The computer simulations have shown that although the control system occasionally slows down the shearer considerably, when the trends in methane concentration are unfavorable, this limitations do pay off, as the flexible cutting velocity settings allow to accelerate when it is possible and protect form the losses generated by the methane related emergency downtimes.
A Coordination Meeting was organised by the IMG-PAN Institute. Due to the pandemy it had a hybrid online-face to face form. The Project progress has been monitored and co-ordinated. Workshop presentations, preceeding the meeting provided a background for further discussion. As a technical part, a technical discussion on the specific issues of the gas emission and migration have been held.
Results of the Project have been presented and subjected to discussion during the Dissemination Workshop. The “Workshop on the Preliminary study on the longwall shearer cutting control aimed at reduction of the methane hazard” was a held as a separate session of the 28th International Science and Technology Conference “Natural Mining Hazards 2021” (https://gzn.gig.eu/en/node/30) , organized by the Polish GIG Central Mining Insititute. This conference had 186 participants, 12 of them remotely. It hosted people mainly from the Polish mines, companies and research centers, but also colleagues from the Czech Republic, Germany, Spain and Great Britain. During the Workshop apart of the GZN International Conference participants we had over 30 participants online via the MS Teams platform. As a part of the conference the Workshop has also been transmitted live via Facebook.
The abstracts of the presentation, both in the English and Polish versions are available at the Project web page.
Presentation and discussion of binding the Virtual Longwal Control Demonstrator with the control device of Eickhoff’s shearer.
During the online meeting the Velenje mine virtual Longwall models have been presented. Information exchange contirbuted to a progress in development of models.
The Second year Annual Progress Report to the Commission has been presented and evaluated during the online TGK1 meeting
The First Online Coordination Meeting was organised by the IMG-PAN Institute. The Project progress has been monitored and co-ordinated. Despite pandemy limitations all parties could share their knowledge ad views. Results have been used in the develoment of the Second year Annual Progress Report to the Commission and boosted the further work.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemy, the Project duration has been extended by 6 months
WebEx presentation of the Technical Progress report from the first reporting period. The report has been accepted Project information for the TGK1 meeting. The report has been accepted.
The measurement goals were:
• Determination of the air stream velocity and methane concentration profile at the outlet of the ventilation region.
• Methane concentration distribution measurements along the longwall (during shearer operation.
The meeting focused on the review of the Mid Term Report preparation and deliverables due by the end of 2019. Also several aspects of actions planned for the year 2020 have been discussed.
The main subject of the meeting was coordination of the Work packages 2 and 3, and planning of coordination/technical meetings. A progress in preparation of continuous monitoring of methane drainage and collection of data for mine Jankowice longwalls has been made.
The measurement goals were:
• Determination of the air stream velocity profile in the selected cross sections of longwall area, as well as determination of the discussed quantities in selected cross section located in tailgate.
• Methane concentration distribution measurements along the longwall and in selected cross sections.
Within 3 days, the measurement team performed tests in 4 longwall cross-sections and 1 tailgate cross-section (using Extensible Scaffold), and 12 measurements of methane concentration in selected points along the longwall. All the measurements, except the first set from 16.05.2019 took places at least within whole shift
Main goals for the measurement in the Z-11 longwall were:
• Testing of the new equipment,
• Establishing the scaffolds unfolding procedure ,
• Collecting data to data analysis procedures preparation and testing (determination of the air stream velocity profile in the selected cross sections of longwall area)
Within 1 day, the measurement team performed tests in 1 longwall cross-section (using Extensible Scaffold).
The main part of the meeting was focused on current tasks of work packages 2 and 3. Specific aspects of collecting field data have been discussed. Then further WP5 and WP6 packages have been mentioned in terms of their connection with current the work. As an follow up of discussion regarding the tasks of WP2 and WP3 packages an extensive information about the Velenije Mining Method was given. Detailed knowledge on the exploitation method and longwall procedures will help in proper interpretation of the monitoring data, planning experiments and modeling.
The meeting continued on the following day. Its main part was a site visit at one of the longwalls selected for planned measurements. Visitors could see the local conditions and on site get an information on specific aspects of mining, environment, gas drainage form the CMV’s guides. After a visit discussion of planned actions within WP2 and WP3 was continued, until all rising issues have been addressed
The PICTO Kick-Off Meeting was organized in Cracow, Poland by IMG PAN. The aim of the meeting was to introduce participants and outline the scope of the Project initiating and boosting its activities. Representatives of all participants took part in it.
Prior to the meeting some sets of technical questions have been sent to the representatives of Eickhoff and the Industrial Partners, which resulted in addressing those issues within the frames of their presentations. Following usual habit the Representatives of all Partners have introduced themselves in short presentations focused on the aspects connected with the scope of the Project.
The second step was the Project overview, which was followed with presentation and detailed discussion of important aspects of the Project activities, structured into the Work Packages and Tasks. Remaining part of the Meeting was conducted in an interactive mode with immediate answering to the questions of participants and discussion of all arising issues.
