Coal Pillar Mining Without Coal Pillar
Coal has become a vital source of energy for countries all over the world, due to its abundance, affordability and relatively low environmental effect compared to other sources of energy. Unfortunately, the traditional way to mine coal involves an extensive process of digging and sustaining pillars of coal, which can be a costly and time-consuming process of extraction. As a result, several new technologies are currently being developed to facilitate the mining of coal without the need for pillar mining.
The most important factor contributing to this advancement in mining technology is the use of explosives. By using explosives to pulverize coal into smaller chunks and powders, the process of mining coal without relying on pillars becomes easier. This method can be seen being employed in the underground mining of coal in China. In addition, explosives can be used to collapse the pillars of coal allowing a cleaner form of mining to take place.
To further aid in the mining of coal without pillars, self-propelled and remote-controlled mining machines are becoming more commonplace in the mining process. Many of these machines are equipped with GPS systems which allow the machines to navigate their way through the coal layers and can be outfitted with other features such as mechanical arms for scooping up small pieces of coal. In addition, these machines can be outfitted with drilling capabilities to access coal from untouched seams. This technology is currently being employed by several major coal companies around the world.
Another technology that has been developed to facilitate pillarless coal extraction is deep coal deposits scanning, which is also known as “plug and play” scanning. This technique allows miners to scan entire coal deposits in order to determine exactly where the best deposits of coal are located. By loca- ting the most cost-effective and efficient tunnels and passages to access the coal, the process of mining can be greatly accelerated.
Finally, robots are also being developed to assist with coal extraction. These robots are designed to move through the mine shafts and pathways autonomously, performing different tasks such as loading and unloading machines and tendering to the security of the mine. This allows miners to be able to work more efficiently and safely in the mines thereby increasing productivity while keeping costs down.
Overall, coal pillar mining is becoming increasingly unpopular due to the cost, time, and resources that it requires. As a result, an increasing number of technologies is being employed to facilitate coal mining without the need for pillar mining. By using explosives, remote-controlled machines, deep coal deposit scanning, and robots, the process of coal mining without pillars is becoming more and more efficient.