PreviousNext
Page 761
Previous/Next Page
Technology in Australia 1788-1988Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering
----------
Table of Contents

Chapter 11

I The Present Energy Economy

II Australian Energy Consumption

III Research And Development

IV Coal
i Transition at the coal face
ii Further development of face mechanisation
iii Mechanisation outside the face area
iv Open-cut mining in NSW
v Open-cut mining in Queensland
vi Underground mining in Queensland
vii The state of the art
viii Conclusion

V Oil And Natural Gas

VI Solar Energy

VII Nuclear Energy

VIII Bagasse Firewood And Other Biomass

IX Electric Power Generation And Distribution electric Power Generation And Distribution

X Manufactured Gas

XI Industrial Process Heat

Sources

Index
Search
Help

Contact us
Longwall retreating (continued)

The strata control problems associated with bord and pillar mining are multiplied under longwall conditions, as the abutment pressures generated are time dependent in magnitude and do not cease advancing when the coal face is stationary. Extended face stoppages for whatever cause can result in serious and costly disruption to the working area. For that reason the ideal situation is one in which, once commenced, extraction is continuous until the complete block of coal is extracted.

Figure 6

6 Early mechanisation. A mechanical loader filling a 5 ton skip.

The promise held out by longwall mining led to an application to the Coal Industry Tribunal for the right of 24 hour production and in 1970-71 this was granted on a five day basis in exchange for an award working week of 35 hours. The measure increased overall production figures and greatly enhanced the utilisation of capital equipment. It is virtually a necessity for an underground mine to have an operating longwall to be viable in the present economic climate.


Organisations in Australian Science at Work - Coal Industry Tribunal

Previous Page Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering Next Page


© 1988 Print Edition page 791, Online Edition 2000
Published by Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre, using the Web Academic Resource Publisher
http://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/tia/761.html