Bezpieczeństwo Pracy i Ochrona Środowiska w Górnictwie Number 08/2021

Underground mining involves natural processes associated with high temperatures generated by rocks
as well as the machinery and equipment used in the production. A belt conveyor transporting excavated material from the longwall is one of such elements. The performance of power unit of belt conveyors located in workings where the air temperature is high, impacts the efficiency of the overall mining process. A thermal imaging study was performed to determine the thermal condition of such a power unit. All the measurements were taken using a thermal imaging camera. The main research task was to detect changes associated with an increase in temperature of an operating conveyor drive unit. A series of measurements have been taken and the results of them have shown the correct thermal condition of the conveyor analysed.

The article presents information on quantitative and material changes in mining hoists introduced in the years 2018-2020. An example is the modernisation of the mining shaft hoise in the cage compartment of the shaft "Sobieski III" TAURON Wydobycie S.A., in which a control unit based on MENTOR thyristor converters was installed in the drive motor excitation system and control generators, which allowed to replace the troublesome systems. In addition, in order to stabilize the speed, the system for determining the speed value of the hoisting system was modified. Speed control is performed by a follow-up speed control system based on a digitally controlled MENTOR reversible converter.

The article describes legal limitations of mineral extraction with the use of open pit method on area
(national parks, nature reserves, landscape parks, protected landscape areas, Natura 2000) and local (individual protection and species protection of plants, animals and fungi) forms of nature protection.