Continuous haulage system

1. When Should You Choose A Continuous Haulage System Over Traditional Methods If you haveever worked in or near mining or underground construction, you know how critical haulage is. The ability to move materials efficientlycan make or break your entire operation. And many operations still use traditional systems, such as shuttle carsor locomotives. They’ve worked for decades, so why switchnow? Well, that’s wherecontinuous haulage systemcome in. They’re not just for looks, since they match specific demandsand provide real advantages when the numbers are right. So, in the post, we’ll take you through when you should consider moving on from the old waysto continuous haulage. Consistent Production Demands Continuous haulage systems is what you need, when, for your operation, it only makes sense to have a constant flowing ofmaterial with no stops or slowdowns. Traditional methods are batch- dependent:load, travel, dump, return. That pauses between loads. It chews up your production time. Continuous haulage passes materialfrom face to conveyor or stockpile with minimal delay. Now,consider a room-and-pillar mining arrangement. Ifthe face moves faster, there’s a bottleneck in waiting for shuttle cars. With a sustained system, the cutting and the haulingtake

2. place at the same time. You’renot idling equipment or crew. Whichmeans less wasted time and more tons moved per shift. Additionally, the absence of start-stop cycles contributes to a moreperfect rhythm. If you have a mine coming on stream with a plan for sustained operation — no idling, no masses of trucks standing by for loading — an integrated continuous haulage system can bring moreconsistency than traditional systems. Tight Underground Spaces Traditional Cars Need Space toMove. Shuttle cars, haulers andloaders have turning radii, backup patterns and safety clearances. More space, meaning, just to letthem operate safely. That space is precious in cramped undergroundspaces. Continuous-haulage systems, particularly flexible ones, can belooped through low seam or narrow entries without a lot of extra width. You can constructnarrower roads and make the best use of limited development space. Some systems are designedto follow the continuous miner very closely, further shrinking the system’s footprint. High Equipment Utilization If your operationextends in long shifts with little time to decompress, you need gear that can keep pace. If you’re trying to get every bit of productivityout of your equipment, continuous haulage is a great option for your site. Because it doesn’tlinger like a fleet of shuttle cars could, it keeps the entire production line flowing. This may also add up to fewermachines. You could replace runs of cars back and forth with a single moving unit — possibly along with a moving belt — as such to eliminatemuch of the stop-and-go. The fewer the machines, the fewer the breakdowns, and less maintenance and simpler scheduling. Reduced VentilationAnd Fuel Requirement Shuttle cars and trucks running on diesel push a lot of fumes belowground. Which meansit’s more work for your ventilation system. And that comes along with more fueluse and more emissions control. Electricsystems, andhauling solutions for miningmore broadly, consume less fuel and require less ventilation and have lower emissions. Some mines spend a large share of their budget onventilation. The less diesel equipment you can use, theless airflow you need. That’s saving money on fans, ducting andelectricity. It also enables you to comply with tougher air quality regulationswithout big equipment upgrades. Long-Term Cost Planning

3. Continuous haulage systems are more expensive to buyupfront. No getting around that. But if you intend to run a site for years — or even decades — theycan pay off over time. The fewer the moving parts, the less wear and tear, and thelower the cost of repair. And with a steady output you cut downtimeand increase efficiency. You’ll also save money on fuel, tires and maintenancecrews. Common haulage gets more wear- and-tear from the constant driving, loading,dumping. Over time, those costsadd up. In the case of continuous systems, because thereis less stop-and-go motion, your equipment lasts longer. Wrapping Up So, how do you know when to choose acontinuous haulage system? Basic: When the pockets are tight, the production is steady, or you want to cut downon fuel and maintenance. These systems don’t suit every mine, but in the rightcircumstances they make a lot of sense. If you’re looking to keep things running smoothly, cut down on costs overtime and generally have an easier time with underground buildings, they’re worth considering. You’ve just got to apply the method tothe mine.