Dynamic model of a longwall shearer with a chain haulage system

time will remain a valuable major source of energy in the world. It
is usually found in the form of seams in underground mines. For
many years, thin coal seams have been exploited on an increasingly
large scale; therefore, mines and machine manufacturers are looking
for new, effective and safe methods of extraction. One such method
is the use of a longwall system with a single-head shearer. This
solution has been briefly described in the article, with special focus
placed on the proprietary dynamic model of a longwall shearer with
a chain haulage system. The model concerns a chain-hauled singlehead shearer but can be used to simulate coal ploughs and scraper
and belt conveyors to a certain extent. There are models in the
literature in which the chain is replaced by point masses. In the
discussed model, the chain segments have been described as a
continuously distributed mass, the value of which changes as the
shearer travels along the wall. The shearer has been modelled as a
rigid body with six degrees of freedom, placed on elastic skids. The
load from cutting, loading and movement resistance has been taken
into account in the model. The mathematical model has been saved
in the form of scripts in Matlab. The set of scripts allows obtaining
information about the behaviour of the shearer and the load on
important structural nodes such as skids, chain and loaders fasteners
or the driving shaft of the cutting head. The results also enable
determining the power demand of the motors as well as calculating
the required initial tension of the chain. The fully parametric model
makes it possible to analyse the influence of a change in the values
of significant parameters of the longwall working, drive units and
shearer. This information is crucial at the stage of design
construction and verification, which allows for avoiding many
errors in the prototype.