China Coal Technology Tianma Intelligent Control Achieves Smart Mining of Rapidly Inclined Coal Seams

(Source: China Electric Power News)

Transferred from: China Electric Power News

Recently, a victory report has come from Taiping Coal Mine of Sichuan Coal Group: under the conditions of a steeply dipping coal seam with a dip angle of 66°, China Coal Research Institute Tianma Smart Control, relying on advanced intelligent mining technologies, after three months of focused efforts, has successfully achieved intelligent mining of the 31131 working face. It delivered excellent results of cutting coal at an average of 4 cuts per day and advancing 3.2 meters per day, marking a key step forward for coal intelligent mining technologies under extremely complex geological conditions.

Steeply dipping coal seam mining has long been regarded as a major challenge in the world’s coal mining industry. For the 31131 working face of Taiping Coal Mine, the average strike length is 1182 meters, the seam dip angle ranges from 48° to 66°, and the average dip angle is 57°. During the mining process, a series of challenges may arise, such as hydraulic roof supports becoming unstable, apron conveyors slipping downward, pulling supports overturning, mis-propping causing topple incidents, and flying rock injuring workers—an extreme test of the reliability and adaptability of intelligent mining technologies.

In response to the major technical challenge of the 66° steeply dipping working face, Tianma Smart Control quickly formed a special breakthrough team, dispatching software R&D and on-site service engineers to stay in the mine for the long term. They fought in coordination with the technical personnel of Taiping Coal Mine, overcoming technical bottlenecks one by one. The project comprehensively applied independently developed multi-dimensional sensing wireless sensing technology for the working face, enabling centralized coordinated control and intelligent decision-making of working-face equipment. By monitoring the supports’ attitude and pressure data in real time, it built a technical barrier to ensure stable operation of equipment for steeply dipping coal seam mining. The team also innovatively adopted a pseudo-inclined mining method, effectively reducing the actual mining dip slope and improving system stability. Given the urgent need for anti-slip and anti-overturn protection for supports, the team ensured that the initial supporting force meets standards and the system runs smoothly by using coordinated multi-cylinder control and optimizing the support-moving process.

During the three-month intensive campaign, Tianma Smart Control’s team, together with Taiping Coal Mine’s actual conditions, conducted multiple rounds of iterative optimization of the control system. Through on-site measurements, data analysis, and parameter tuning, it gradually addressed a series of key technical problems, including precise control of support attitude, intelligent anti-slip for conveyors, and precise navigation for shearers. A person in charge of on-site technical work said, “Every detail is tied to overall safety and efficiency. We hold daily technical analysis meetings with the mine management, adjust the plans immediately for newly discovered problems, and ultimately formed a complete intelligent mining process package applicable to ultra-high-dip working faces.”

The successful application of intelligent mining at Taiping Coal Mine’s 66° steeply dipping working face not only validates the high adaptability and reliability of Tianma Smart Control’s intelligent mining technology under extreme geological conditions, but also provides a replicable and promotable technological model for efficient and safe mining of similar coal seams under comparable conditions at home and abroad. It has important technical support and demonstration significance for large-scale, safe development of steeply dipping coal seam resources in the southwest region of China.

Looking ahead, Tianma Smart Control will further implement China Coal Research Institute’s “1245” overall development framework and the company’s “13259” development strategy, continue to focus on complex geological conditions, and persistently deepen R&D and application of intelligent and unmanned mining technologies. It will effectively solve the industry’s development challenges and contribute scientific and technological strength to promoting high-quality development of the coal industry and cultivating new-quality productive forces in the industry.

责任编辑：江蓬新

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