A smart mining full-face combined-type tunnel boring machine, the world's first of its kind with an excavation speed three times faster than that of traditional designs, was put into operation at the China Coal Technology and Engineering Group's Fengxian mining base in Shanghai.
A view of the smart mining full-face combined-type tunnel boring machine, the world's first of its kind with three times the excavation speed of traditional ones, developed by China Coal Technology and Engineering Group [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
It took the company 10 months to develop the equipment, which can realize such operations as full-face cutting, anchor and cable network support, pipe sheet support, reinforcement grouting, multi-stage deflection correction and propulsion, continuous slag removal, intelligent navigation, and ventilation and dust removal.
It's worth noting that the equipment's fast excavation speed can help shorten construction periods and its remote-control system makes unmanned operation possible.
With a high level of automatization and intelligentization, few people are needed to operate the equipment even as the quality and efficiency of the coal mining are improved.
Development of the equipment is expected to promote intelligent, highly-efficient, safe, green and environmentally-friendly tunneling.
(Executive editor: Xie Yunxiao)
