Authors: K.A. Filimonov, K.V. Akimov

Title of the article: Research on the technical capabilities of the face conveyors at shearer bi-directional cutting sequence

Year: 2026, Issue: 3, Pages: 131-143

Branch of knowledge: 2.8.8 Geotechnology, mining machines

Index UDK: 622.014.02

DOI: 10.26730/1999-4125-2026-3-131-143

Abstract: The ability of scraper (armored) face conveyor to transport rock mass is determined primarily by the ability to receive this rock mass in full, and then by the ability to move it to a conveyor roadway. The conveyor receiving capacity depends on а loading cross-section area, conveyor chain speed, shearer haulage speed, as well as the direction of chain and shearer mutual movement. Over the past few decades, the first three parameters have changed, and the chain speed and the shearer haulage speed have changed in different rates. The article investigates the potential of existing scraper conveyor models for receiving rock mass during bi-directional cutting sequence. The researches were carried out for shearer cutting haulage speed ranging from 3 to 30 m/min. At the initial stage of the research, the range of characteristics of modern scraper conveyors in terms of chain speed and loading cross-sectional area was established. Then the receiving capacity of conveyors of this range was determined and the patterns of its change depending on the above factors were analyzed. At the final stage, as an example, the calculated values of the loading cross-sectional area when mining a 2.5 m coal seam with cuttability of 260 kN/m and a cutting web of 0.8 m were determined. An assessment of the possibility of using actual conveyor models in the described conditions were carried out. The receiving capacity in the same and opposite direction of movement was collated. Its values varied significantly, especially at high rates of the shearer haulage speed. It was noted that there was a potential to increase the energy efficiency of the coal transportation process by reducing the chain speed in the opposite direction of movement. A coefficient was proposed to estimate the speed reduction. It was established that for bi-directional cutting sequence with the same conveyor productivity the models with a smaller loading cross-section area but higher chain speed were more efficient. An appropriate coefficient was proposed to estimate the difference in receiving capacity.

Key words: scraper (armored) face conveyor conveyor receiving capacity conveyor chain speed loading cross-section area of a conveyor

Receiving date: 25.11.2025

Approval date: 15.06.2026

Publication date: 27.08.2026

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