Technical status and development trend of domestic armored face conveyor for ultra-long working face

The optimal solution to increase the output of a single working face is to lengthen the length of the working face. If conditions permit, it is possible to increase the yield of the working face, facilitate roadway layout, reduce roadway excavation rate, and improve coal mine production efficiency by adopting ultra-long working face mining. It is of great significance for the green and low-carbon development of China's coal resources. To promote the development of domestically produced ultra-long working face scraper conveyor equipment, based on the actual application data of the first batch of domestically produced ultra-long working face scraper conveyor equipment with a length of over 400 m in the Shaanxi Inner Mongolia mining area since 2021, from multiple dimensions such as installed power, specification parameters, supporting equipment, coal throughput, chute wear, and traction system wear, analyzing the main problems of existing equipment, such as high no-load power, difficulty in chain tension control, increased wear and tear, and difficulty in starting heavy loads, key technical research areas for future ultra-long working face scraper conveying equipment are proposed, including lightweight technology for chain scraper components, chain speed and capacity balance control strategies, intelligent control methods for chain tension, key technologies for high reliability traction systems, intelligent collaborative control strategies for multiple power units, and intelligent operation and maintenance technologies. Finally, the development trend of scraper conveyor equipment for ultra-long working faces under different coal seam thicknesses was discussed: intelligent scraper conveyor equipment for thin coal seams of 300‒450 m, meeting the annual production target of 3 million tons per working face; Intelligent scraper conveyor equipment for 500‒600 m thick coal seams, meeting the annual production target of 10 million tons per working face; Intelligent scraper conveyor equipment for 400‒500 m thick and extra thick coal seams, meeting the annual production target of 20 million tons per working face. Overall, domestic ultra-long working face scraper conveyor equipment is gradually approaching and is expected to surpass the international advanced level, providing strong support for promoting the efficient, safe, and green development of China’s coal industry.