Wuhai Energy Begins Operation of Its First Intelligent Mining Face

“With just pressing a button in the ground control room, the mining face can excavate coal automatically, which is safe and efficient,” said a worker at the Laoshidan Coal Mine of Shenhua Wuhai Energy Co., Ltd. under China Energy. The company’s first intelligent mining face, which was put into operation recently, has evoked a sensation among miners.

In the past, miners needed to work hard in narrow, dark tunnels, sweating like a pig and with their faces stained with black dust. With the help of the first intelligent mining face launched by Wuhai Energy, the mine well is as bright as in the sun and as clean as the ground. All pipelines and wires are neatly deployed, without the need of human workers under the ground. Operators only need to control the equipment from the production scheduling and command center or the mechanized roadway centralized control center.

The 16402 intelligent mining face.

The intelligent mining face, with automatic control as the mainstay and human intervention as the supplement, achieves “one key to start or stop” three machines, electro-hydraulic control, automatic pre-maintenance, memorized shearer cutting, automatic coal release, and visualized remote monitoring and control. Its operating method has shifted from on-site operation to unmanned operation, human patrol, remote control and unstopped operation, so that workers can stay away from dangerous zones and mining safety can be improved. Moreover, it is equipped with various sensors to achieve real-time monitoring and detection of potential risks, lower the fault rate, and ensure stable, efficient and safe equipment operation. Compared with traditional mining methods, it can save labor force by 60 percent.