Low Cost Remote Control Continuous Miner

1981 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 431-435 ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig S. Hartley ◽  
August J. Kwitowski

Preliminary results are presented for a study to determine the feasibility of providing adequate human-engineered cabs in thin coal seams through the use of a remotely positioned operator. This study, which is being performed under contract to the U.S. Bureau of Mines, concentrates on the development of a cab for a continuous miner and involves three phases. First, workers were observed and questioned to produce a detailed task analysis of work performed by the miner operator and his helper, and a critical incidents analysis was conducted to define system requirements for handling unusual events in the work place. Second, evaluations were made of remote continuous mining system components in order to develop a baseline system configuration. Third, a baseline design concept was developed consisting of a remote, two-wheeled trailer cab linked to a Jeffrey 101 miner by coaxial cable. The miner is modified by adding to it an automatic cable handling system, a multiplexed remote control and sensor system, and two controllable closed circuit TV cameras. Potential safety and economic benefits are presented for the baseline concept.

Author(s):  
John R. Bartels ◽  
Dean H. Ambrose ◽  
Sean Gallagher

Remote operation of continuous miners has enhanced the health and safety of underground miners in many respects; however, numerous fatal and non-fatal continuous miner struck-by accidents have occurred when using remote controls. In an effort to prevent these injuries, NIOSH researchers at Pittsburgh Research Laboratory examined the workplace relationships between continuous miner operators and various tramming modes of the equipment using motion captured data, predicted operator response times, and field- of- view data to determine causes of operator-machine struck-by events in a virtual mine environment. Factors studied included machine speed, direction of escape, operator facing orientation relative to the machine, work posture, distance from machine, and operator anthropometry. Close proximity to the machine, high machine tramming speeds, a right-facing orientation and operator positioning near the tail all resulted in high risk of being struck. It is hoped that this data will provide an improved rationale for operator positioning for remotely operated continuous miners.


Author(s):  
T. G. Ambaye ◽  
M. Vaccari ◽  
E. D. van Hullebusch ◽  
A. Amrane ◽  
S. Rtimi

AbstractCurrently, due to the rapid growth of urbanization and industrialization in developing countries, a large volume of wastewater is produced from industries that contain chemicals generating high environmental risks affecting human health and the economy if not treated properly. Consequently, the development of a sustainable low-cost wastewater treatment approach has attracted more attention of policymakers and scientists. The present review highlights the recent applications of biochar in removing organic and inorganic pollutants present in industrial effluents. The recent modes of preparation, physicochemical properties and adsorption mechanisms of biochar in removing organic and inorganic industrial pollutants are also reviewed comprehensively. Biochar showed high adsorption of industrial dyes up to 80%. It also discusses the recent application and mechanism of biochar-supported photocatalytic materials for the degradation of organic contaminants in wastewater. We reviewed also the possible optimizations (such as the pyrolysis temperature, solution pH) allowing the increase of the adsorption capabilities of biochar leading to organic contaminants removal. Besides, increasing the pyrolysis temperature of the biochar was seen to lead to an increase in its surface area, while it decreases their amount of oxygen-containing functional groups, consequently leading to a decrease in the adsorption of metal (loid) ions present in the medium. Finally, the review suggests that more research should be carried out to optimize the main parameters involved in biochar production and its regeneration methods. Future efforts should be also carried out towards process engineering to improve its adsorption capacity to increase the economic benefits of its implementation.


Inorganics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yichao Cai ◽  
Yunpeng Hou ◽  
Yong Lu ◽  
Jun Chen

Rechargeable aprotic lithium-oxygen (Li-O2) batteries have attracted significant interest in recent years owing to their ultrahigh theoretical capacity, low cost, and environmental friendliness. However, the further development of Li-O2 batteries is hindered by some ineluctable issues, such as severe parasitic reactions, low energy efficiency, poor rate capability, short cycling life and potential safety hazards, which mainly stem from the high charging overpotential in the positive electrode side. Thus, it is of great significance to develop high-performance catalysts for the positive electrode in order to address these issues and to boost the commercialization of Li-O2 batteries. In this review, three main categories of catalyst for the positive electrode of Li-O2 batteries, including carbon materials, noble metals and their oxides, and transition metals and their oxides, are systematically summarized and discussed. We not only focus on the electrochemical performance of batteries, but also pay more attention to understanding the catalytic mechanism of these catalysts for the positive electrode. In closing, opportunities for the design of better catalysts for the positive electrode of high-performance Li-O2 batteries are discussed.


Author(s):  
B. Bravo ◽  
M. Miranda ◽  
J. López

Quinoa is an ancestral plant, originally cultivated in the Andes. It is a product with exceptional nutritional value and it has been important in the socio-economic evolution of the Andean population. Food is considered a natural, ecological and economic product. Since quinoa has the same amount of protein as meat, it can complement people’s daily food at a very low cost. The objective of this work was to carry out market research to determine the knowledge of university students about the protein value of quinoa in their diet and its purchasing power. The design was semi-experimental and descriptive. The study population was students of the Agroindustry degree of the Faculty of Livestock Sciences of the Higher Polytechnic School of Chimborazo. Data were collected through a questionnaire, which contained ten open and closed questions. 192 people were surveyed. Data were also collected through direct observations in the food laboratory. The results indicated a high level of ignorance of the benefits of quinoa. A lack of knowledge about quinoa can result in smaller economic benefits for those who produce this high protein food, which in most cases are indigenous communities. Keywords: economic, consumption, quinoa, incidence. Resumen El presente trabajo, tiene por objetivo realizar una investigación de mercado, para determinar el conocimiento de los estudiantes universitarios, sobre el valor proteico de la quinua en su alimentación y el poder adquisitivo de la misma. El diseño es de tipo semi experimental y descriptiva. La población en estudio, son estudiantes de la carrera de Agroindustria de la Facultad de Ciencias Pecuarias de la Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo; para la recolección de datos se utilizó la técnica de la encuesta, apoyado en el cuestionario de la encuesta, como instrumento, la cual contiene diez preguntas abiertas y cerradas, basados en los objetivos de la investigación, se consideró una muestra de 192 personas, con la finalidad de obtener datos importantes que han sido analizados y explicados de forma descriptiva en el proceso, así mismo la observación directa que se realizó en el laboratorio de alimentos, mediante pruebas que se realizaron. La quinua es una planta ancestral, cultivada originariamente en los Andes, producto con excepcional valor nutritivo, e importante evolución socio económica de la población Andina. Alimentariamente es considerado un producto natural, ecológico y económico, ya que tiene la misma cantidad de proteína como la carne, puede complementar el alimento diario de cada persona a un costo muy bajo. Los resultados obtenidos, permitieron identificar el nivel de desconocimiento de los beneficios de la quinua, dando como resultado el mínimo impacto económico en quienes producen este alimento proteico, que, en la mayoría de los casos, son comunidades indígenas que buscan emprender. Palabras clave: economía, consumo, quinua, incidencia.


2014 ◽  
Vol 971-973 ◽  
pp. 1304-1307
Author(s):  
Yi Wang Wang

Aiming at the applications of smart home, a novel intelligent remote control switch socket based on Wifi and PLC technologies was described and designed to replace the traditional wired sppliances.The intelligent remote control switch socket using Wifi and PLC communication technologies, compared to the existing technology solutions, which has the advantages of more flexible networking, low cost, easy to implement and promotion, etc..It will provide an intelligent switch socket design idea and method for the development and promotion of smart home system .


Author(s):  
Matthias Mitterhofer ◽  
Matthew Orosz

Small scale solar thermal systems are increasingly investigated in the context of decentralized energy supply, due to favorable costs of thermal energy storage (TES) in comparison with battery storage for otherwise economical PV generation. The present study provides the computational framework and results of a one year simulation of a low-cost pilot 3kWel micro-Concentrated Solar Power (micro-CSP) plant with TES. The modeling approach is based on a dynamic representation of the solar thermal loop and a steady state model of the Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC), and is validated to experimental data from a test site (Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, Florida). The simulation results predict an annual net electricity generation of 4.08 MWh/a. Based on the simulation, optimization studies focusing on the Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) converter of the system are presented, including a control strategy allowing for a variable pinch point in the condenser that offers an annual improvement of 14.0% in comparison to a constant condensation pinch point. Absolute electricity output is increased to 4.65 MWh/a. Improvements are due to better matching to expander performance and lower condenser fan power because of higher pinch points. A method, incorporating this control strategy, is developed to economically optimize the ORC components. The process allows for optimization of the ORC subsystem in an arbitrary environment, e.g. as part of a micro-grid to minimize Levelized electricity costs (LEC). The air-cooled condenser is identified as the driving component for the ORC optimization as its influence on overall costs and performance is of major significance. Application of the optimization process to various locations in Africa illustrates economic benefits of the system in comparison to diesel generation.


2011 ◽  
Vol 354-355 ◽  
pp. 98-103
Author(s):  
Hong Ge Peng ◽  
Qing Xiang Cai ◽  
Wei Zhou ◽  
Ji Sen Shu ◽  
Guo Ji Li

According to the analysis of the semi-continuous mining system with crushing station set on end-slope and the relation with working wall and non working wall, the calculation method of uncovered end-slope area and the coefficient of slope stability was elicited, considering the external load caused by crushing station location. The variation curve and the law of stability coefficient were also obtained. Combining the field practice, the research conclusion indicates that the crushing station setting of semi-continuous mining system would affect not only the truck transportation distance and the economy benefit, but also the slope stability, which can be used as the theory support to the setting of crushing station in semi-continuous mining system.


Author(s):  
Yichuan Wang ◽  
Xiang Ling

LNG vehicle tank has been widely used in transportation industry due to its high efficiency and low cost. Researchers have proved that vehicle lightweight is one of the important objectives for the development of vehicle mounted LNG tanks. The lightweight of LNG tank structure plays an important role in the weight reduction of full vehicle, and great economic benefits can be brought through the introduction of lightweight. Structure optimization is one of the most common lightweight methods and structure lightweight design is a systematical project that is involved with crashworthiness, stiffness, Eigen mode and vibration, harshness performance. The surrogate based design optimization is considered as one of the efficient approaches to dealing with complicated engineering problems. According to the force condition in the actual operation of vehicle-mounted tanks, a novel fin sandwich structure reinforcing ring had been used to replace the original angle steel stiffening ring. The fin thickness, height, width, thickness and thickness and width of upper and lower plates of the sandwich structure had been optimized using the genetic algorithm. Finite element analysis had been performed to analyze the effect of fin sandwich structure to the enhancement of the outer LNG storage tank cylinder under a variety of actual operating conditions and the stress conditions of overall and part of the tank. Results show that in comparison to the angle steel stiffening ring, fin sandwich structure with the same stiffness and strength of reinforcing ring can ensure the safe operation of tank car, and the stress distribution on the outside cylinder is also more reasonable. Through the adoption of this new type of reinforcing ring, great economic benefits can be brought which will greatly improve the operation efficiency and reduce the transportation cost.


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