Profiling coal on a conveyor belt for the automation of a train loadout facility

Abstract

Throughout the coal industry within the Bowen Basin there are very few mines that have an automated control system on their train loadout facilities. The existing systems use dozers to regulate how much coal is in the bin and is not an exact science. Weighers are also used but are generally unreliable and not designed for the specic purpose of conveyor speed control to maintain levels within the loadout bins. The project aim is to investigate the practicality and possibility of using control tech-niques based on instrumentation to automate a train loadout facility. Determine the requirements for automating a train loadout Determine what coal is made of Research appropriate head unit for conveyor control Conceptual design A number of units were tested and looked at for various locations around the train loadout facility. A minor setback for the development of a working model is that the weight of coal depends on the amount of moisture that the coal retains. This can be overcome if an inline moisture analyzer is installed. Sampling of the coal will need to continue to determine the ash content of the coal being loaded.This project has shown that the LMS-111 laser is the stand out device as it is simple,inexpensive and can be used in a range of locations for various applications. Due to the LMS-111's unique features the device can be utilized in a number of various locations around the train loadout facility. A project package for the installation of the LMS-111 has been developed and plans are currently underway to test and commission the device on an inloading conveyor at Dalrymple Bay coal terminal, located 30km south of Mackay