ABSTRACT
Process control plays a special role in the German coal-mining industry, as more than 100.000 information points supply data that must be processed at control stations on the mine’s surface. An internationally high standard has been achieved in this specific area. All German mines and fully automated long-walls are common wherever applicable.
Longwall automation was first applied to shield supports. Electrohydraulic control systems were developed to reach their present status. DBT’s electrohydraulic shield control system PM4 has set the standard in reliability and functionality for the last couple of years.
Plowing has long been known to be a very suitable longwall mining method in medium and thin seams. Today, a pre-determined constant cutting depth is achieved with electronic control. Thus, a constant and reproducible cutting depth is achieved. A DBT plow system is the only longwall system in the world which may be operated fully automated without personnel on the face.
Automation has also taken over drive systems for plows and conveyors. Plow overload protection systems and the CST drive system for face conveyors are controlled by microprocessors which are integrated into the overall longwall automation process.
The current development of controls by DBT under the brand name “PMC®—Programmable Mine Control” will create a new control family for underground coal mining. The objective can be summarized with the phrase “Cover as many applications as possible with one uniform control family”.
