Market demand has made mining of certain ores consistently profitable, however, ultra-deep thin vein mining projects must adopt a more sustainable strategy if they are to maintain long-term profitability. In this regard, robots will play an important role.
In the mining of thin veins, compact and remotely controlled demolition robots have great application potential. Eighty percent of casualties in underground mines occur at the face, so having workers remotely control rock drilling, blasting, bolting and bulk breaking will keep those workers safe.
But demolition robots can do more than that for modern mining operations. As the mining industry works to improve safety and reduce environmental impact, remote-controlled demolition robots are providing effective solutions for a variety of applications. From deep vein mining to auxiliary operations such as mine rehabilitation, demolition robots can help mining companies improve efficiency throughout the mine.
Ultra-deep thin vein mining
As underground mines go deeper, safety risks and demands for wind, power and other logistical support grow exponentially. After mining bonanza, mining companies reduce mining costs and minimize stripping by reducing waste rock extraction. However, this results in cramped working spaces and difficult working conditions for workers on the face. In addition to the low roofs, uneven floors, and hot, dry, and high-pressure working conditions, workers have to struggle with heavy hand-held equipment, which can cause serious injuries to their bodies.
In extremely harsh conditions, using traditional ultra-deep mining methods, workers perform long hours of heavy physical labor using hand tools such as air-leg sub-drills, miners, and the necessary poles and arms. The weight of these tools is at least 32.4 kg. Workers must be in close contact with the rig during operation, even with proper support, and this method requires manual control of the rig. This increases worker exposure to risks including falling rocks, vibration, back sprains, pinched fingers and noise.
Given the increased short- and long-term safety risks for workers, why do mines continue to use equipment that has such a severe impact on the body? The answer is simple: there is no other viable alternative right now. Deep vein mining requires equipment with a high degree of maneuverability and durability. While robots are now an option for large-scale mixed mining, these devices are not suitable for ultra-deep thin veins. A traditional robotic drilling rig can only perform a single job, namely rock drilling. That said, additional equipment needs to be added to the work surface for any other work. In addition, these drilling rigs require a large section of roadway and a flat roadway floor when driving, which means that more time and effort are required to excavate shafts and roadways. However, air leg sub-rigs are portable and allow the operator to access the work face at the most ideal angle from the front or roof.
Now, what if there was a system that combined the advantages of both approaches, including the high safety and productivity of remote operations with the flexibility and precision of an air-leg sub-drill, among other benefits? Some gold mines do this by adding demolition robots to their deep vein mining. These compact robots offer an excellent power-to-weight ratio, a parameter often comparable to machines twice their size, and the demolition robots are far more efficient than state-of-the-art air-legged sub-drills. These robots are designed for the toughest demolition applications and can withstand the high temperatures and pressures of ultra-deep mining. These machines use Caterpillar’s heavy-duty tracks and outriggers to work on the roughest terrain. The three-part boom provides an unprecedented range of motion, allowing drilling, prying, breaking rock and bolting in any direction. These units utilize a hydraulic system that does not require compressed air, minimizing the need for face facilities. Electric drives ensure that these robots operate with zero carbon emissions.
In addition, these demolition robots can perform a variety of tasks, simplifying the operation process and reducing carbon emissions in the deep environment. By changing the appropriate attachment, operators can switch from rock drilling to bulk breaking or prying at 13.1 feet (4 meters) or more from the face. As technology advances, these robots can also use attachments that are much larger than comparable size equipment, allowing mines to apply more powerful tools to new uses without increasing the size of the mine tunnel. These robots can even remotely drill bolt holes and bolt installations 100% of the time. Multiple compact and efficient demolition robots can operate multiple turntable attachments. The operator stands at a safe distance, and the robot drills into the bolt hole, loads the rock support bolt, and then applies torque. The whole process is fast and efficient. Efficient and safe completion of roof bolt installations.
A mine that uses demolition robots in deep mining found that using these robots reduced labor costs by 60% to advance one linear meter of depth when working with these robots.
Post time: Feb-25-2022