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| SOUTH EASTERN COALFIELDS
LIMITED |
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| New Technology & Future Prospects | By P. K. Roychowdhury, Dir. Tech.(Op), South Eastern Coalfields Ltd | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
INTRODUCTION Economy used to be the principal parameter, influencing industrial health. Production & Productivity are the key parameters for any kind of Industrial Growth. Coal Industry is not an exception from this. Coal is the prime source of energy of the country. During last 20 years, Indian Coal Industry has undergone radical reformation with Mining Technology, Production & Productivity, Quality, Safety, Environment, Human Resource Management etc. New under ground technologies have been introduced for higher out put with lower in puts. In this context SECL is associated with experiencing and preparing for introduction of many technologies, both in under ground and open cast mining. South Eastern Coal Fields Limited ( SECL ), a leading subsidiary of Coal India Limited and a ‘MINI RATNA’ Company is the single largest coal producing company in India. It operates in the states of Chhattishgarh and Madhya Pradesh with its 91 nos. of mining units including under ground and open cast mines. PRE-HISTORIC STATEMENTS Nationalisation of Indian Coal Industry has brought many continuous changes in the mines in terms of Technological evolution. So there has become a substantial growth in coal production in the Indian Coal Industry. There has been a continuous increment in coal production from open cast coal mines. But a negative trend is observed with coal production from under ground mines, despite several mechanizations. TREND OF TECHNOLOGY Demand of coal warrants huge quantum of coal production, which necessitates proper mechanized operational management. Provisional Coal production projection of SECL for next five years shows a steep slope as under.    SO as a continuous effort SECL has an evolutionary trend to introduce and practice different new technologies, for higher production and productivity as discussed under. UNDER GROUND MINING A. Bord & Pillar working with SDL / LHDs This was the first stage of mechanization, eliminating Manual Loader Mining from under grounds of SECL. SDLs / LHDs were first introduced in SECL mines in the year 1977 – 78. SECL is having the highest population of SDLs / LHDs amongst all of the subsidiaries of Coal India Limited. At present this is the most practiced and popular most method of mechanization in SECL. There has been a continuous improvement in production and productivity of SDLs / LHDs. This kind of mechanization has not only increased under ground production and productivity, but also accident rates have also come down with respect to manual mining. B. Cable Bolting – Remote LHD Combination This method is very useful for extraction of thick seams. In SECL, this is being practiced at Chirimiri Area, where thickness up to 7m is being extracted successfully in conjunction with Remote Controlled SDL. Basically this method is Rib Slice pillar of extraction and supporting of high roof is being ensured by hanging cable bolt in the goaf. C. Long Wall Mining Powered Support Long Wall mining was the pioneer methodology for a radical growth in under ground productivity at SECL. SECL has started its first Long Wall face in the year 1990 at Churcha Colliery. Though it was not successful at Churcha due to Geo-Mining reasons, however aftermath, Long Wall Mining has been successfully practiced in three other mines of SECL. D. Partial Extraction methods of Mining SECL has been practicing different methods of Partial Extraction in different mines, protecting surface features, since decades back. The methodologies in practice at SECL are,
Practicing these partial extraction methods have added many advantages to the Economy of Indian Coal Industry with ample conservation perspectives.
G. Low Capacity Continuous Miner (LCCM) Encouraged with the performances of Continuous Miner (LCCM) in moderate thick seams, SECL has introduced Low Capacity Continuous Miner in its thin seams of Rani Atari UG Mine. This is the first LCCM of the country adding new productivity with thin seam mining.
J. Resin Bolting Started with Continuous Miner and getting spread to other methods of under ground mining, SECL is practicing roof bolting with high capacity resin capsules for higher load bearing capacity of about 25 Te / bolt in place of about 6-8 Te / bolt of conventional practice. This practice not only enhanced safety, but also increased productivity with its higher capacity and faster installation rate. K. Resin Bolting as breaker line support at Goaf Edges Roof bolts are used for systematic supports in and around working area as well as in the breaker lines at the goaf edges during the depillaring with Continuous Miner. At the goaf edge, three rows of roof bolts are installed as breaker lines. Among these three rows of bolts, maximum 26 tones of load was recorded over the row of bolts facing goaf of the panel while the rows of bolts toward the active mining side maximum load of 5 tones only was observed, On the basis of these observations of the instrumented bolts it is safely concluded that the application of roof bolts, as breaker line support is a successful exercise for the purpose. L. Mechanised face & Roof Drilling Mechanised face and roof drilling, such as using UDMs, Quad Bolter, Twin Bolters, Hydraulic Drills etc., is practiced, eliminating hazard of roof failure to the face workers in the under ground mines.
N. Gas Chromatograph SECL has installed one Gas Chromatograph in the centrally located Manendragarh Rescue Station. It is procured from SIMTARS, Australia, using software like ‘Segas’, ‘Safegas’ & ‘EzGas’ for early detection and control of mine fires. This equipment detects the presence of many gases with high precision in the sample including Hydrogen, Acetylene and CO which are the prime indicators of fire in the mine. Gas Chromatograph with Segas professional software allows the sampling results to be analysed through Coward Triangle, Ellicot Diagram, Ellicot Trend, Time Graph and Time Series so as to apprehend uneventualities regarding mine fire well in advance. O. Strata Control Monitoring Modern techniques of Strata Control Monitoring with instrumentation is being practiced in the under ground mines to monitor the efficacy of the support system, stability of workings and anticipating roof failures in a probabilistic and futuristic approach, saving precious lives and equipment. Strata Control Cells are effectively in operation at different levels of the organization starting from the mine level to corporate level. OPEN CAST MINING A. Surface Miners SECL has also introduced Eco-friendly open cast mining with Surface Miners at Gevra, Dipka, Kusmunda & Raigarh Area with grand success. B. High Capacity HEMMs High capacity HEMMs such as 42 Cu.m bucket Shovels and 240 Tonne Dumpers are introduced in the open cast mining of SECL reducing equipment population at working places with subsequent increase in safety standards. C. High Luminous Tower Lights High Luminous Tower Lights are introduced in open cast mining and surface operations in mining improving workability conditions and standard of safety. FUTURE PORSPECTIVE FOR ADDING NEW TECHNOLOGIES
CONCLUSION Energy, the basic requirement of the country, remains largely dependant on coal. Indian Coal Mining Industry is to go a long way to fulfill the ambitious plan for coal production in the days to come to meet up the energy security of the country. Coal is to continue in the center stage so far as major fuel at an affordable price in the country at least for few decades. Hence Modern mechanization of mines, Development of mechanization culture and strategic success out comes are the yard sticks of future Indian Coal Industry. SECL is on its best efforts for rational growth of technological options for a better future of Indian Coal Industry.  |
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