PDLQWDLQLQJ FXWWLQJ
WR WKH VXEWOHWLHV RI WKH WRS FRDO IUDFWXULQJ DQG FDYLQJ KRUL]RQVDVUHTXLUHGE\WKHPLQLQJSURFHVV
SURFHVV 3RRU IDFH DOLJQPHQW FDQ VHULRXVO\ LPSDFW RQ  2SHQ FRPPXQLFDWLRQV E\ GHYHORSLQJ RSHQ
SURGXFWLRQIURPFDYLQJDVFDQDORVVRIKRUL]RQ&RQWURO DUFKLWHFWXUHEHWZHHQV\VWHPKDUGZDUHDQGVRIWZDUH
RI WKHVH SDUDPHWHUV WKURXJK DXWRPDWLRQ ZLOO HQVXUH FRPSRQHQWV
JUHDWHUFRQWLQXLW\RISURGXFWLRQ
 2(0 LQYROYHPHQWFRPPLWPHQW E\ FUHDWLQJ
7KHDSSOLFDWLRQRIDXWRPDWLRQWRWKHFDYLQJSURFHVVZRXOG PHFKDQLVPV IRU H[FKDQJH RI LQIRUPDWLRQ EHWZHHQ
DOVR UHPRYH D PDMRU KXUGOH WR LQWURGXFLQJ WKH /7&& WKHSURMHFWWHDPDQGHTXLSPHQWPDQXIDFWXUHUV
PHWKRG LQWR $XVWUDOLD 7KH FDYLQJ RSHUDWLRQ FXUUHQWO\
 $Q LQIRUPDWLRQ V\VWHP FRQVLVWLQJ RI D PRQLWRULQJ
UHTXLUHVDQRSHUDWRUWRVSHQGWLPHDWHDFKVXSSRUWGXULQJ
VWDWLRQ DXWRPDWLF VHTXHQFH GHVLJQ DQG RSHUDWRU
FDYLQJ RSHUDWLRQV OLVWHQLQJ DQG ORRNLQJ IRU FKDQJHV
GLVSOD\V
LQWKHFDYLQJPDWHULDODVLWPDNHVLWVZD\RQWRWKHUHDU
$)& $XWRPDWLRQ RI WKH FDYLQJ SURFHVV ZLOO LQYROYH  3URGXFWLRQ FRQVLVWHQF\ DQG UHOLDELOLW\ IRFXVLQJ
SURJUDPPLQJWKHWLPLQJRIWKHUHWUDFWLRQDQGH[WHQVLRQ RQ FRQGLWLRQ PRQLWRULQJ DQG UHOLDELOLW\ DQG WKHQ
RI WKH UHDU FDQWLOHYHUV 7KH NH\ VWHS LQ DXWRPDWLRQ LV RQ RSWLPL]LQJ FRDO RZ DQG QDOO\ RQ FROOLVLRQ
DYRLGDQFHEHWZHHQFRPSRQHQWV

0RQRJUDSK$XVWUDODVLDQ&RDO0LQLQJ3UDFWLFH 363
  'HWHUPLQLQJWKHUHGHQHGIXQFWLRQVRIIDFHRSHUDWRUV SUHSDUDWLRQ SODQWV7KH W\SLFDO XWLOLVDWLRQ RI D ORQJZDOO
DQGVXEVHTXHQWWUDLQLQJUHTXLUHPHQWV IDFHLVOHVVWKDQSHUFHQWDFURVVWKHLQGXVWU\+DOIRI
WKHGHOD\VFDQEHDWWULEXWHGWRWLPHDVVRFLDWHGZLWKIDFH
 $QLPSOHPHQWDWLRQSODQIRULQWURGXFLQJDXWRPDWLRQ
HTXLSPHQW IDLOXUHV ,QLWLDWLYHV LQ WKH /DQGPDUN 3URMHFW
V\VWHPFRPSRQHQWVDWVWUDWHJLFVHOHFWHGVLWHV
RXWFRPHV UHFRPPHQG WKLV LVVXH EH DGGUHVVHG WKURXJK
 $FRPPHUFLDOLVDWLRQSODQIRUWUDQVIHUULQJWKHSURYHQ HQJLQHHULQJ DQG GHVLJQ FKDQJHV DQG WKURXJK EHWWHU
DXWRPDWLRQWHFKQRORJ\WRWKHLQGXVWU\ HTXLSPHQW VHOHFWLRQ WRROV 7KLV LQFOXGHV IRFXVLQJ RQ
LQFUHDVHGSUHFLVLRQDXWRPDWLRQDQGGHYHORSPHQWRIRQ
 $ SURJUHVVLYH DXWRPDWLRQ LPSOHPHQWDWLRQ SODQ IRU
OLQHFRQGLWLRQPRQLWRULQJDQGIDXOWGHWHFWLRQWHFKQLTXHV
DOO ORQJZDOO PLQHV LQ $XVWUDOLD E\ LGHQWLI\LQJ WKH
VWDWXV RI WKHLU H[LVWLQJ WHFKQLFDO VSHFLFDWLRQV DQG )ROORZLQJWKHVHVLJQLFDQWRXWFRPHVDUHFRPPHQGDWLRQ
WKH SRWHQWLDO WR LPSOHPHQW DSSURSULDWH OHYHOV RI KDVEHHQDFFHSWHGE\WKH$XVWUDOLDQ&RDO5HVHDUFK%RDUG
DXWRPDWLRQ WR FRPPLW DQ DGGLWLRQDO  PLOOLRQ WR SURJUHVV WKHVH
RXWFRPHV LQWR D GHYHORSPHQW DQG GHPRQVWUDWLRQ SKDVH
$EULHIGHVFULSWLRQRIWKHRXWFRPHVRIWKHUVWVHYHQRI
ODVWLQJ WZR \HDUV DW %HOWDQD DQG %URDGPHDGRZ 0LQHV
WKHVHZRUNDUHDVLVFRQWDLQHGLQ$SSHQGL[
7KLVUHVHDUFKKDVWKHIROORZLQJJRDOV
,Q JHQHUDO WKH PDMRU FRQWULEXWLRQV IURP WKH WKUHH\HDU
 'HYHORSSURRIRIFRQFHSWRXWFRPHVLQWKH/DQGPDUN
0$&$53/DQGPDUN/RQJZDOO$XWRPDWLRQ3URMHFW
3URMHFWWRFRPPHUFLDOSURWRW\SHVWDJH
WRORQJZDOOPLQLQJRSHUDWLRQVKDYHEHHQ
 3URJUHVV QHZ QGLQJV DQG FRQFHSWV IURP WKH
 1HZVHQVRUGHYHORSPHQWIRUFORVHGORRSFRQWURORI
/DQGPDUN SURMHFW WR H[SHULPHQWDO RU SURRIRI
IDFHHTXLSPHQW
FRQFHSWOHYHO
 ,QWHJUDWHG RSHUDWLRQ RI IDFH FRPSRQHQWV WKURXJK
RSHQFRPPXQLFDWLRQVV\VWHPV
 1HZ GDWD RZ DQG PDQDJHPHQW PHWKRGV DQG LONGWALL IMPROVEMENT
WHFKQRORJLHV OPTIONS
 ,GHQWLFDWLRQRIVNLOOVDQGTXDOLWLHVRISHRSOHUHTXLUHG
IRUDXWRPDWHGORQJZDOORSHUDWLRQV $VLJQLFDQWFRVWGULYHUIRUORQJZDOORSHUDWLRQVLVSDQHO
ZLGWK RU PRUH VSHFLFDOO\ WKH GHYHORSPHQW GULYHDJH
 'HYHORSPHQW RI QHZ RQOLQH FRQGLWLRQ PRQLWRULQJ UHTXLUHGSHUORQJZDOOWRQQHSURGXFHG$SDUWIURPWKHFRVW
DQGIDXOWGHWHFWLRQWHFKQRORJLHV RI URDGZD\ GHYHORSPHQW HYHU\ JDWH URDG UHTXLUHG KDV
,Q DGGLWLRQ RWKHU VXFFHVVIXO WHFKQLFDO UHVXOWV IURP WKH FRVWVDVVRFLDWHGZLWKLWHPVVXFKDVWKHPDLQJDWHFRQYH\RU
DXWRPDWLRQRIFRPSRQHQWVLQFOXGHG VHFRQGDU\ VXSSRUW URDGZD\ PDLQWHQDQFH YHQWLODWLRQ
VWUXFWXUHVVWRQHGXVWLQJVWDWXWRU\LQVSHFWLRQVSXPSLQJ
 $XWRPDWLF IDFH DOLJQPHQW ZDV DFKLHYHG XVLQJ DQ SLSHV DQG FDEOHV 5HGXFLQJ WKH QXPEHU DQG IUHTXHQF\
LQHUWLDO QDYLJDWLRQEDVHG VHQVRU RQ WKH VKHDUHU WR RI JDWH URDGV ZLOO GLUHFWO\ UHGXFH WKH FRVW WR SUHSDUH D
DFFXUDWHO\ PHDVXUH IDFH JHRPHWU\ DQG IHHGEDFN ORQJZDOO SDQHO IRU SURGXFWLRQ 7KH FRXQWHU VLGH RI WKLV
VLJQDOVXVHGWRPRYHWKHURRIVXSSRUWV DUJXPHQWLVWKHDGGLWLRQDOFDSLWDOLQYHVWPHQWUHTXLUHGWR
 2QOLQH PHDVXUHPHQW RI FUHHS LPSOHPHQWHG ZLWK VSDQWKHLQFUHDVHGZLGWKRIWKHORQJZDOOSDQHO
FUHHS LQIRUPDWLRQ LQFRUSRUDWHG LQWR IDFH DOLJQPHQW ,WVKRXOGEHQRWHGWKDWORQJZDOOIDFHVZLGHUWKDQP
FRUUHFWLRQV KDYHEHHQRSHUDWLQJVXFFHVVIXOO\IRUDQXPEHURI\HDUV
 %HQFKWHVWLQJ RI WKH ,QHUWLDO 1DYLJDWLRQ 6\VWHP LQ (XURSH DQG WKH 86$ 7KH WUHQG WR LQWURGXFH IDFH
,16EDVHGHQKDQFHGKRUL]RQFRQWURO OHQJWKVJUHDWHUWKDQPLVLQFUHDVLQJDVHQJLQHHULQJ
LVVXHVDVVRFLDWHGZLWKLQFUHDVHGSRZHUUHTXLUHPHQWVIRU
 %URDGEDQG FRPPXQLFDWLRQV V\VWHP XVLQJ ZLUHOHVV
WKH$)&KLJKHUFKDLQVWUHQJWKVFRQWURODQGPRQLWRULQJ
(WKHUQHWWRWKHVKHDUHUZDVUREXVWDQGUHOLDEOHRQDQ
RIVWDUWLQJDQGUXQQLQJPXOWLKLJKYROWDJHPRWRUVRWKHU
RSHUDWLRQDOEDVLV$IXOOFRPPHUFLDOLQVWDOODWLRQFDQ
LQFUHPHQWDO LPSURYHPHQWV LQ FULWLFDO DUHDV DURXQG WKH
QRZSURFHHG
$)&URRIVXSSRUWVDQGVKHDUHUDUHSURYHQDQGFDUHIXOO\
 1HZ UHVXOWV ZHUH REWDLQHG IRU ORFDWLQJ FRDO IDFH LPSOHPHQWHG
IHDWXUHV ZLWK WKH XVH RI WKHUPDO LQIUDUHGEDVHG
:KDWHYHU WKH UHDVRQ IRU WKH RSSRUWXQLW\ WKH RSWLRQ WR
KRUL]RQFRQWURO
ZLGHQ WKH IDFH KDV D PXOWLWXGH RI EHQHWV WR WKH PLQH
 $ ORQJZDOO LQIRUPDWLRQ V\VWHP ZKLFK LQWHJUDWHV RSHUDWRU7KHFLUFXPVWDQFHVVXUURXQGLQJHDFKRSSRUWXQLW\
LQIRUPDWLRQ IURP PXOWLSOH V\VWHPV DQG VHQVRUV ZLOOPRVWOLNHO\EHGLIIHUHQWIRUHDFKPLQH+RZHYHULQ
DQG SURYLGHV KLJK TXDOLW\ YLVXDOLVDWLRQ DQG FRQWURO WKHHQGWKHUHVKRXOGEHDFOHDUHFRQRPLFMXVWLFDWLRQWR
LQWHUIDFHVZDVGHYHORSHG LQFUHDVHWKHIDFHOHQJWKUDWKHUWKDQMXVWIRFXVRQWDFWLFDO
RUVWUDWHJLFUHDVRQV
,Q WKH UHOLDELOLW\ DQG FRQGLWLRQ PRQLWRULQJ FRPSRQHQW
RIWKHUHVHDUFKSURJUDPLWZDVFRQUPHGWKDWORQJZDOO &OHDUO\WKHHDVLHVWMXVWLFDWLRQWRZLGHQDORQJZDOOIDFH
WHFKQRORJ\GRHVQRWKDYHWKHVDPHPDWXULW\DVHTXLSPHQW UHYROYHVDURXQGWKHDGGLWLRQDOYDOXHDGGHGE\LQFUHDVLQJ
LQRWKHUSDUWVRIWKHPLQLQJLQGXVWU\HJVXUIDFHPLQLQJRU WKH DQQXDO VDOHV YROXPH WR WKH PDUNHWSODFH $V WKH

364 &KDSWHU
UHYHQXHVWUHDPIRUDPLQHLVQRUPDOO\LWVPRVWVHQVLWLYH
QDQFLDONH\SHUIRUPDQFHLQGLFDWRUDGGLWLRQDOYDOXHFDQ
EHDFKLHYHGWKURXJKLQFUHDVLQJDQQXDOSURGXFWLRQOHYHOV
7KLVDVVXPHVWKHUHLVQRGHWHULRUDWLRQLQWKHVXSSO\DQG
GHPDQGEDODQFHDQGFRQVHTXHQWO\WKHSULFHUHFHLYHGIRU
WKHDGGLWLRQDOFRDOIURPDZLGHUORQJZDOOIDFH
7KH$XVWUDOLDQXQGHUJURXQGLQGXVWU\KDVDORQJKLVWRU\
RI SRRU SHUIRUPDQFH LQ DFKLHYLQJ SDQHO GHYHORSPHQW
VFKHGXOHV WKDW PHHW ORQJZDOO SURGXFWLRQ FRQWLQXLW\
UHTXLUHPHQWV$OOLQWHUHVWHGSDUWLHVXQGHUVWDQGWKHULVNV
SRVHG E\ HLWKHU VORZ GHYHORSPHQW RU WKH LQFUHDVHG
GHYHORSPHQW UHTXLUHPHQW RI QDUURZHU ORQJZDOO SDQHOV
DQG DUH DZDUH WKDW ZLGHQLQJ WKH ORQJZDOO IDFH ZLOO
UHGXFHWKHQXPEHUDQGIUHTXHQF\RIJDWHURDGVUHTXLUHG
DQGFOHDUO\ORZHUWKHSURGXFWLRQPDUNHWLQJDQGQDQFLDO
ULVNV
$&$53 FRPPLVVLRQHG D 6FRSLQJ 6WXG\ DFURVV PRVW
ORQJZDOO PLQHV LQ 4XHHQVODQG DQG 1HZ 6RXWK :DOHV
WR KLJKOLJKW WKH LQFUHDVLQJ FRQFHUQ WKDW LQLWLDWLYHV
LPSOHPHQWHG LQ WKH LQGXVWU\ WR LQFUHDVH SDQHO
GHYHORSPHQWUDWHVLQWKHODVWYHWRWHQ\HDUVKDYHEHHQ
TXLWH LQHIIHFWLYH 7KH UHSRUW *LEVRQ DQG $VVRFLDWHV
%HQHWV
:KHUHQRSURGXFWLRQLQFUHDVHLVVRXJKWWKHSULPHEDVLVIRU
MXVWLFDWLRQRIZLGHUIDFHVLVWRJDLQVDYLQJVLQRSHUDWLQJ
FRVWVDVDUHVXOWRIIHZHUJDWHURDGVDQGUHGXFHGORQJZDOO
UHWUHDWPHWUHV7KLVLQLWLDWLYHZLOOUHGXFHRSHUDWLQJFRVWV
LQWKHDUHDVRISDQHOHVWDEOLVKPHQWJDWHURDGGHYHORSPHQW
FRQYH\RUGULYHLQVWDOODWLRQVGHPRELOLVDWLRQUHTXLUHPHQWV
DQG PDLQWHQDQFH VXSSRUW DFWLYLWLHV 7KLV VWUDWHJ\ ZLOO
HQKDQFHWKHPLQHVDELOLW\WRPRYHRSHUDWLRQVGRZQWKH
FRVWFXUYHZKLOVWEHLQJDEOHWRFRQWLQXHWRVXSSO\FRDODW
WKHUHTXLUHGVDOHVOHYHO
$VSDUWRIDSURMHFWLQLWLDWLYHLQHDUO\DQLQWHUQDO
VWXG\ ZDV FDUULHG RXW DW %URDGPHDGRZ 0LQH RQ WKH
PHULWVLVVXHVDQGEHQHWVRILQFUHDVLQJWKHIDFHOHQJWK
IURPWRP$VSDUWRIWKLVDVVHVVPHQWDUHYLHZ
RI SURGXFWLYLW\ GDWD FROOHFWHG E\ WKH -RLQW &RDO %RDUG
DQG &RDO 6HUYLFHV 3W\ /WG ZDV PDGH LQGLFDWLQJ WKDW
ORQJZDOOIDFHZLGWKGRHVKDYHDQLPSDFWRQSURGXFWLYLW\
,W LV LPSRUWDQW WR UHFRJQL]H WKDW DQDO\VLV RI WKLV GDWD LV
OLPLWHGE\WKHZLGHUDQJHRIORQJZDOOFRQJXUDWLRQVWKDW
PDNHXSWKHGDWDVHWDQGWKHGLIIHUHQFHVLQFRDOFOHDUDQFH
FDSDFLW\EHWZHHQWKHORQJZDOOIDFHV
KLJKOLJKWVWKHFKDOOHQJHVDQGSUREOHPVWKDWQHHG
,Q RUGHU WR JDLQ PHDQLQJIXO FRPSDULVRQ D .H\ 'ULYHUV
WR EH DGGUHVVHG RYHU WKH QH[W YH WR VHYHQ \HDUV 7KH
UHSRUWDOVRDVVLVWVSHRSOHWRIXUWKHUDVVHVWKHEHQHWVRI ,QGH[ ZDV FUHDWHG WKDW FRPELQHG WKH PDLQ GULYHUV RI
LQFUHDVLQJWKHZLGWKRIWKHLUORQJZDOOSDQHOVDVDQRWKHU ORQJZDOOSURGXFWLYLW\LQWRDVLQJOHQXPEHULQDQDWWHPSW
PHDQVRISURDFWLYHO\DGGUHVVLQJWKLVSUREOHP WR PDNH WKH LQIRUPDWLRQ PRUH UHOHYDQW 7KH GULYHUV
XVHG ZHUH IDFH ZLGWK FXW KHLJKW V\VWHP FDSDFLW\ DQG
Key business risks GHSWK RI FRYHU :KHQ WKLV YDOXH ZDV SORWWHG DJDLQVW
DYHUDJHORQJZDOOWRQQHSHUDQQXPIRU$XVWUDOLDVOHDGLQJ
$VSDUWRIDVVHVVLQJWKHEHQHWVRIH[WHQGLQJWKHZLGWKRI ORQJZDOOPLQHVWKHUHZDVDYHU\JRRGFRUUHODWLRQHYLGHQW
WKHORQJZDOOIDFHWKHNH\EXVLQHVVULVNVIRUWKLVLQLWLDWLYH DVLQGLFDWHGE\)LJXUH
VKRXOGEHLGHQWLHG6RPHRIWKHLQFUHPHQWDOULVNVWKDW
PD\QHHGFORVHUDVVHVVPHQWDVSDUWRIDULVNPDQDJHPHQW ,Q)LJXUH%URDGPHDGRZKDVEHHQSORWWHGRQWKHVDPH
SURFHVVLQFOXGHLVVXHVOLNH FRUUHODWLRQ WR LQGLFDWH WKH LPSDFW RI D ZLGHU IDFH RQ
DYHUDJH SURGXFWLRQ ,Q DGGLWLRQ %HOWDQD DQG 6DQ -XDQ
 LQDELOLW\WRVWHHUWKHIDFH 0LQHVKDYHEHHQSORWWHGIRUWKHUHLVRQO\RQHIXOO
 SHULRGLFZHLJKWLQJRQWKHORQJZDOOIDFH \HDURISURGXFWLRQGDWDDYDLODEOHDVWKHGDWDLVQRW
DYDLODEOH\HWWRLQGLFDWHWKHSRWHQWLDODGYDQWDJHRIIHUHG
 HTXLSPHQWQRWEHLQJGHOLYHUHGRQWLPH WKURXJKDSXQFKOD\RXWV\VWHPDQGRUDXWRPDWLRQERWKRI
 XQNQRZQ LPSDFW RQ VHDPV DERYH DQG EHORZ WKH ZKLFK ZLOO EH LQ SODFH DW %URDGPHDGRZ &RQVHTXHQWO\
WDUJHWVHDP %URDGPHDGRZSURGXFWLYLW\LVVHHQDVKDYLQJDVLJQLFDQW
XSVLGH WR WKDW DYDLODEOH IURP FRQYHQWLRQDO ORQJZDOO
 KLJKHUJDVHPLVVLRQV RSHUDWLRQV
 LQDELOLW\WRHIIHFWLYHO\YHQWLODWHWKHSDQHO ,W LV QRWHG WKDW .HVWUHO LV DQ RXWOLHU IURP WKH JHQHUDO
 WKH LPSDFW RI LQFUHDVLQJ VXSSO\ LQWR WKH LQGXVWU\ WUHQG +RZHYHU LW LV XQGHUVWRRG WKDW WKH PLQH
PDUNHWSODFH XWLOLVHV LWV WZR VHWV RI ORQJZDOO HTXLSPHQW VXFK WKDW
WKHUH LV HIIHFWLYHO\ QR WLPH ORVW GXH WR ORQJZDOO SDQHO
 ZLGHUIDFHVFDXVLQJXQDFFHSWDEOHKLJKHUDPRXQWVRI
UHORFDWLRQ RU FRPPLVVLRQLQJ DV WKLV LV XQGHUWDNHQ E\
VXUIDFHVXEVLGHQFHDQG
D FRQWUDFWRU ZKLOVW WKH SUHFHGLQJ SDQHO LV PLQHG 7KH
 ZRXOGFXUUHQWOLFHQFHWRRSHUDWHRURWKHUVWDWXWRU\ FRQWUDFWRUFRPPLVVLRQVWKHORQJZDOORYHUWKHUVWP
DSSURYDOVEHMHRSDUGLVHG RIWKHSDQHOEHIRUHKDQGLQJRYHUWKHORQJZDOOWR.HVWUHO
SHUVRQQHO:LWKRXWWKH.HVWUHOGDWDSRLQWWKHFRHIFLHQW
:KLOH WKHUH DUH DGGLWLRQDO ULVNV DVVRFLDWHG ZLWK ZLGHU
RIGHWHUPLQDWLRQ5YDOXHLV
IDFHVWKHUHDUHVLJQLFDQWDGYDQWDJHVLQFOXGLQJ
,W LV LPSRUWDQW WR QRWH WKDW WKH GDWD SUHVHQWHG DERYH LV
 UHGXFHGURDGZD\GHYHORSPHQW
HVVHQWLDOO\ D VQDSVKRW EDVHG RQ DYHUDJH GHSWK RI FRYHU
 OHVVH[SRVXUHRISHUVRQQHOWRKHDOWKDQGVDIHW\ULVNV IRUHDFKRSHUDWLRQRYHUDSHULRGRIXSWRYH\HDUVDQG
WKH DFWXDO SRVLWLRQ DORQJ WKH FKDUW FKDQJHV DV GHSWK
 LQFUHDVHGSURGXFWLRQHIFLHQF\DQG
RI FRYHU FKDQJHV ,QFUHDVLQJ WKH ORQJZDOO SURGXFWLRQ
 ORZHURSHUDWLQJFRVWV

0RQRJUDSK$XVWUDODVLDQ&RDO0LQLQJ3UDFWLFH 365
 FIG 9 - Historical industry longwall performance

TABLE 6 - Coal clearance capacities

FDSDFLW\ WR PDWFK WKH 3XQFK /RQJZDOO 0LQH GHVLJQ
DQGHTXLSPHQWFDSDELOLW\RIWKHZLGHUPIDFHKDVD
VLJQLFDQWSRVLWLYHLPSDFWRQWKHDYHUDJHDQQXDOWRQQHV Mine Coal Clearance System (t/h)
WKDW %URDGPHDGRZ LV FDSDEOH RI LQ FRPSDULVRQ WR WKH
Okay North 6500
UHVWRIWKHLQGXVWU\7KH%URDGPHDGRZSRLQWVKDYHEHHQ
SORWWHGDWDGHSWKRIFRYHURIP Moranbah North 6000
$YHUDJH UXQ RI PLQH 520 SURGXFWLRQ LQFOXGLQJ Newlands 5500
GHYHORSPHQWIURP$XVWUDOLDVEHVWSHUIRUPLQJORQJZDOO
PLQHVRYHUWKHSDVWVHYHQ\HDUVLVVKRZQLQ)LJXUH Kestrel 5000
7KH GDWD H[FOXGHV WKH UVW \HDU DIWHU VWDUWXS H[WHQGHG South Bulga 4000
VWULNHSHULRGVDQGWKHQDO\HDURIORQJZDOOSURGXFWLRQ
LHQRWIXOO\HDUSURGXFWLRQ Crinum 3500

520 SURGXFWLRQ IURP %URDGPHDGRZ LV IRUHFDVW DW WKH Oaky Creek No1 3200
XSSHU HQG RI WKLV UDQJH +RZHYHU WKH ORJLF LV WKDW WKH Wambo 3000
SXQFK PLQLQJ DSSURDFK KDV VLJQLFDQW DGYDQWDJHV RYHU
FRQYHQWLRQDO PLQH OD\RXWV %HOWDQD 0LQH RSHUDWHG E\ Ulan 2800
;VWUDWDXVHVDSXQFKORQJZDOOOD\RXWDQGLVWKHVLWHIRU
Southern 2500
WKH&6,52/DQGPDUN/RQJZDOO$XWRPDWLRQ3URMHFW7KH
PLQHSURGXFHG0WLQZLWKSURGXFWLRQFXUWDLOHG
IRUYHZHHNVGXHWRUHVWULFWHGUDLOLQJFDSDFLW\ 7KHFRVWUHGXFWLRQLGHQWLHGLQWKH%URDGPHDGRZ6WXG\
'HWDLOVRIWKHFRDOFOHDUDQFHV\VWHPVLQVWDOOHGDWHDFKRI PHDQV WKDW EDVHG RQ WKH VDPH VDOHV SUROH IRU WKH WZR
WKHPLQHVFRYHUHGLQ)LJXUHLVVKRZQLQ7DEOH GLIIHUHQWIDFHZLGWKVWKHUHLVQRQHHGWRDVVHVVWKHOLNHO\
SURGXFWLYLW\ LPSURYHPHQWV DV D UHVXOW RI ZLGHQLQJ WKH
,QJHQHUDOWHUPVLWFDQEHVHHQIURP)LJXUHDQG7DEOH ORQJZDOOIDFH6XIFHWRVD\WKDWWKHORQJHUWUDYHOGLVWDQFH
WKDWWKHSRWHQWLDOIRUORZHURSHUDWLQJFRVWVDUHDFKLHYHG DFURVVWKHZLGHUPIDFHDQGWKHUHGXFHGSHUFHQWDJH
E\WKHPLQHVZLWKODUJHPLQHSURGXFWLRQDQGZLWKODUJHU WLPHORVWDWWKHJDWHHQGVWRPLQHWKHHTXLYDOHQWDPRXQWRI
FRDO FOHDUDQFH V\VWHPV GHVLJQHG WR PHHW WKH RXWSXWV RI FRDOZLOOLQFUHDVHWKHGHJUHHRIODWHQWSURGXFWLRQFDSDFLW\
KLJKFDSDFLW\ORQJZDOOHTXLSPHQW DERYHDPZLGHIDFH

366 &KDSWHU
 FIG 10 - Annual production from top quartile of Australian longwalls

7KH XQGHUO\LQJ DVVXPSWLRQV ZHUH EDVHG RQ WKH OLIH RI
PLQHSODQDQGWKHDELOLW\RIWKHPIDFHWRPRUHHDVLO\
PHHWWKLVSURGXFWLYLW\OHYHOWKDQWKHPIDFHDQGZLWK
SRWHQWLDOO\ PRUH SURGXFWLRQ WLPH DYDLODEOH LI UHTXLUHG
GXULQJWKHQDQFLDO\HDU
$FRXQWHUDUJXPHQWWRWKLVOLQHRIUHDVRQLQJDULVHVLIWKH
UHGXFHG UHWUHDW UDWH ZHUH FRQVLGHUHG WR FDXVH D KLJKHU
ULVNRIJHRWHFKQLFDOLQVWDELOLW\RQWKHORQJZDOOIDFHDQG
PDQLIHVW LWVHOI DV D UHGXFHG DYDLODELOLW\ RI WKH ORQJZDOO
XQLW7KHODWHQWFDSDFLW\DVDUHVXOWRIWKHPRUHHIFLHQW
FXWWLQJ F\FOH ZRXOG RIIVHW WKLV UHGXFHG DYDLODELOLW\ WR
VRPH GHJUHH )RU H[DPSOH DQ LQYHVWLJDWLRQ UHFHQWO\
FRPSOHWHG IRU %URDGPHDGRZ 0LQH VKRZHG WKDW
H[WHQGLQJWKHORQJZDOOIDFHE\SHUFHQWWRPZKLOH
PDLQWDLQLQJWKHVDPHSURGXFWLRQSUROHUHVXOWHGLQD
SHU FHQW LPSURYHPHQW WR WKH QHW SUHVHQW YDOXH RYHU 
\HDUV 5RDGZD\ GHYHORSPHQW ZDV UHGXFHG RQ DYHUDJH
E\DSSUR[LPDWHO\PSHUDQQXPUHGXFLQJWKHULVN
RIORQJZDOOGLVFRQWLQXLW\,QDGGLWLRQWKHUHDUHIHZHU
ORQJZDOOPRYHVRYHU\HDUVDQGWKHWLPHEHWZHHQHDFK
PRYH LV LQFUHDVHG E\  PRQWKV 7KHUH LV LQFUHPHQWDO
FDSLWDO H[SHQGLWXUH UHTXLUHG WR H[WHQG WKH IDFH EXW LW LV
FOHDUO\RIIVHWE\ORZHURSHUDWLQJFRVWVRYHUWKHHYDOXDWLRQ
SHULRG
7DEOHVDQGVKRZWKHNH\GLIIHUHQFHVLQGHYHORSPHQW
UHTXLUHPHQWV DQG ORQJZDOO FRQWLQXLW\ 7DEOH  FRQWDLQV
LQIRUPDWLRQ EDVHG RQ D OLIH RI PLQH FRPSDULVRQ ZKLOH
7DEOH  EUHDNV WKLV GRZQ LQWR DSSUR[LPDWH DQQXDO
DYHUDJHVIRUHDFKFDVH
)RU%URDGPHDGRZ0LQHDQGQRGRXEWRWKHUVWKDWGHFLGH
WR LQFUHDVH WKHLU IDFH ZLGWK WKHUH LV DQ RSSRUWXQLW\ WR
UHYLVLW WKH LVVXH RI RZQHURSHUDWHG GHYHORSPHQW XQLWV
FRPSDUHGWRXVLQJDSDQHOGHYHORSPHQWFRQWUDFWRUQRZ
WKDWWKHUHLVDUHGXFHGGHSHQGHQFHRQDQQXDOGHYHORSPHQW
UHTXLUHPHQWV
,PSOHPHQWLQJ DQ RSWLRQ WR LQFUHDVH WKH ZLGWK RI D
ORQJZDOO IDFH UHVXOWV LQ LPSURYHPHQWV DQG EHQHWV WKDW
FDQEHVXPPDULVHGE\UHGXFHGGHYHORSPHQWUHTXLUHPHQWV
HDFK \HDU DQG D GLUHFW FRQVHTXHQWLDO UHGXFWLRQ LQ
WKH KHDOWK DQG VDIHW\ ULVN WR SHUVRQQHO WKURXJK WKH
HOLPLQDWLRQ RI H[SRVXUH WR DOO DFWLYLWLHV DVVRFLDWHG ZLWK
SDQHO GHYHORSPHQW ,QFUHDVHG HOLPLQDWLRQ RI ULVN SHU
XQLWRIWLPHLVWKHEHVWPHDQVRILPSURYLQJVDIHW\DWDQ\
RSHUDWLRQ
7KHHFRQRPLFEHQHWVWRWKLVH[DPSOHFDQEHVXPPDULVHG
DV D UHGXFWLRQ LQ RSHUDWLQJ FRVWV DQG EXVLQHVV ULVN
,I DQ HPEHGGHG RSWLRQ H[LVWV WR LQFUHDVH SURGXFWLRQ
OHYHOV IROORZLQJ WKLV ZLGHU IDFH OHQJWK WKHQ WKH YDOXH
SURSRVLWLRQLVVLJQLFDQWO\LPSURYHGLQQHWSUHVHQWYDOXH
WHUPV+RZHYHUWKLVRSWLRQPD\UHTXLUHDGGLWLRQDOFDSLWDO
WRXSJUDGHWKHFRDOFOHDUDQFHDQGRWKHULQIUDVWUXFWXUHWR
PDWFKWKHGHVLJQFDSDFLW\RIWKHORQJZDOO

0RQRJUDSK$XVWUDODVLDQ&RDO0LQLQJ3UDFWLFH 367
 TABLE 7 - Vital statistics of life of mine layouts

200 m Case 322 Case Difference

Number of gate roads 50 35 -15
Number of longwall panels 48 33 -15
Development metres 493 012 358 783 -134 229
Longwall metres retreat 148 257 99 826 -48 431
Longwall cycles 185 321 124 783 -60 538
Longwall tonnes (Mt) 163.0 172.5 9.5
Total tonnes (Mt) 174.3 180.7 6.4
Lw rom tonnes/dev metre 331 481 150

TABLE 8 - Annualised vital statistics of life of mine layouts

200 m Case 322 Case Difference

Development metres per year 11 879 8,328 -3,551
Longwall metres retreat per year 3,414 2,189 -1,225
Longwall cycles per year 4,268 2,736 -1,531
Longwall tonnes (Mtpa) 4,459 4,557 0.098
Total tonnes (Mtpa) 4,782 4,783 0.001
Ave time between lw moves (mths)* 10.9 16.4 5.5
*LW move time for 322 m face is 42 days (27 days for 200 m face) days lost to LW moves over 30 years are basically the same

OPERATING, DESIGN, METHODS

AND PLANNING ISSUES

Manning
&KDQJHVLQZRUNSUDFWLFHVURVWHUV\VWHPVDQGDXWRPDWLRQ
KDYHDOORZHGDJUDGXDOUHGXFWLRQRIPDQQLQJWRRSHUDWH
DQG PDLQWDLQ WKH ORQJZDOO PLQLQJ V\VWHP 6KHDUHU
LQLWLDWLRQ V\VWHPV DUH XQLYHUVDOO\ DYDLODEOH IRU XVH RQ
DOO ORQJZDOO LQVWDOODWLRQV +RZHYHU DFURVV WKH LQGXVWU\
WKHVH DQG RWKHU WHFKQRORJLFDO LPSURYHPHQWV KDYH QRW
EHHQ IXOO\ XWLOLVHG WR DFKLHYH WKHLU PD[LPXP RXWSXW
FDSDFLW\WRORZHUPDQQLQJOHYHOVRUWRGHOLYHUSRWHQWLDO
SURGXFWLYLW\LPSURYHPHQWV
Ventilation and dust control
9HQWLODWLRQ LV UHTXLUHG LQ ORQJZDOO PLQLQJ DV LQ DQ\
W\SHRIXQGHUJURXQGPLQLQJWRSURGXFHDQHQYLURQPHQW
VXLWDEOH IRU HPSOR\HHV WR ZRUN LQ FRPIRUW DQG VDIHW\
7KHYHQWLODWLQJDLURZPXVWEHDEOHWRUHPRYHKDUPIXO
DLUERUQH GXVW IURP WKH ZRUNLQJ DUHD GLOXWH DQ\ VHDP
JDVHVWKDWPD\FDXVHDKD]DUGDQGSURYLGHDLURIVXIFLHQW
TXDOLW\ 7KH VSHFLF UHTXLUHPHQWV DUH DGGUHVVHG LQ WKH
UHVSHFWLYH 4XHHQVODQG DQG 1HZ 6RXWK :DOHV$FWV DQG
5HJXODWLRQVDQGDOVRZLWKLQWKH9HQWLODWLRQ0DQDJHPHQW
3ODQGHYHORSHGE\HDFKPLQH
9HQWLODWLRQZLWKLQWKHORQJZDOOSDQHOFDQEHSURYLGHGE\
DQXPEHURIV\VWHPVDQGYHQWLODWLRQSDWWHUQV
 7KH5W\SHV\VWHPLQYROYHVDVHWRILQWDNHDQGUHWXUQ
KHDGLQJV HLWKHU VLGH RI WKH ORQJZDOO EORFN 6XFK D
V\VWHPPXVWEHXVHGZKHQQRPDLQUHWXUQKHDGLQJV
DUHORFDWHGDWWKHLQE\HRUH[WUDFWHGHQGRIWKHSDQHO
5RDGZD\V DUH XVXDOO\ OHIW VWDQGLQJ DURXQG WKH
H[WUDFWHGSDUWRIWKHEORFNWRSURYLGHVRPHPLQLPDO
EOHHGHU YHQWLODWLRQ DURXQG WKH JRDI HGJH 7KLV
V\VWHPFDQRQO\EHXVHGLQVHDPVZLWKYHU\ORZJDV
HPLVVLRQUDWHVDVWKHJRDILVQRWZHOOYHQWLODWHG*RDI
JDVHPLVVLRQVDUHUHWXUQHGYLDWKHWDLOJDWHDUHDRIWKH
ORQJZDOO7\SLFDOTXDQWLWLHVXVHGLQWKHVHSDQHOVDUH
!PV

368 &KDSWHU
 $ YDULDWLRQ RI WKH 5 W\SH V\VWHP LV XVHG LQ VHDPV
ZLWKJDVFRQWHQWVRIWRPSHUWRQQHPRGHUDWH
JDV HPLVVLRQ UDWHV DQG ORZHU SHUPHDELOLW\ 7KH
ORQJZDOO IDFH YHQWLODWLRQ VWLOO IROORZV WKH 5 W\SH
SDWK +RZHYHU H[WUD EOHHGHU UHWXUQ KHDGLQJV DUH
PDLQWDLQHG EHKLQG WKH ORQJZDOO JRDI WR SURYLGH
SRVLWLYHO\YHQWLODWHGPLJUDWLRQSDWKVIRUJRDIJDVHV
7KH EOHHG UHWXUQV IURP WKH JRDI DUH GLOXWHG ZLWK
 WR  PV RI LQWDNH DLU IURP WKH SDQHO LQWDNHV
GHSHQGLQJRQJDVHPLVVLRQUDWHV7KHORQJZDOOIDFH
LVYHQWLODWHGZLWK!PVRIDLURIZKLFKDVPDOO
SRUWLRQRZVSDVWWKHJRDIIURPWKHWDLOJDWHWRHQVXUH
DOOWKHJRDIJDVHVPLJUDWHWRWKHEOHHGUHWXUQVDQGGR
QRWHQFURDFKRQWKHWDLOJDWH
 7KH = RU < V\VWHP LV XVXDOO\ XVHG LQ VHDPV ZLWK H[SHQVLYHGHOD\GXULQJGULYHDJH
KLJK JDV HPLVVLRQ UDWHV RI ! PW DQG KLJKHU
SHUPHDELOLW\ OHYHOV 7KH PDLQ UHWXUQV DQG WKH
PDLQ LQWDNHV DUH DUUDQJHG DW RSSRVLWH HQGV RI WKH
ORQJZDOO EORFN ZLWK WKH PDLQ UHWXUQV EHLQJ EHKLQG
WKHORQJZDOOJRDI7KLVSDWWHUQSURYLGHVWKHJUHDWHVW
SUHVVXUH GLIIHUHQWLDO DFURVV WKH JRDI DQG JLYHV WKH
PRVWH[LELOLW\IRUWKHXVHRILQWDNHDLUWRGLOXWHWKH
JDV HPLVVLRQV 7KH SDWWHUQ KDV EHHQ GHVFULEHG DV
D = RU< V\VWHP GHSHQGLQJ RQ WKH GLUHFWLRQ RI WKH
LQWDNHDLURZLQWKHWDLOJDWHKHDGLQJV7KHPDLQJDWH
LV SURYLGHG ZLWK ! WR  PV RI DLU ZLWK IXUWKHU
GLOXWLRQRIWKHUHWXUQDLUE\DUHJXODWHGLQWDNHRZ
GRZQWKHWDLOJDWHURDGZD\
7KHVH DUH WKH WKUHH PDLQ V\VWHPV XVHG LQ ORQJZDOO URDGZD\ WKLV IUHVK PDLQJDWH FDQ EH VXEMHFW WR VWUHVV
YHQWLODWLRQ EXW DUH E\ QR PHDQV WKH RQO\ SRVVLEOH UHOLHYHG FRQGLWLRQV (QODUJLQJ WKH SLOODU ZLGWK EHWZHHQ
FRPELQDWLRQRILQWDNHDQGUHWXUQDLUZD\V
Panel design, methods and operation
5DSLGO\LQFUHDVLQJSURGXFWLRQUDWHVDFKLHYHGE\PRGHUQ VLGH DQG WDNH ZKDWHYHU VWHSV DUH QHFHVVDU\ WR VWDELOLVH
ORQJZDOO IDFHV KDYH SXW D JUHDW GHDO RI SUHVVXUH RQ WKHWDLOJDWHDORQJVLGHWKHSUHYLRXVJRDIDUHD6HFRQGDU\
WKH GHYHORSPHQW UDWHV UHDOLVHG E\ FRQYHQWLRQDO SDQHO VXSSRUWLQWKHWDLOJDWHLVIDUHDVLHUWKDQLQWKHPDLQJDWH
GHYHORSPHQWV\VWHPV
7KHGHYHORSPHQWRIJDWHURDGVDQGFRPSDQLRQURDGZD\V
VLPSO\ GHOLQHDWHV WKH EORFN WR EH H[WUDFWHG 8QOHVV
WKH PLQH KDV WKH OX[XU\ RI D VXEVWDQWLDO OHDG WLPH RQ
GHYHORSPHQW KDV JRRG PLQLQJ FRQGLWLRQV DQG WKH
GHYHORSPHQW DFWLYLWLHV DUH SURWDEOH WKHQ WKH JDWHURDG
FRQJXUDWLRQVKRXOGEHDVVLPSOHDVSRVVLEOH+RZHYHU
WKHUHPD\DOVREHDQXPEHURISK\VLFDOFRQGLWLRQVDWWKH
PLQHWKDWZDUUDQWDWRWDOO\GLIIHUHQWV\VWHPWRWKDWZKLFK
WKHORQJZDOOLWVHOIUHTXLUHV
5RDGZD\VGHYHORSHGIRUJDWHURDGXVHPXVWEHVWDEOHRYHU
SHULRGVRIWRPRQWKVDQGFDSDEOHRIZLWKVWDQGLQJ
ORDGLQJV LPSRVHG LPPHGLDWHO\ GXULQJ GHYHORSPHQW
VHFRQGDULO\ ZKLOH VWDQGLQJ GXULQJ FRPSOHWLRQ RI
GHYHORSPHQW DQG QDOO\ E\ ZD\ RI WKH IURQW DEXWPHQW
IURP WKH ORQJZDOO RSHUDWLRQ &RPSDQLRQ URDGZD\V
DUH VLPLODUO\ VXEMHFW WR WKHVH ORDGV DV ZHOO DV VLGH
DEXWPHQWV DQG WKH EDFN DEXWPHQW 6XSSRUW LQVWDOOHG
GXULQJ GHYHORSPHQW PXVW EH FDSDEOH RI ZLWKVWDQGLQJ
DOOVXFKORDGVEHFDXVHSUHPDWXUHIDLOXUHSDUWLFXODUO\LQ
WKHPDLQJDWHFUHDWHVOHQJWK\GHOD\VZKLOHWKHIDFHHQG
PRYHV WKURXJK *URXQG VXSSRUW LQ WKH PDLQJDWH LV
0RQRJUDSK$XVWUDODVLDQ&RDO0LQLQJ3UDFWLFH 369
OLPLWHG E\ WKH VSDFH UHTXLUHG IRU WKH PRYHPHQW RI WKH
PDLQJDWHIDFLOLWLHVVXFKDVSXPSVFDEOHVWUDQVIRUPHUV
PRQRUDLOVDQGWKH%6/,QWHUVHFWLRQVDUHWKHPDLQVRXUFH
RIGHWHULRUDWLRQLQPRVWORQJZDOOJDWHURDGVE\YLUWXHRI
WKH DUHD H[SRVHG WR WKH LQXHQFH RI WKH IURQW DEXWPHQW
SUHVVXUH
0RVWPLQHVKDYHOLWWOHRUQROHDGWLPHRQGHYHORSPHQW
*DWHURDGFRPSOHWLRQPXVWEHFRQVLVWHQWZLWKWKHWUDQVIHU
DQG VWDUW XS RI WKH ORQJZDOO IDFH ZLWK VXIFLHQW WLPH
WR SUHSDUH URDGZD\V IRU ORQJZDOO XVH 0XOWLSOH HQWU\
GULYHDJHV DUH D OLDELOLW\ ZLWK UHVSHFW WR DGYDQFH UDWHV
SDUWLFXODUO\ LI RQH RU PRUH RI WKRVH URDGZD\V DUH RQO\
UHTXLUHGGXULQJGHYHORSPHQWDQGVHUYHOLWWOHRUQRXVHIXO
SXUSRVH WR WKH ORQJZDOO &XWWKURXJKV DUH OLNHZLVH DQ
7KHRYHUDOOOD\RXWRIWKHPDLQJDWHWDLOJDWHDQGFRPSDQLRQ
URDGZD\V FDQ YHU\ PXFK GHWHUPLQH WKH VXFFHVV RU
RWKHUZLVHRIWKHORQJZDOOIDFH0DLQJDWHSDQHOVDGMRLQLQJ
SUHYLRXVJRDIDUHDVDUHVXEMHFWWRLQWHQVHDEXWPHQWORDGV
XVXDOO\ UHVXOWLQJ LQ URRI GHWHULRUDWLRQ DQG RRU KHDYH
7KHUHKDELOLWDWLRQRISUHSDUHGPDLQJDWHVLVDQH[SHQVLYH
DQGWLPHFRQVXPLQJSURFHVV:KHUHJRDIVLGHPDLQJDWHV
GHYHORS VWDELOLW\ SUREOHPV GXH WR WKH SUR[LPLW\ RI WKH
SUHYLRXVJRDIWKHRSWLRQVDUHWRLQFUHDVHWKHSLOODUVL]H
EHWZHHQWKHJDWHURDGDQGWKHJRDIRUGULYHWKHPDLQJDWH
LQGHSHQGHQW RI WKH FRPSDQLRQ URDGZD\V DQG DV ODWH DV
SRVVLEOH WR UHGXFH WKH WLPH WKH URDGZD\ VWDQGV 'ULYHQ
DW QDUURZ FHQWUHV  WR  P DORQJVLGH D FRPSDQLRQ
WKHSUHYLRXVJRDIDQGWKHPDLQJDWHKDVWKHGLVDGYDQWDJH
RI LQFUHDVLQJ WKH DPRXQW RI FRDO VWHULOLVHG ZLWKLQ WKH
ORQJZDOO DUHD :KHUH FRQGLWLRQV EHFRPH XQDFFHSWDEOH
WKHRQO\RWKHURSWLRQLVWRSODFHWKHPDLQJDWHRQWKHYLUJLQ
DQGWKLVFRQJXUDWLRQLVWKHPRVWZLGHO\SUDFWLVHG
5HWUHDW ORQJZDOO PLQLQJ LV FRPPRQ WR DOO $XVWUDOLDQ
LQVWDOODWLRQV7KHQDOGHVLJQRIWKHRSHUDWLRQLVGHSHQGHQW
XSRQ WKH JHRORJLFDO FRQGLWLRQV DQG WKH HFRQRPLF DQG
HQYLURQPHQWDOFRQVWUDLQWVLPSRVHG7KHPRVWVLJQLFDQW
IDFWRUVWRHQVXUHWKHVXFFHVVRIWKHRSHUDWLRQDUHWKHGHVLJQ
RIWKHORQJZDOOSDQHOFRQJXUDWLRQDQGWKHVHOHFWLRQRI
WKH URRI VXSSRUWV WR EH XVHG ,Q SUDFWLFH DOPRVW HYHU\
FRQFHLYDEOH FRPELQDWLRQ RI JDWHURDG SODFHPHQW DQG
FRQJXUDWLRQKDVEHHQWULHGLQWKHRSHUDWLQJDQGSODQQHG
ORQJZDOOIDFHVLQ$XVWUDOLD
7KH GHVLJQ RI WKH LGHDO ORQJZDOO SDQHO FRQJXUDWLRQ LV
DFKLHYHGE\FRQVLGHULQJ
 WKHRYHUDOOVWUHVVHQYLURQPHQWWRZKLFKWKHRSHUDWLRQ
ZLOOEHVXEMHFWHG
 HTXLSPHQWOLPLWDWLRQVDQGFDSLWDOFRVW
 JHRORJLFDOFRQVWUDLQWVDQG
 OHDVHFRQVWUDLQWV
([WUDFWLRQ WKLFNQHVV LV JHQHUDOO\ VHW E\ FRQVLGHUDWLRQV
 RWKHUWKDQPD[LPLVLQJWKHFRDOYROXPHZLWKLQDORQJZDOO HOHPHQWDQGQLWHHOHPHQWW\SHFRGHV7KHVHSURJUDPV
EORFN,IDSRUWLRQRQO\RIWKHVHDPLVH[WUDFWHGWKHUHDVRQ DUHXVHGWRPRGHOWKHLPPHGLDWHURRIDQGRRUVWUDWDZLWK
PD\EHRQDFFRXQWRIURRIRURRUVXSSRUWSUREOHPVRU LWVEHGGLQJSODQHVMRLQWVDQGWKHVWUHVVUHJLPH7KH\FDQ
IRUFRDOTXDOLW\FRQVLGHUDWLRQV)XUWKHUWKHLQDELOLW\RID DOVRDQDO\VHSURVSHFWLYHURRIDQGULEVXSSRUWUHTXLUHPHQWV
ORQJZDOOSDQHOWRWUDYHUVHPDMRUIDXOWVRUH[WHQVLYHG\NHV WRXQGHUVWDQGWKHHIIHFWRQWKHVWUDWDVWDELOLW\DQGDVVHVV
FDQLPSRVHFRQVWUDLQVRQORQJZDOOEORFNGLPHQVLRQV WKHOHYHORIGHIRUPDWLRQ6XFFHVVIXOFRPSXWHUPRGHOOLQJ
UHTXLUHVDYHU\VRXQGNQRZOHGJHRIWKHVWUDWDSURSHUWLHV
7KHOHQJWKRIWKHORQJZDOOEORFNLVYHU\RIWHQGHWHUPLQHG
VWUDWDGHIRUPDWLRQPHFKDQLVPVDQGLQVLWXVWUHVVHVLQWKH
E\ FRDO OHDVH ERXQGDULHV RU OHDVH FRQGLWLRQV ZKLFK
DUHDWREHGHQHG7KHPRGHOOLQJDSSURDFKVHOHFWHGPXVW
VWLSXODWHWKHOHDYLQJRISURWHFWLYHFRDOEDUULHUVRUSLOODUV
FORVHO\ VLPXODWH WKRVH FRQGLWLRQV )LHOG PRQLWRULQJ WR
EHQHDWKFHUWDLQVXUIDFHIHDWXUHVVXFKDVGDPVRUZHLUV
YHULI\ WKH UHVXOWV REWDLQHG IURP PRGHOOLQJ LV QHFHVVDU\
:LWK UHJDUG WR WKH VWUHVV HQYLURQPHQW WKH FULWHULD IRU SULRUWRDSSOLFDWLRQLQWKHPLQHGHVLJQ
FKDLQ SLOODU GHVLJQ DQG SDQHO GLPHQVLRQV KDYH WKH
3DQHOOHQJWKVKDYHVWHDGLO\LQFUHDVHGRYHUWKH\HDUVZLWK
JUHDWHVW LQXHQFH &KDLQ SLOODUV DUH UHTXLUHG WR SURWHFW
YDULRXVPLQHVKDYLQJVXFFHVVIXOO\XVHGERRVWHURUWULSSHU
WKH JDWH URDGV IURP DEXWPHQW SUHVVXUHV FUHDWHG E\
GULYHVWRH[WHQGSDQHOFRQYH\RUV:LWKLPSURYHPHQWVLQ
DGMDFHQWSDQHOV7KHGHVLJQRIWKHVHSLOODUVLVFULWLFDOIRU
HTXLSPHQWGHVLJQVDQGWKHHYHUJURZLQJQHHGWRPLQLPLVH
RRU VWDELOLW\ DQG URRI VWDELOLW\ 3RRU GHVLJQ FDQ FDXVH
WKHGHYHORSPHQWPHWUHVSHUWRQQHRIORQJZDOOFRDOSDQHO
SUREOHPVUHVXOWLQJLQDGYHUVHURRIDQGULEFRQGLWLRQVDQG
OHQJWKVDUHQRORQJHUEHLQJOLPLWHGWRPDWFKUHSODFHPHQW
DGGLWLRQDO VXUIDFH VXEVLGHQFH 7KH WZR W\SHV RI FKDLQ
RURYHUKDXORIHTXLSPHQW
SLOODUV XWLOLVHG DUH \LHOGLQJ RU QDUURZ SLOODUV DQG ULJLG
SLOODUV 7KH \LHOGLQJ SLOODU LV GHVLJQHG WR \LHOG DQG IDLO
DIWHULWLVQRORQJHUUHTXLUHG Longwall recovery and installation
7KHDGYHUVHHIIHFWVRI\LHOGLQJSLOODUVZHUHGHVFULEHGE\ 7KH LQVWDOODWLRQ DQG UHFRYHU\ SKDVHV FRQVWLWXWH D PDMRU
+HEEOHZKLWHDQGFDQEHVXPPDULVHGDV IDFWRU LQ WKH RYHUDOO HIFLHQF\ RI D ORQJZDOO RSHUDWLRQ
 GHWULPHQWDO IURQW DQG VLGH DEXWPHQW HIIHFWV RQ *HQHUDOO\WKH\DUHDWLPHFRQVXPLQJDQGODERXULQWHQVLYH
URRI FRQGLWLRQV LQ WKH JDWH URDGV WKXV QHFHVVLWDWLQJ RSHUDWLRQ GXULQJ ZKLFK WKH FROOLHU\ LV VXEMHFWHG WR D
H[SHQVLYHURRIVXSSRUWVDQG VXEVWDQWLDO GURS LQ FRDO SURGXFWLRQ DQG DQ H[FHVVLYH
EXUGHQ RQ WUDQVSRUW V\VWHPV &RQVLGHUDEOH HIIRUW
 SRVVLEOH SUHPDWXUH IDLOXUH RI WKH SLOODU FDXVHG E\ FRQWLQXHV WR EH SXW LQWR ERWK LPSURYLQJ WKH HIFLHQF\
H[FHVVLYHULEVSDOO DQGVKRUWHQLQJWKHWLPHRIORQJZDOOFKDQJHRYHUV:KLOH
+RZHYHUWKHEHQHWVRIXVLQJ\LHOGLQJSLOODUVDUH WKHPHWKRGVHPSOR\HGE\WKHYDULRXVRSHUDWRUVGLIIHULQ
WKHLU DSSOLFDWLRQV WKH\ DUH DOO VXEMHFW WR WKH VDPH EDVLF
 PD[LPXPUHFRYHU\RIFRDOUHVRXUFHV SULQFLSOHVFRQVLGHUDWLRQVDQGFRQVWUDLQWV
 LPSURYHGIDFHFRQGLWLRQVDQG 7RHQVXUHDORQJZDOOFKDQJHRYHULVFRPSOHWHGDVTXLFNO\
 PRUH HYHQ VXUIDFH VXEVLGHQFH DV FDYLQJ LV DEOH WR DQG HIFLHQWO\ DV SRVVLEOH FRQVLGHUDEOH SUHZRUN LV
H[WHQGDFURVVWKHDGMDFHQWJRDIV UHTXLUHG LQ WKH HOGV RI SODQQLQJ SURMHFW PDQDJHPHQW
HTXLSPHQW GHVLJQ RSHUDWLRQDO RUJDQLVDWLRQ DQG VLWH
8WLOLVLQJZLGHUFKDLQSLOODUVZLOOSURYLGHJDWHURDGVZLWK SUHSDUDWLRQ
JUHDWHU SURWHFWLRQ IURP WKH HIIHFWV RI DGMDFHQW JRDIV
+RZHYHU OLQHDU SDQHO GHYHORSPHQW DGYDQFH UDWHV ZLOO 7KH LQLWLDO VSHFLFDWLRQV IRU WKH ORQJZDOO HTXLSPHQW
EHVORZHURYHUDOOFRDOUHFRYHU\ZLOOEHUHGXFHGDQGWKH VKRXOG VWLSXODWH WKDW WKH GHVLJQ ZLOO IDFLOLWDWH HIFLHQW
SRVVLELOLW\H[LVWVRILVRODWHGJRDIDUHDVZKLFKFRXOGLQKLELW FKDQJHRYHUV 7KH PDLQ IDFWRUV WR FRQVLGHU LQ VHOHFWLRQ
FDYLQJDQGFUHDWHKHDY\PLQLQJFRQGLWLRQVHOVHZKHUH IURPWKLVYLHZSRLQWDUH

7KHZLGWKDQGOHQJWKRIORQJZDOOSLOODUVKDYHVLJQLFDQW  WKHH[WHQWRIGLVPDQWOLQJDQGUHDVVHPEO\QHFHVVDU\

LQXHQFHV RQ VWUHVV DEXWPHQWV JRDI IRUPDWLRQ VXSSRUW DQGWKHHDVHZLWKZKLFKLWFDQEHDFFRPSOLVKHG
UHTXLUHPHQWVVXUIDFHVXEVLGHQFHDQGRWKHUIDFWRUV7KH  WKHUHODWLYHHDVHRIIDFHWRIDFHWUDQVSRUWDQG
IDFHOHQJWKLVUHTXLUHGWREHVXIFLHQWWRDOORZIXOOFDYLQJ
EXONLQJ DQG UHFRQVROLGDWLRQ RI WKH RYHUEXUGHQ VWUDWD  WKDW WKH FKDQJHRYHU WLPH LV WKH RSWLPXP WLPH IRU
7KH JRDI PXVW EH DEOH WR VXSSRUW WKH VXSHULQFXPEHQW PDMRU PDLQWHQDQFH WR EH FDUULHG RXW RQ ORQJZDOO
ORDGVVRWKDWH[FHVVLYHO\ODUJHVWUHVVDEXWPHQWVZLOOQRW HTXLSPHQW
IRUPDKHDGRIRURQWKHORQJZDOOIDFH7KHVHOHFWLRQRI $IXUWKHUFRQVLGHUDWLRQLVWKHSRVVLELOLW\RIGXSOLFDWLRQRI
WKHVHWZRIDFWRUVLVEDVHGPDLQO\XSRQH[SHULHQFHDWWKH YDULRXVSLHFHVRIHTXLSPHQW7KXVDVHFRQGFRPSRQHQW
SUHYDLOLQJ PLQH DQGRU DW RWKHU ORFDWLRQV ZLWK VLPLODUPD\EHLQVWDOOHGLQWKHQHZIDFHVLWHSULRUWRWKHRWKHUXQLW
FRQGLWLRQV EHLQJUHFRYHUHG$Q$)&DQGRUDVKHDUHURUFRPSRQHQW
'HVLJQHUV PD\ QRZ XWLOLVH FRPSXWDWLRQDO PRGHOOLQJ H[FKDQJH RI PDFKLQHU\ SDUWV VKHDUHU JHDUER[HV DQG
PHWKRGVWRVLPXODWHWKHEHKDYLRXURIURFNPDVVHVXQGHU KDXODJHXQLWVFDQVDYHWLPHLQPDFKLQHU\RYHUKDXOV
YDULRXVH[WUDFWLRQJHRPHWULHV7KHUHLVDODUJHUDQJHRI 7KHDFWXDOFKDQJHRYHURSHUDWLRQVKRXOGEHPRGHOOHGRQWKH
PHWKRGVZKLFKSURYLGHDQXPHULFDOPRGHOOLQJFDSDELOLW\ UHVXOWVRIDWKRURXJKDVVHVVPHQWRISUHYLRXVFKDQJHRYHU
ZLWK WKH PRVW XVHIXO EHLQJ QLWH GLIIHUHQFH GLVFUHWH WHFKQLTXHVERWKORFDOO\DQGRYHUVHDV$FFRXQWPXVWWKHQ

370 &KDSWHU
EHWDNHQRIWKHUHVRXUFHVWKHFRPSDQ\LVZLOOLQJWRPDNH  PDLQWDLQWKHLQWHJULW\RIWKHURRIDIWHUURRIVXSSRUW
DYDLODEOH LQ WHUPV RI ERWK FDSLWDO DQG PDQSRZHU :LWK UHPRYDO
WKHDERYHIDFWRUVLQPLQGDQRYHUDOOSKLORVRSK\IRUWKH
 HQVXUHVXIFLHQWYHQWLODWLRQH[LVWVDORQJWKHIDFHIRU
ORQJZDOOPRYHFDQEHHYROYHG
WKHGXUDWLRQRIWKHUHFRYHU\DQG
2QH SHUVRQ VKRXOG EH PDGH UHVSRQVLEOH IRU WKH RYHUDOO
 SUHYHQW URRI GHWHULRUDWLRQ LQ IURQW RI WKH URRI
SURMHFW FRRUGLQDWLRQ RI WKH ORQJZDOO PRYH ZLWK WKH
VXSSRUWV
YDULRXV PLQLQJ PHFKDQLFDO DQG HOHFWULFDO GHSDUWPHQWV
,Q FRQMXQFWLRQ ZLWK PLQH PDQDJHPHQW WKH FRRUGLQDWRU 6RPH DGGLWLRQDO URRI VXSSRUW LV JHQHUDOO\ QHFHVVDU\
PXVWDVFHUWDLQWKHH[WHQWRIRYHUKDXOVRUUHSDLUVVXSSOLHV IRU D PLQLPXP RI  WR  P IURP WKH QLVK SRVLWLRQ
KDQGOLQJDQGWUDQVSRUWHTXLSPHQWWKDWZLOOEHUHTXLUHGWR 7KH GHJUHH DQG W\SH ZLOO GHSHQG XSRQ WKH SUHYDLOLQJ
VXSSRUWWKHRYHUDOOPRYHSKLORVRSK\ FRQGLWLRQV DQG PD\ FRQVLVW RI URRI EROWLQJ VWUDSSLQJ
PHVKLQJ WLPEHULQJ RU D FRPELQDWLRQ RI V\VWHPV 5RRI
7KHQH[WSKDVHLVWRSURYLGHDSURSRVHGVFKHGXOHRIDOO
EROWLQJLVJHQHUDOO\SDUDOOHOWRWKHIDFHLQURZVDPXOWLSOH
RSHUDWLRQV LQYROYHG LQ WKH FKDQJHRYHU 7KLV LQYROYHV
RIVKHDUZLGWKVDSDUWDQGLVPRVWHIIHFWLYHZKHQLQVWDOOHG
FRPSLOLQJDGHWDLOHGDQGFRPSUHKHQVLYHLQYHQWRU\RIDOO
QHDU WR WKH QHZO\ FXW IDFH OLQH 6WUDSSLQJ FDQ DOVR EH
WDVNV WR EH SHUIRUPHG LQFOXGLQJ DQ HVWLPDWH RI WLPH WR
LQFRUSRUDWHGZLWKURRIEROWLQJWRJLYHDEHWWHUVXSSRUWLI
EHWDNHQDVZHOODVDQ\VHTXHQFHUHODWLRQVKLSVEHWZHHQ
DNLQJLVDSUREOHP,IWKHURRILVSURQHWREUHDNLQJLQWR
YDULRXV WDVNV 7KLV LQYROYHV SUHSDULQJ D FKDUW ZLWK WKH
VPDOOSLHFHVWKHXVHRISODVWLFOLQNPHVKFDQSURYLGHDQ
WDVNV FRPPRQO\ OLVWHG GRZQ WKH SDJH DQG ZLWK WKH
HIIHFWLYHPHDQVRINHHSLQJWKHUHFRYHU\DUHDFOHDQ7KH
HVWLPDWHGWLPHUHTXLUHPHQWIRUHDFKWDVNVFDOHGDFURVVWKH
PHVKFRPHVLQUROOVDQGLVSURJUHVVLYHO\IHGRYHUWKHURRI
SDJH7KLVPHWKRGDOORZVDJUDSKLFLQGLFDWLRQRISURMHFW
VXSSRUW GXULQJ WKH QDO VWDJHV RI ORQJZDOO SURGXFWLRQ
SURJUHVVDQGVWDWXVDVUHJDUGVWKHSURJUDPEXWSURYLGHV
7KHPHVKFDQEHUHLQIRUFHGZLWKURRIEROWVRUVWUDSVDQG
OLWWOHRSSRUWXQLW\IRUFRQVLGHUDWLRQRIDOWHUQDWLYHSODQV
LWVXVHLVFRPPRQSUDFWLFHZLWKURZVRIZLUHURSHV
7KHDSSOLFDWLRQRIWKHFULWLFDOSDWKPHWKRG&30WRWKH
7KH VHTXHQFH RI UHFRYHU\ LV ODUJHO\ VLWH GHSHQGHQW
ORQJZDOO PRYH LV D ZHOO NQRZQ DQG XVHG SUDFWLFH WKDW
DQG LQXHQFHG E\ WKH IDFH WR IDFH WUDQVSRUW URXWH
DSSOLHV QHWZRUN DQDO\VLV WHFKQLTXHV WR HYDOXDWH YDULRXV
UHVSHFWLYHJDWHURDGFRQGLWLRQVFRPSRQHQWPDLQWHQDQFH
DOWHUQDWLYHV 7KHVH V\VWHPV UHDGLO\ OHQG WKHPVHOYHV WR
UHTXLUHPHQWV DQG DYDLODELOLW\ RI UHSODFHPHQW RU VSDUH
FRPSXWHU DSSOLFDWLRQV ZKLFK HQDEOH PDQDJHPHQW WR
HTXLSPHQW
H[SORUH QXPHURXV YDULDWLRQV RI WHFKQLTXHV FRVW DQG
UHVRXUFHDOORFDWLRQLQRUGHUWRSODQIRURSWLPXPPRYHV $V D UXOH WKH VKHDUHU ZLOO QHHG VRPH IRUP RI VXUIDFH
LQ WHUPV RI WLPH DQG HIFLHQF\ :LWK 3&V ORDGHG ZLWK RYHUKDXO DQG LW LV DGYDQWDJHRXV WR UHPRYH LW IURP WKH
VRIWZDUHOLNH3ULPDYHUD3RU0LFURVRIW3URMHFWWKHWDVN IDFHDVVRRQDVSRVVLEOH7KLVFDQQRUPDOO\DQGEHVWEH
RI SODQQLQJ DQG PDQDJLQJ D FKDQJHRXW LV PXFK HDVLHU DFFRPSOLVKHGE\UHPRYDOIURPWKHWDLOJDWHHQGVLQFHRQO\
3URJUHVVFDQEHUHDGLO\XSGDWHGDJDLQVWWKHSODQGXULQJ WKHWDLOJDWHGULYHVHFWLRQDQGSHUKDSVVHYHUDOIDFHFRQYH\RU
WKHPRYH SDQVQHHGWREHUHPRYHGEHIRUHDFFHVVFDQEHJDLQHGWR
WKH VKHDUHU 5HPRYDO IURP WKH PDLQJDWH ZLOO JHQHUDOO\
7KH QDO SODQQLQJ SKDVH LQYROYHV ORFDWLQJ DQG
UHTXLUHDPLQLPXPUHPRYDORIWKHPDLQJDWHGULYHDQGDW
GHWHUPLQLQJ WKH SURFHGXUH IRU WHUPLQDWLQJ WKH ORQJZDOO
OHDVWDSRUWLRQRIWKHVWDJHORDGHURULIDFXWWKURXJKLVQRW
IDFH7ZRPDMRUIDFWRUVQHHGWREHFRQVLGHUHGLQSODQQLQJ
DGMDFHQWWRWKHIDFHOLQHPD\LQYROYHUHPRYLQJDSRUWLRQ
IRUWKLVSKDVH
RIWKH%6/ERRWHQGPRQRUDLODQGSHUKDSVSDUWRIWKH
 HQVXULQJ WKDW VXIFLHQW URRP LV DYDLODEOH IRU WKH SDQWHFKQLFRQ LI RQH LV XVHG 2EYLRXVO\ LI WKH WDLOJDWH
UHPRYDORIWKHORQJZDOOHTXLSPHQWDQG DUHD LV LQDFFHVVLEOH QR DOWHUQDWLYH H[FHSW UHPRYDO IURP
WKHPDLQJDWHHQGZLOOH[LVW
 HQVXULQJWKHDYDLODELOLW\RIWKHURRIDQGULEVXSSRUW
QHFHVVDU\WRPDLQWDLQDVHFXUHZRUNSODFH $FFHVVURXWHVWRWKHUHFRYHU\DUHDVKRXOGEHPD[LPLVHG
WRDOORZUHFRYHU\ZRUNWRSURFHHGFRQFXUUHQWO\LQPRUH
7KH FULWLFDO ZLGWK RI WKH UHFRYHU\ DUHD LV WKH FOHDUDQFH
WKDQRQHORFDWLRQDQGVRUHGXFHRYHUDOOUHFRYHU\WLPH7R
IURP WKH URRI VXSSRUW EDVH WR WKH FRPSOHWHG IDFH OLQH
LOOXVWUDWHWKLVFRQFHSWWKHZRUVWFDVHPD\EHQRDFFHVV
ULE 7KLV FOHDUDQFH PXVW QRW RQO\ DOORZ SDVVDJH RI D
WR WKH WDLOJDWH DQG QR FXWWKURXJKV DGMDFHQW WR WKH IDFH
VXSSRUWOHQJWKZLVHGRZQWKHIDFHEXWDOVRDOORZIRUWKH
OLQH 7KH UHPRYDO VHTXHQFH LQ WKLV FDVH LV VRPHZKDW
WXUQLQJ RI D VXSSRUW IURP LWV LQOLQH SRVLWLRQ WR RQH RI
SUHGHWHUPLQHG
IRUZDUGDQGSDUDOOHOWRWKHIDFH,QFUHDVLQJXVHRIGLHVHO
SRZHUHGPRELOHHTXLSPHQWFDQLPSRVHPLQLPXPZLGWK  %6/
UHTXLUHPHQWV SDUWLFXODUO\ DW JDWH HQG HQWULHV RQWR WKH
 PDLQJDWHGULYH
IDFH
 VKHDUHU
3DUWRIWKHSODQQLQJSURFHVVKDVWRLQFOXGHWKHSUHSDUDWLRQ
RIWKHURRIFRQWUROSODQDWWKHWDNHRIISRLQWDQGVKRXOG  $)&
DLPWR
 WDLOJDWHGULYHDQG
 PLQLPLVHWLPHGHOD\DQGFRVW
 VXSSRUWVVWDUWLQJDWWKHWDLOJDWHUVW

0RQRJUDSK$XVWUDODVLDQ&RDO0LQLQJ3UDFWLFH 371
 $ PRUH LGHDO FDVH ZRXOG EH DFFHVV WR ERWK JDWH URDGV 5HPRYDO DORQJ WKH IDFH OLQH LV HLWKHU E\ WRZLQJ RU
WKXV ZLWK FRQFXUUHQW UHPRYDO RI LWHPV LW LV SRVVLEOH WR FDUU\LQJ DJDLQ GHSHQGHQW XSRQ HTXLSPHQW DQG RWKHU
VDYHWLPHWKHVHTXHQFHZRXOGEH OLPLWDWLRQV:KHQWRZLQJRUZLQFKLQJLVHPSOR\HGDQG
WKHRRULVQRWFRPSHWHQWVNLGSDWKVRUPHDQVRIWDNLQJ
 PDLQJDWH DQG WDLOJDWH GULYHV DQG PDLQJDWH WUDQVIHU
WKHZHLJKWRIWKHWRHRIWKHVXSSRUWPD\EHQHFHVVDU\WR
FRQFXUUHQWO\
SUHYHQWXQGXHEUHDNXSRIWKHRRU
 VKHDUHUYLDWKHWDLOJDWHDQG%6/FRQFXUUHQWO\
7HPSRUDU\ VXSSRUW RI WKH UHFRYHU\ DUHD GXULQJ VXSSRUW
 $)&DQG UHPRYDO JHQHUDOO\ FRQVLVWV RI SURSV ZRRGHQ FKRFNV
 URRIVXSSRUWV WUDLOLQJRUEXWWUHVVVXSSRUWVRUDFRPELQDWLRQRIV\VWHPV
7KHDLPLVWRRQO\VXSSRUWHQRXJKURRIWRHQDEOHWKHQH[W
&RQFHLYDEO\ HYHQ PRUH ZRUNLQJ DUHD FRXOG EH VXSSRUWWREHUHPRYHGDQGLGHDOO\WRNHHSWKHDGYDQFLQJ
SURYLGHG E\ KDYLQJ SUHSDUHG VWDOOV GULYHQ SULRU WR WKH JRDIDWOHDVWRQHVXSSRUWZLGWKIURPWKHODVWUHPDLQLQJ
ORQJZDOOFRPSOHWLRQHQDEOLQJUHFRYHU\WREHFDUULHGRQ VXSSRUW
VLPXOWDQHRXVO\IURPPXOWLSOHVLWHV
3URYLGHGVXIFLHQWYHQWLODWLRQFDQRZWKURXJKWKHIDFH
7KHURRIFRQGLWLRQVLQWKHPDLQDQGWDLOJDWHDUHDVZLOOEH WKHUHLVOLWWOHYDOXHLQNHHSLQJDFFHVVWKURXJKWKHIDFHOLQH
DPDMRUIDFWRULQZKHWKHUFXWWKURXJKVFDQEHVXSSRUWHG DWWKHH[SHQVHRIWLPHLQVHWWLQJH[WUDVXSSRUW
RSSRVLWH WKH IDFH QLVK SRVLWLRQ RU ZKHWKHU VWDQGLQJ
VXSSRUWVXFKDVWLQFDQVORFNDQGOLQNVRUWLPEHUFKRFNLQJ 5HFRYHUHG ORQJZDOO HTXLSPHQW PD\ EH GHVWLQHG IRU
ZLOO EH UHTXLUHG 7KH XVH RI WKLV W\SH RI VXSSRUW ZLOO WUDQVSRUW
SUHFOXGH DFFHVV WR WKH WDLOJDWH &RQVHTXHQWO\ WKH RUGHU  GLUHFWO\WRWKHLQVWDOODWLRQDUHD
IRU UHPRYLQJ WKH HTXLSPHQW LV ODUJHO\ GHSHQGHQW XSRQ
 LQGLUHFWO\WRWKHLQVWDOODWLRQDUHDYLDWKHVXUIDFHRUDQ
VLWHVSHFLFFRQGLWLRQV
XQGHUJURXQGUHSDLUDUHD
7KH $)& %6/ DQG FUXVKHU DUH ZLWKGUDZQ LQ XQLWV DV
 WRDVWRUDJHDUHDRU
ODUJHDVWKHWUDQVSRUWV\VWHPZLOOKDQGOHWKXVUHGXFLQJ
WKHDPRXQWRIGLVPDQWOLQJDQGUHDVVHPEO\UHTXLUHG7KLV  DFRPELQDWLRQRIWKHDERYH
VDYHVWLPHDQGH[SRVXUHWRPDQXDOKDQGOLQJWDVNV
6LPLODUO\ WKH PHWKRG RI WUDQVSRUW PD\ EH WUDFNHG
7KH VKHDUHU LV DFFHVVLEOH IRU UHFRYHU\ RQFH WKH IDFH WUDFNOHVVRUDFRPELQDWLRQ(DFKV\VWHPVPHULWVPDNHLW
FRQYH\RU GULYHV KDYH EHHQ UHPRYHG IURP HLWKHU HQG DSSURSULDWHIRUSDUWLFXODURSHUDWLRQV7KHWUDQVSRUWSKDVH
:KLOHLWLVSUHIHUDEOHWRWUDQVSRUWWKHVKHDUHULQRQHSLHFH LVXVXDOO\RIFULWLFDOLPSRUWDQFHRQDORQJZDOOPRYHDQG
FOHDUDQFHZHLJKWDQGOHQJWKOLPLWDWLRQVXVXDOO\UHTXLUH ZLWKRXWFDUHIXOSODQQLQJOHQJWK\WLPHGHOD\VFDQUHVXOW
WKDWRQHRUERWKGUXPVDUHUHPRYHG$VKHDUHUWUDQVSRUWHU
*HQHUDOO\VSHDNLQJWKHJURXQGFRQGLWLRQVLQWKHLQVWDOODWLRQ
SXUSRVH EXLOW H[FOXVLYHO\ IRU UHFRYHU\ WUDQVSRUW DQG
DUHDDUHPRUHHDVLO\FRQWUROOHGWKDQWKRVHLQWKHUHFRYHU\
LQVWDOODWLRQRIWKHVKHDUHUKDVEHHQYHU\VXFFHVVIXO7KLV
DUHD ,QVWDOODWLRQ URDGV DUH FRPPRQO\  WR  P ZLGH
LQYROYHV DQ H[WHQVLRQ RI WKH VKHDUHU FKDLQOHVV KDXODJH
WRSURYLGHDGHTXDWHURRPIRULQVWDOOLQJWKHURRIVXSSRUWV
V\VWHP RQWR D WUDFN RU WUDFNOHVV PRELOH PDFKLQH RU
DQGWKH$)&7KH\DUHVXSSRUWHGZLWKFRQYHQWLRQDOURRI
DWWRS ZKHUHE\ WKH VKHDUHU FDQ WUDP XQGHU LWV RZQ
EROWV ULE EROWV DQG PHVK 8VXDOO\ VHFRQGDU\ VXSSRUW
SRZHUGLUHFWO\IURPWKHIDFHOLQHRQWRWKHWUDQVSRUWXQLW
FRQVLVWVRIPHJDDQGRUFDEOHEROWV7KHJURXQGVXSSRUWLV
7KH URRI VXSSRUW UHFRYHU\ FRQWDLQV WKHVH GLVWLQFWLYH LQVWDOOHGDVSHUWKHGHVLJQGHYHORSHGE\WKHJHRWHFKQLFDO
SKDVHV HQJLQHHUDQGWKHVWUDWDPDQDJHPHQWSODQ
 ZLWKGUDZDORIVXSSRUWIURPLWVIDFHSRVLWLRQ 7KH GHJUHH RI VXSSRUW QHFHVVDU\ LQ DQ LQVWDOODWLRQ
KHDGLQJLVGHSHQGHQWXSRQWKHSUHYDLOLQJURRIFRQGLWLRQV
 WUDQVSRUWDORQJWKHIDFHOLQHDQG
DQG WKH WLPH WKH KHDGLQJ LV WR UHPDLQ RSHQ SULRU WR
 WHPSRUDU\VXSSRUWUHTXLUHPHQWV ORQJZDOOSURGXFWLRQFRPPHQFLQJ7KLVVXSSRUWLVSODFHG
6XSSRUWV DUH UHPRYHG YLD WKH WDLOJDWH RU PDLQJDWH LQ FRQMXQFWLRQ ZLWK D URRI VXSSRUW ZLWK DQ ( IUDPH
GHSHQGLQJ XSRQ DFFHVV *HQHUDOO\ LI WDLOJDWH DFFHVV LV DWWDFKPHQW
DYDLODEOH UHFRYHU\ ZLOO FRPPHQFH ZLWK WKH PDLQJDWH ,Q VRPH LQVWDQFHV WKH SUHYDLOLQJ JURXQG FRQGLWLRQV
HQGVXSSRUWV PD\ QRW SHUPLW WKH GULYLQJ RI D ZLGHU WKDQ QRUPDO
:KHQZLWKGUDZLQJDURRIVXSSRUWIURPWKHIDFHOLQHLW KHDGLQJ +LVWRULFDOO\ WKH GULYLQJ RI D UHOLHI KHDGLQJ
KDVWREHORZHUHGGUDZQWRZDUGWKHFRPSOHWHGIDFHOLQH KDVSURYHGVXFFHVVIXOLQUHGXFLQJWKLVSUREOHPLQVRPH
DQGWXUQHGWKURXJKIRUWUDQVSRUWXQGHUWKHUHPDLQLQJ FLUFXPVWDQFHV7KLVFRQFHSWUHOLHVXSRQWKHGULYLQJRID
VXSSRUWV 9DULRXV PHWKRGV DUH HPSOR\HG E\ $XVWUDOLDQ FDYHKHDGLQJSDUDOOHOWRWKHSURSRVHGLQVWDOODWLRQKHDGLQJ
RSHUDWRUV HDFK GHSHQGHQW RQ WKH HTXLSPHQW DYDLODEOH DQGUHODWLYHO\FORVHWRLWDWVD\WRPFHQWUHV7KLV
*HQHUDOO\WKHVXSSRUWLVGUDJJHGRXWRIOLQHDQGWXUQHG FORVHGLVWDQFHHQFRXUDJHVWKHFDYHKHDGLQJWRIDLO,WLV
E\ WKH XVH RI GLHVHO RU HOHFWULF YHKLFOHV 6SHFLDOLVHG XVXDOIRUVRPHVWUHVVUHOLHIWRRFFXUDQGKHQFHWRFUHDWH
PRELOHHTXLSPHQWIRUVXSSRUWUHFRYHU\LVZLGHO\XVHGLQ LPSURYHGFRQGLWLRQVIRUWKHDGMDFHQWLQVWDOODWLRQKHDGLQJ
$XVWUDOLDDQGLQFOXGHVWKH3HWLWWR0XOHDQ(LPFRRU *HQHUDOO\VSHDNLQJWKHORQJHUWKHFDYHKHDGLQJLVGULYHQ
KHDYLHU /+' DQG RWKHU VSHFLDOLVHG FKRFN KDQGOHUV DQG SULRUWRWKHLQVWDOODWLRQKHDGLQJWKHEHWWHUWKHGHVWUHVVLQJ
WUDQVSRUWHUV HIIHFW

372 &KDSWHU
,Q FRDO VHDPV ZLWK PRGHUDWH WR KLJK JDV PDNH
VRPH SUREOHPV PD\ DULVH GXULQJ WKH GHYHORSPHQW
RI WKH LQVWDOODWLRQ KHDGLQJ :LWK ZLGHU KHDGLQJV DQG
FRQVHTXHQWO\ ODUJHU FURVVVHFWLRQDO DUHDV RI URDGZD\
YHORFLW\LVUHGXFHGUHODWLYHWRQRUPDOKHDGLQJVDQGWKLV
PD\OHDGWRPHWKDQHOD\HULQJLQFDYLWLHVRUDWWKHIDFH
$FFHVV SURYLGHG E\ D SDUWLFXODU OD\RXW ZLOO ODUJHO\
GLFWDWH WKH LQVWDOODWLRQ VHTXHQFH $V ZLWK WKH UHFRYHU\
DUHD WKH OD\RXW VKRXOG DOORZ PD[LPXP DFFHVV VR WKDW
SURYLGHG VLWH FRQGLWLRQV SHUPLW LQVWDOODWLRQ ZRUN FDQ
SURFHHG FRQFXUUHQWO\ LQ PXOWLSOH ORFDWLRQV 7KH LGHDO
OD\RXWVKRXOGDOORZDFFHVVWRERWKHQGVRIWKHLQVWDOODWLRQ
KHDGLQJDQGDOVRDOORZIRUEXLOGXSDQGLQVWDOODWLRQRIWKH
PDLQJDWHHTXLSPHQWZLWKRXWKLQGHULQJRWKHURSHUDWLRQV
&XWWKURXJKVGULYHQIURPDKHDGLQJEHKLQGDQGSDUDOOHO
WR WKH LQVWDOODWLRQ KHDGLQJ FDQ JLYH DFFHVV DW YDULRXV
SRLQWV DORQJ WKH IDFH DQG PD\ EH LPSRUWDQW LI VXSSRUWV
QHHGWREHLQVWDOOHGLQDSDUWLFXODUVHTXHQFHZKLFKPD\
QRWQHFHVVDULO\PDWFKWKHLUUHFRYHU\VHTXHQFH
$QRWKHUIDFWRUWKDWFDQDIIHFWWKHVHTXHQFHRILQVWDOODWLRQ
LVWKHSURYLVLRQRIVSDUHHTXLSPHQWZKLFKFDQEHLQVWDOOHG
SULRU WR ORQJZDOO UHFRYHU\ FRPPHQFLQJ 2EYLRXVO\
ORQJZDOOFKDQJHRYHUWLPHVZLOOEHUHGXFHGLIIRUH[DPSOH
D VSDUH$)& LV LQVWDOOHG SULRU WR FRPPHQFHPHQW RI WKH
PRYH
%DUULHUVWRWKHSURYLVLRQRIDQLGHDOOD\RXWPD\LQFOXGH top coal caving The next challenge in longwall mining?
 OLPLWHG DYDLODEOH GHYHORSPHQW WLPH SULRU WR
FKDQJHRYHUFRPPHQFLQJ Poulsen, B A, 2003. Evaluation of software code UDEC
 DFFHVVWRWKHIDFHEHLQJUHVWULFWHGE\DUHOLHIRUFDYH CSIRO Exploration and Mining Report 1115F.
KHDGLQJGULYHQEHKLQGWKHIDFHIRUVWUHVVUHOLHIDQG
 URRI FRQGLWLRQV QRW DOORZLQJ WKH IRUPLQJ RI VPDOO software code PFC2D for modelling top coal caving in an
SLOODUVXVHGWRJLYHPXOWLSOHDFFHVVSRLQWV Australian environment. CSIRO Exploration and Mining
7KH RSWLRQV GLVFXVVHG DERYH UHSUHVHQW D VDPSOH RI
WKH YDULRXV WHFKQLTXHV XVHG DQG DWWHPSW WR KLJKOLJKW
VLJQLFDQWYDULDWLRQVXVHGE\GLIIHUHQWRSHUDWRUVWRFRYHU
SDUWLFXODU FLUFXPVWDQFHV ,W PXVW EH UHPHPEHUHG WKDW
ORQJZDOOFKDQJHRYHUSKLORVRSKLHVDUHFRQVWDQWO\HYROYLQJ
DQGUDUHO\GRHVWKHRSHUDWRUSHUIRUPVXFFHHGLQJPRYHVLQ
H[DFWO\WKHVDPHPDQQHU/RQJZDOOUHORFDWLRQWHFKQLTXHV
DUHFRQVWDQWO\LPSURYLQJ7KH\DUHWLPHFRQVXPLQJDUH
LQKHUHQWO\GDQJHURXVGXHWRWKHKDQGOLQJRIPDQ\SLHFHV
RIKHDY\HTXLSPHQWLQFRQQHGVSDFHVWKHLUFRVWLVKLJK
DQGWKHWLPHWDNHQUHSUHVHQWVDORVVRIKLJKO\SURWDEOH
SURGXFWLRQ
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The editors wish to thank N Aziz for his review of this
chapter in the previous volume.
0RQRJUDSK$XVWUDODVLDQ&RDO0LQLQJ3UDFWLFH 373
REFERENCES
Brooker, G, Caris, C, Hargrace, C, Gurgenci, H, Guo, H,
Hainsworth, D, Humphries, P, Hutchinson I, Kelly, M,
Li, F, Poulsen, B, Ralston, J, and Reid, D, 2005. Report
on ACARP Landmark Project C10100 A and B Longwall
Automation.
Cai, Y, Hebblewhite, B, Onder, U, Xu, B, Kelly, M, and
Wright, B, 2004. Application of longwall top coal caving to
Australian operations. CSIRO - ACARP Report C11040.
Cory, S, Mitchell, G, 2005. Broadmeadow Mine Longwall
face widening investigation, BHP Billiton Mitsubishi
Alliance Internal Report.
Gibson, G and Associates, 2005. Australian roadway
development current status. ACARP Report C15005.
Hebblewhite, B, 1983. Alternative longwall panel layouts
for use in Australian coal mines, in Seminar on Longwall
Mining Design, Development and Extraction, Sydney, pp
41-54 Australian Coal Industries Research Laboratories/
Australian Coal Association: Sydney.
Hedley, T P, 1993. Longwall and shortwall, Australasian
Coal Mining Practice, Chapter 22, 3rd Edition (The
Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy:
Melbourne).
Humphries, P, Kelly, M, Poulsen, B, 2005. Longwall
Australian Journal of Mining.
for modelling top coal caving in an Australian environment.
Poulsen, B A, Alehossein H, 2004. Evaluation of
Report 1200C.
Richmond, J A, 1983. Physical modelling for the
evaluation of longwall mines, in Seminar on Longwall
Mining Design, Development and Extraction, Sydney,
pp 253-281 (Australian Coal Industries Research
Laboratories/Australian Coal Association: Sydney).
Rutherford, A, 2001.+DOIZHEEHQHWVUHPDLQXQWDSSHG
Can a change in thinking improve the productivity of your
longwall? Australias Longwalls, March.
Wilkinson, C, 2004. Review of longwall shield support
GHVLJQ VSHFLFDWLRQV IRU %URDGPHDGRZ 0LQH 5HSRUW
No 5021 for BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance by J T Boyd
Company (Australia) Pty Ltd.
Xu, B, 1999. Longwall top coal caving method highly
HIFLHQW PLQLQJ PHWKRG XVHG LQ <DQ]KRX FRDOHOG LQ
Proceedings International Symposium on Mining Science
and Technology, Beijing, pp 169-172.
Zhongming, J, 2001. Longwall Top Coal Caving Theory
(China Coal Industry Publishing).
Zhongming, J, 2005. Top coal caving mining technology.
Technical presentation at CSIRO QCAT.
Zhongming, J, Jinping, W, Xuanming, S, Xue, Y and
Niu, Y, 1999. Test study on the top cracking process of
large coal sample, in Proceedings Mining Science and
Technology, Beijing, pp 405-408.

APPENDIX I
Brief description of seven outcomes of the study by the Longwall
Automation Steering Committee.
Outcome 1: Face Alignment and Creep Control
7KH SURMHFW JRDOV ZHUH UVWO\ WR DXWRPDWLFDOO\ PDLQWDLQ D GHVLJQHG
face alignment by measuring the three-dimensional position in space
of the shearer and to use this information to appropriately control the
movement of the powered supports. Secondly, to implement creep
control by measuring the position of roof support structures in the
main gate and use this information to adjust the face geometry.
During the project, a method of longwall retreat measurement was
invented and a third goal became to develop a system to directly
measure longwall retreat distance.
Achievements in this outcome included:
1. Automatic measurement of shearer position using the Landmark
Shearer Position Measurement System (SPMS) on a production
basis.
2. Accurate shearer position information is now routinely used at
Beltana No 1 Mine.
3. The Honeywell or Litton INS hardware at Beltana has not failed
over three longwall blocks.
 2QO\RQHFRPSXWHUIDLOXUHRFFXUUHGGXHWRDVKPHPRU\IDLOXUH
and controls have been implemented. The failure was not due to
the operating environment.
5. Supervised operation of closed loop for face alignment has been
realised.
6. Automatic measurement of creep distance has been
demonstrated and creep correction information has been
manually applied to the face at Beltana.
7. A system to automatically measure longwall retreat progress
has been prototyped and successfully tested.
2XWFRPH+RUL]RQFRQWURO
The goal was to achieve automatic horizon control by responding to
DFWXDOFKDQJHVLQVHDPSUROH)RUJHQHUDODSSOLFDELOLW\WKHKRUL]RQ
control strategy needed to account for the variability in strata and
operating conditions between Australian longwall mines.
Achievements in this outcome included:
1. enhanced horizon control of the vertical shearer track using INS
based measurement has been successfully bench tested,
2. optical marker band detection has been successfully
demonstrated underground,
3. thermal infrared detection of coal interfaces and detection of
marker features in the seam have been shown underground,
and
4. a procedure for automatic horizon control for crossing fault
conditions has been developed.
Outcome 3: Open Communications
The goal was to develop a communications method to facilitate
WKH RZ RI LQIRUPDWLRQ EHWZHHQ ODQGPDUNGHYHORSHG VHQVRUV DQG
systems and critical components that form the longwall system.
Achievements in this outcome included:
1. A standard information interchange protocol between equipment
from different suppliers has been developed.
2. A broadband communications link to the longwall shearer to
support automated longwall shearer-based instrumentation
has been developed. The wireless communications link to the
shearer has been one of the major successes of the project.
Coverage along the entire 260 metre face length has been very
reliable and the link is now an established part of the mines
production system. In addition, power line carrier tests have
been promising.
3. The introduction of the EtherNet/IP open system communication
standard and associated development of the automated longwall
GHYLFH DQG FRQWURO V\VWHP VSHFLFDWLRQV KDV EHHQ FRPSOHWHG
This has been fundamental to the overall success of the project.
This has provided a solid platform for ongoing development
Outcome 4: OEM Involvement
An important outcome was to maintain OEM commitment over a range
of activities to the Landmark Project throughout the three years.
Achievements in this outcome were:
1. OEM involvement was maintained at a high level. Since only one
major test site was provided for in the project scope, only two
2(0VZHUHDEOHWRSDUWLFLSDWHDFWLYHO\LQWKHHOGFRPSRQHQWVRI
the project work program. However, as all OEMs need to be part
of the delivery of longwall automation products to the industry, it
was necessary to involve the other manufacturers actively in the
project.
 ,QLWLDO2(0FRQFHUQVVXUURXQGLQJWKHUHTXLUHPHQWIRUIUHHRZ
of information between longwall components from different
YHQGRUV ZHUH DOOD\HG ZLWK WKH GHQLWLRQ RI WKH (WKHU1HW,3
communications protocol. The work program of the various
project outcomes involved all major OEMs and served to keep
them abreast of project developments.
3. CSIRO has built strong communication and technical links with
the Longwall OEMs in Australia, Great Britain, Germany and the
United States. This effort included a facilitation role and resulted
LQVLJQLFDQWLQSXWWRWKHSURMHFWE\DOOPDMRUORQJZDOOHTXLSPHQW
manufacturers.
4. In particular this has been through in-kind contributions in the
form of:
 PRGLFDWLRQV WR WKH VKHDUHU WR DFFRPPRGDWH /DQGPDUN
equipment,
2. development of Landmark-compliant equipment control
software for roof supports and shearers,
3. provision of personnel to participate in design reviews and
risk assessments, and
4. participation in laboratory and underground testing of
Landmark Longwall Automation systems.
Outcome 5.1: Information System
The original goals consisted of developing an underground monitoring
station and the implementation of visualisation software for automation
system operation in the monitoring station. In addition, a third
objective was aimed at achieving software design and maintenance
requirements for implementation in the monitoring station for a single
user operation and to run with off-the-shelf computer hardware. The
information system was also required to report exceptions relating
to the performance of face equipment in keeping with the on-face
observation concept of the project. High quality 3D visualisation
of face equipment and conditions would be essential to give users
PRQLWRULQJ WKH V\VWHP UHPRWHO\ FRQGHQFH WKDW WKH DXWRPDWLRQ
system is operating correctly.
Achievements gained were:
1. a powerful tool set has been constructed for automation and
general process management;
2. visualisation systems incorporating database and graphical user
interface software that allows multiple users access to tailored
information, have been developed and an integrated information
system to merge automation, geotechnical, mine design and
equipment performance has been put in place; and
3. the initial implementation has clearly shown that relevant forms
of information can be made available to different people at
different locations at the mine site and appropriate interaction
with the system can occur from various locations including on
the surface and at the maingate.
Outcome 5.2: Automation Sequence Development Process
Design
The second portion of this outcome set out to develop automation
V\VWHPVIRUVKHDUHUKDXODJHFRQWUROWRHQDEOHDXWRPDWLRQRIVSHFLF
production sequences.
A plan to facilitate the design of operating sequences and transfer
them to the shearer control system has been developed.
Outcome 6: Production Consistency and Reliability
This outcome deals with a number of topics concerned with achieving
production consistency and reliability in an automated longwall
system by investigating the present longwall face equipment reliability
DQG DFFHSWDQFH RI DQ RSHQ LQGXVWU\ZLGH QRQ2(0 VSHFLF and then develop reliability projections for an automated longwall
standard for the interconnection of mining equipment. face. The aim was to investigate the failure causes and to propose

374 &KDSWHU
different maintenance strategies to improve low utilisation of the face
equipment in Australian longwall mines.
$ VLJQLFDQW VWXG\ RI IDLOXUH FDXVHV DQG DSSURSULDWH PDLQWHQDQFH
strategies was carried out. The outcome achieved at both test sites
found that equipment related delays were the single major contributor
to the total downtime, accounting for over 50 per cent of all lost
production time. The largest component of the equipment downtime
is attributed to delays associated with face equipment. These delays
are caused by either genuine breakdowns or by erroneous condition
based alarms.

2XWFRPH5HGHQHG)XQFWLRQVRI)DFH2SHUDWRUV
The goal was to identify personnel characteristics and attributes and
then the subsequent skills required in the workforce for operation
of a considerably more automated longwall face and develop the
framework for a training package to assist in the design of training
programs.
Achievements attained included:
1. a study of manning requirements has been performed,
2. NH\SRVLWLRQVDQGSHUVRQDODWWULEXWHVKDYHEHHQLGHQWLHG
3. generic roles have been established and a training matrix has
been completed, and
4. a framework for individual training packages has been
developed.

0RQRJUDSK$XVWUDODVLDQ&RDO0LQLQJ3UDFWLFH 375