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WATER JET CONFERENCE - Waterjet Technology Association

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Based on knowledge gained throughout the trials a first Jet-Miner prototype was<br />

constructed by M.A.N.-GHH-Sterkrade. This prototype is supposed to meet the<br />

requirements defined to a very great extent. The following chapters will describe the<br />

development of this prototype, the surface trials run and the underground operation.<br />

UNDERGROUND TRIALS RUN WITH THE EXPERIMENTAL VERSION<br />

Trial Face<br />

Following to the good results of the surface trials run with the experimental<br />

version, an experimental coal face was established at Lohberg colliery in seam N (4). The<br />

experimental coal face was of 50 m length and of 1.6 m of seam thickness. According to<br />

its strength the coal was categorized as "difficult to plough" (Fig. 1). In comparison to<br />

the configuration run in the surface trials, the machine was slightly modified; the key data<br />

reads:<br />

Machine under tests:<br />

Operation voltage U = 1000 V<br />

Installed power for the pumps P = 300 kW<br />

Flow (max.) V = 226 l/min<br />

Water pressure p = 70 MN/mZ<br />

Total mass m = 23.000 kg<br />

Hydrostatic haulage drive<br />

Installed power p = 3 x 80 kW<br />

The measuring program covered the following parameters:<br />

• Cutting force of a cutting F s<br />

• Pulling force (chain) F k<br />

• Pressure of the hydro-motor P H<br />

• Travelling speed<br />

In addition coal samples for determination of particle-size distribution and<br />

moisture content were taken, and furthermore dust and noise measurements were carried<br />

out.<br />

Test Results<br />

From the coal-winning point of view the experimental version worked quite<br />

satisfactorily from the very beginning. The coal face was undercut smoothly by the<br />

oscillating high-pressure waterjets and subsequently broken off by the cutting heads. The<br />

coal face did not exhibit any cutting or grinding traces caused by the mechanical tools.<br />

This meant that the coal, as envisaged, was cut exclusively by the waterjets and then<br />

broken off by the cutting heads.<br />

A further proof for this phenomenon is the fact that after the tests the cutting<br />

heads exhibited no wear and in particular no wear imputable to mechanical cutting work.<br />

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