Questions on Mining Machinery

1. The correct sequence of attachments between the winding rope and the
cage in a drum winding system is
(A) Triangular plate → Rope Capel → Bull chain → Detaching hook → Cage
chain
(B) Rope Capel → Bull chain → Triangular plate → Detaching hook → Cage
chain
(C) Detaching hook → Rope Capel → Bull chain → Cage chain → Triangular
plate
(D) Rope Capel → Detaching hook → Bull chain → Triangular plate → Cage
chain

ANSWER: (D) Rope Capel → Detaching hook → Bull chain → Triangular

plate → Cage chain

2. The functions of automatic contrivances in a winding system are to

prevent
(A) Over-speeding and over-winding
(B) Slow banking and load balancing
(C) Overloading and load balancing
(D) Over-speeding and load balancing

ANSWER:

3. A shovel operates 300 days in a year, 2 shifts in a day, and 4 hours in a

shift to achieve the target production of 30 Million tonne per annum. The
following parameters relate to the loading operations:
Bucket capacity of shovel: 15 m3
Shovel cycle time: 44 s
Bucket fill factor: 0.85
Bulk density of the muck: 3.00 tonne/m3
The minimum number of shovels required to achieve the production is
_________.

ANSWER:
Given;
Shovel operates 300 days in a year, 2 shifts in a day, and 4 hours
Total Shovel working hour: 300 * 2 * 4 = 2400hrs
Target production = 30 Million tonne per annum
Effective production of the Shovel = Bucket capacity * bucket fill factor * bulk
density of the muck = 15 * 0.85 * 3600/44 * 3 =

4. A set of tubs is pulled by a 15 tonne diesel locomotive at a gradient of 1

in 100 with an acceleration of 0.05 m/s2. The coefficient of adhesion
between the wheel and the track is 0.2 and the frictional resistance
coefficient is 0.01. The maximum mass, in tonne, the locomotive can pull
is _________.

Given;
Set of tubs is pulled by a 15 tonne diesel locomotive
Gradient: 1 in 100
Acceleration: 0.05m/s2
The coefficient of adhesion between the wheel and the track is 0.2
The frictional resistance coefficient is 0.01
The maximum mass, in tonne, the locomotive can pull is = ?

5. A pump delivers 3000 liter of water in 2.0 minutes through a pipe of

length 1000 m laid on a gradient of 1 in 10. The combined efficiency of
pump and motor is 70%. If friction and shock losses are negligible, the
input power to the motor in kW is __________.

Given:
A pump delivers 3000 litre of water in 2.0 minutes
Pipe length 1000 m laid on a gradient of 1 in 10
The combined efficiency of pump and motor is 70%.
the input power to the motor in kW is = ?

6. Ward-Leonard system is provided in the winding system in order to

restrict
(A) Over-winding of the cage
(B) Deceleration of the cage
(C) Acceleration of the cage
(D) Over-speeding of the cage

ANSWER:
 7. For the conveyor belt drive shown, the tension on the tight side T1 is
double that of the slack side. The coefficient of friction between belt and
drum is 0.21. The minimum angle of lap (in degree) to avoid slippage of
the belt is ___________.

Given;
The tension on the tight side T1 is double that of the slack side
The coefficient of friction between belt and drum is 0.21.
The minimum angle of lap (in degree) to avoid slippage of the belt is =?
T1 = 2T2
T1 / T2 = e ɵt
2T2 / T2 = e ^ (0.21* ɵ )
ɵ=

8. In a sublevel stope, 20 m high excavation is made with ring drilling in a 6

m wide orebody. In an effective shift time of 6 hrs, three rings are blasted
resulting in 9 m extraction length. LHDs of 5.0 m3 bucket capacity and
cycle time of 5 minutes are used for ore transportation. The number of
LHDs required for this operation is ___________.

Given:
20 m high excavation is made with ring drilling in a 6 m wide orebody.
In an effective shift time of 6 hrs, three rings are blasted resulting in 9 m
extraction length.
LHDs bucket capacity = 5.0 m3
Cycle time of 5 minutes
The number of LHDs required for this operation is =?
Volume blasted in an effective shift time of 6hrs. = 20 * 6 * 9 = 1080m3
6hrs = 6 * 60 = 360 min
LHD takes 5 min to transport 5m3 of ore
In 360 min LHD transports = 360 * 5 = 1800 m3
So the number of LHD required to transport 1080m3 ore is = 1080 / 1800 = 0.6
=1

9. Following information about a longwall retreating panel is given.

Panel length = 1800 m
Face length = 150 m
Depth of web = 0.6 m
Shearer travels at a speed of 1.5 m/min along the face.
Each cutting cycle requires a non-operational time of 2 h 20 min. The panel is
fully extractable. The number of working days required to extract the panel is
___________.

SOLUTION

10.In a direct rope haulage operating along a 1500 m long incline, 180 tonne
of coal is hauled in 7 hours. The average rope speed is 7.5 km/h. The set
changing time for the tubs is 2 minutes each at the top and bottom of the
incline. If the tub capacity is 1.0 tonne, the number of tubs in the set is
____________.

SOLUTION:
Direct rope haulage operating along a 1500 m long incline
180 tonne of coal is hauled in 7 hours
The average rope speed is 7.5 km/h = 2.08 m/s
The set changing time for the tubs is 2 minutes each at the top and bottom of the
incline.
The tub capacity is 1.0 tonne
The number of tubs in the set =?
The tub covers 2.08m in 1 second
Time taken by tubs to cover 1500m distance is = 1500 / 2.08 = 721.15seconds
= 12 minutes
So the total time taken = 12 + 2 * 2 = 16 min = 0.27hrs
180 tonne of coal is hauled in 7 hours
Coal transported in 0.27hr =( 0.27 *180) / 7 = 6.94 tonne = 7
The number of tubs in the set is 7 (Each tub capacity is 1tonne)

11.An SDL of 1.0 tonne capacity operates with a cycle time of 6 minutes.
The dimension of the face is 4 m x 3 m. five blasts are conducted per shift
with an average pull of 1.2 m. If the density of blasted coal is 0.8
tonne/m3, the time required by the SDL in the shift to lift all the prepared
coal in hours is ___________.

ANSWER:
SDL capacity = 1.0 tonne
Cycle time = 6 minutes
Dimension of the face is 4 m x 3 m
Five blasts are conducted per shift with an average pull of 1.2 m
Density of blasted coal = 0.8 tonne/m3
Time required by the SDL in the shift to lift all the prepared coal in hours = ?
Volume of coal blasted per shift = 5 * 1.2 * 4 * 3 = 72 m3
= 72 * 0.8 = 57.6 tonne
SDL takes 6 minutes to transport = 1 tonne
Time taken by SDL to transport 57.6 tonne is = 57.6 * 6 = 345.6 min
=5.76 hrs

A skip of 10 tonne capacity hoists ore through a 1000 m deep shaft at a speed of
20 m/s. The skip accelerates and decelerates at 2.0 2 m/s . The loading and
unloading times for the skip are 2.5 min and 1.5 min, respectively. The
maximum hourly capacity of the hoisting system, in tonnes, is ___________.

SOLUTION:
Skip capacity = 10 tonne
Shaft Length = 1000 m deep
Skip speed = 20 m/s
Skip accelerates and decelerates at 2.0 2 m/s
Loading time= 2.5 min
Unloading time =1.5 min
Maximum hourly capacity of the hoisting system, in tonnes = ?
The skip takes 1second to cover 20m length
Time taken by Skip to travel 1000m = 1000 / 20 = 50sec = 0.833min
= 0.0138hrs
Skip acceleration and deceleration in minutes = (2.02/60)

Total time taken by skip (including loading and unloading) = 0.833 + 2.5 + 1.5
= 4.833 min
=290 sec
10 tonne in 290 second
In 1hr (3600 sec) skip capacity will be = ( 3600 *10)/290
124.13tonne
 13.Match the following:

Haulage Unit Safety Device

P. Friction winder 1. Run-away switch
Q. Drum winder 2. Lilly controller
R. Direct rope haulage 3. Regenerative braking
S. Endless rope 4. Monkey/back catch
haulage

(A) P-1, Q-2, R-3, S-4

(B) P-3, Q-2, R-1, S-4
(C) P-1, Q-3, R-4, S-2
(D) P-2, Q-3, R-1, S-4

ANSWER:

14.From an open pit sump, mine water is lifted using a 250 m long straight
pipeline laid along a gradient of 0.34 . The pumping rate is 500 gpm (1
gallon = 3.8 litres). Additional head loss due to pipe friction can be
considered to be 10% of head lifted. At an overall efficiency of 70%, the
electric power consumed by the pump, in kW, is __________.

ANSWER:
Pipeline length = 250m
Gradient = 0.34
Pumping rate = 500gpm (1 gallon = 3.8l)
Head loss due to pipe friction = 10 % of head lifted
Overall efficiency = 70%
The electric power consumed by the pump, in Kw = ?

Pump input or Brake horse power = (Q * HT * sp. Gr) / (3960 * efficiency)

=(500*902*1) / (3960 * 0.7)
=162.6
 15. A loaded dumper of total mass of 75 tonne, having wheel diameter 1250
mm, runs on a haul road which offers an average specific rolling
resistance of 260 N/tonne. The engine develops an axle torque of 15
kNm. The starting acceleration of the dumper in m/sec2

ANSWER:
Loaded dumper total mass = 75 tonne
Wheel diameter = 1250 mm
Rolling resistance = 260 N/tonne
Axle torque =15 kNm
Starting acceleration of the dumper in m/sec2 = ?

16. The drive motor of a pump operates with a load of 19 kW at 500 volts 3

phase A.C supply. Find the current drawn by the motor if its efficiency is
93 % and its power is 0.85.

ANSWER:

17.In an opencast mine, a centrifugal pump is required to lift water at the

rate of 60 litre/sec to a height of 80 m above the pump level. The vertical
suction head is 4 m. The total friction head including shock and energy
loss is 10m. If the pump runs at an efficiency of 80%, the brake power of
the motor in kW is

ANSWER:
Centrifugal pump is required to lift water at the rate of 60 litre/sec
Height = 80 m
Vertical suction head = 4 m
Total friction head including shock and energy loss = 10m
Pump efficiency = 80%
Brake power of the motor in Kw = ?

Solution
Pump input or Brake horse power = (Q * HT * sp. Gr) / (3960 * efficiency)

18. A 12 tonne diesel locomotive of 60 kW is playing in an underground

haulage roadway. The coefficient of adhesion is 0.25 and the maximum
gear efficiency is 80%. The speed in m/s at which it will haul a train at its
full power is
ANSWER:
Diesel locomotive = 12 tonne of 60Kw
Coefficient of adhesion = 0.25
Maximum gear efficiency = 80%
The speed in m/s at which it will haul a train at its full power is =?
Available power for the locomotive = power of locomotive * gear efficiency
= 60 * 10^3 * 0.8
=48 * 10^3 W
Let the speed of the locomotive be V
Available power = adhesion force * velocity
4 * 10^3 = (µMg) * V
V =( 48 * 10^3) /( 0.25 * 12000 * 9.81)
= 1.63m/s

19.Two belt conveyors load a ground bunker, each at a rate of 400 tph,
which is initially filled with 10000 t of coal. Coal is discharged from the
bottom of the ground bunker onto a belt conveyor at a rate of 1200 tph.
The time elapsed in hours before the bottom conveyor starts to operate
below its rated capacity is

ANSWER:
No. of belt conveyors = 2
Loading rate = 400tph
Initially filled with = 10000t coal
Rate of Coal discharged from ground bunker onto belt conveyor = 1200 tph.
The time elapsed in hours before the bottom conveyor starts to operate below its
rated capacity is =?

Capacity of 1st and 2nd belt conveyor = 400tph = q

Capacity of 3rd belt conveyor = 1200tph = Q
Inirial weight of coal in the bunker = 10000tonne = W
 Let the time elapsed in hours before the bottom conveyor starts to operate
below its rated capacity be T

W+q*T+q*T=Q*T
10000 + 2 * 400 * T = 1200 * T
T = 25 hr.

20.A turbine pump of efficiency 70% discharges water at the rate of 2100
Umin at a total head of 100m.If the pump is run by a motor of efficiency
90%, Calculate the input power required for the motor in kW and If the
velocity of water in suction and delivery pipes of the pump are 1.8 m/s
and 2.5 m/s respectively, Find out the diameter of suction and delivery
pipes in cm.

ANSWER:
Turbine pump efficiency = 70%
Water discharge rate = 2100
Total head = 100m
Motor efficiency = 90%
Input power required for the motor in kW = ?
Velocity of water in suction 1.8 m/s and 2.5 m/s
Velocity of water in Delivery pipes = 2.5m/s
The diameter of suction and delivery pipes in cm = ?