Optimizing cut-out distance for maximum coal productivity

Abstract

The need to increase productivity has led to innovations in highly mechanised equipment such as the continuous miner (CM). However, often times the CM is underutilised, resulting in loss of productivity. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of cut-out distance on the continuous miner utilisation and production rate. Discrete event simulation is used to analyse a room and pillar operation. The results show that an 11-entry panel width with a fleet size of three shuttle cars is optimum for the variable cut-out distances examined. The utilisation and production rate also increases by 6% at maximum cut-out distance.