What is a smart mine? What is the future trend?

Smart mine refers to the deep integration of the Internet of Things, cloud computing, big data, artificial intelligence, automatic control, industrial Internet, robotized equipment, etc. with modern mining development technologies based on the intelligent concept of modern coal mines to form a complete intelligent system with comprehensive mine perception, real-time interconnection, analysis and decision-making, self-learning, dynamic prediction, and collaborative control. Realize the intelligent operation of the whole process of mine development, mining, transportation, sorting, safety guarantee, ecological protection, production management, etc.

Generally speaking, smart mines and traditional coal mines are like smart phones and ordinary mobile phones, smart cars (driverless) and traditional cars. Taking unmanned driving as an example, informatization can be realized through "map + planning + prediction" combined with "big data platform + artificial intelligence", and intelligent driving can be realized through "control + positioning" combined with "machine learning + simulation training". Smart coal mine is also the development and application of various new technologies on the basis of existing coal mines, and the continuous development and improvement of new concepts to achieve intelligent coal mines.

How to develop ordinary coal mines into smart coal mines, one is the need for intelligent system base stations, remote control platforms and other infrastructure; Second, the need for intelligent transformation or purchase of equipment such as coal machines; The third is the need for interactive information platform, data analysis system platform and other software and hardware construction; Fourth, it is necessary to connect and integrate each sub-control system and control technology, such as fully mechanized mining subsystem, integrated mining subsystem, safety subsystem, and lifting subsystem to form an intelligent complete set of control system for the entire mine.

Main features of smart mine:

The remarkable symbol of smart mines is "no one", that is, no one works on the mining surface, no one works on the excavation surface, no one works on the dangerous places, and no one works on large equipment until the entire mine is no one works. All aspects of the entire mine are operated under intelligent robots and intelligent equipment.

Western developed countries from the 1990s began to study intelligent mining technology, especially Canada, the United States and other countries, in order to obtain a competitive advantage in the mining industry, has developed the "intelligent mine" and "unmanned mine" development plans.

The Canadian International Nickel company began to study automatic mining technology in the early 1990s, and plans to realize unmanned mining in a mine in 2050, and realize mechanical automatic mining through satellite control of all equipment in the mine. In 1999, the United States carried out research on automatic positioning and navigation technology of underground coal mine, and obtained commercial research results. In 2008, Rio Tinto Group launched the "future mine" plan, deploying driverless trucks, driverless trains, automatic drilling RIGS, automatic excavators and bulldozers around the computer control center. At the end of 2018, Rio Tinto approved an investment of $2.6 billion to build the first pure "smart mine" project in Western Australia. In 2018, Anglo American launched the "Smart Mine of the Future" program.

Overseas large mining companies have already laid out smart mines: Lijin Group decided to invest 2.6 billion US dollars at the end of 2018 to build the Koodaideri Iron ore project into the world's first pure smart mine; In 2018, the United Kingdom and the United States launched the "Future smart mine" program, using robots, virtual technology, and intelligent sensing to replace manual labor.

The Guiding Opinions on Accelerating the Intelligent Development of Coal Mines propose that by 2035, all kinds of coal mines will basically achieve intelligence, build a multi-industry chain and multi-system integrated coal mine intelligence system, and build an intelligent coal mine intelligence system with intelligent perception, intelligent decision-making and automatic execution. At present, intelligent coal mining is still in the demonstration stage, suitable for better working conditions, with the improvement of the technical level, the next 10-20 years or will be widely used.

According to the intelligent transformation practice of Pingmei Group, the investment of a single coal mine is about 200 million yuan, and the proportion of the entire investment is divided into three parts: infrastructure accounted for 10%, integrated platform accounted for 10%, scraper, transportation and other equipment investment accounted for 80%. At present, the number of coal mines in the country is more than 5,000, and the overall investment scale will reach one trillion yuan, of which the smart equipment market is about 800 billion, and the intelligence-related infrastructure and integrated platform market is about 200 billion.

The investment of 1 billion yuan in a new 10 million ton coal mine: in addition to the intelligent transformation of the existing coal mine, the new coal mine can realize the integration of top-level design, construction, operation and maintenance, and solve the related problems that may be encountered by the smart mine to the greatest extent from the beginning, and realize the intelligent mining more thoroughly. In April 2020, the mining and design Division of Tiandi Science and Technology will cooperate with Shaanxi Yanchang Petroleum Palasu Coal Industry Co., Ltd. to build a new intelligent demonstration coal mine (10 million ton mine), the project research, design and part of the system construction funds of nearly 50 million yuan, the mine later supporting intelligent system construction total investment of 1 billion yuan.

Smart mines can be applied to non-coal mines, smart cities and other fields. In terms of non-coal mining mountains, there are more than 30,000 in the country, and the risk degree of non-coal mining mountains is no less than that of coal mines, and intelligent development has greater demand. In terms of smart cities, Tiandi Technology Chongqing Research Institute has applied the smart security monitoring system to the field of smart cities.

Intelligent coal mining is one of the key energy technology innovation directions supported by the state. On June 1, 2016, the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration issued the "Energy Technology Revolution and Innovation Action Plan (2016-2030)" action plan, which clarified 15 key tasks for energy technology innovation: First, technological innovation for harmless coal mining. By 2030, intelligent mining will be realized, key coal mining areas will basically realize unmanned working faces, and the mechanization level of coal mining in coal mines across the country will reach more than 95%.

By the end of 2019, intelligent mining has been tested and produced in major coal producing areas in China, and has been applied in more than 200 working faces in Yankuang, Shendong, Ningmei, Zhongmei, Shaanxi Coal, Tongmei, Yangmei, Pingmei, Jinmei, Fengfeng and other mining areas. The intelligent mining technology of Tiandi technology is applied to the first intelligent coal mine in China, and the intelligent system of fully mechanized mining equipment developed for the first time is promoted and applied in Huangling No. 1 Mine, which realizes the "working face patrol and unmanned operation; Visual control along the channel, remote coal cutting on the ground "; The number of production workers on the working face decreased from 11 to 3, and the production efficiency increased by 25%. In 2019, the State Coal Administration issued the "Catalogue of Key Research and Development of Coal mine Robots", which clearly will vigorously promote the less humanized and unmanned coal mine field operations.

Key provinces have introduced policies to support smart mining

China's central and eastern regions of coal mining for a long time, Shandong, Henan, Shanxi, Guizhou and other provinces due to the mining depth continues to move down, safety investment is getting higher and higher, have developed intelligent coal mining.

(1) Shanxi

The Shanxi Energy Revolution comprehensive reform pilot mobilization and deployment conference proposed to change the coal mining method and move forward to the green and intelligent era. Shanxi will carry out coal mine intelligent transformation pilot and green mining technology pilot demonstration, intelligent transformation into coal mine safety technology transformation, related investment included in the scope of safety costs, the purchase and use of qualified coal clean and efficient development equipment credit enterprise income tax and other policies, increase financial support, effectively solve the problem of green intelligent mine construction investment. We will vigorously promote the intelligent transformation of coal mines, promote the construction of smart coal mines with 5G communication and advanced control technology as the traction, vigorously implement green mining technologies such as coal filling mining, water conservation mining, coal and gas co-mining, and realize the reform of "no (less) humanization and loss reduction" in coal mining.

China Coal Science and Shanxi Comprehensive Reform Demonstration zone signed the smart mine Innovation base project: On March 2, 2020, China Coal Science and Shanxi signed the "National smart Mine Innovation Base (Phase I) demonstration production line construction project", plans to build the smart mine electro-hydraulic control system and safety monitoring system demonstration production line, is expected to complete the first phase of construction within the year. Smart Mine Co., LTD., as a platform company to build a "national smart mine innovation base", is accelerating, will integrate global resources, innovate the system and mechanism, increase investment and research and development efforts, create a smart coal mine ecosystem, and develop industrial clusters in Shanxi.

"Notice on the Pilot construction of intelligent Coal mines and intelligent fully mechanized mining faces in Shanxi Province" : requires all construction pilots to take active measures, increase efforts to build smart coal mines and intelligent fully mechanized mining faces as soon as possible, and demonstrate the improvement of the overall quality and efficiency of the coal industry chain.

(2) Henan

In 2019, Henan fully launched the intelligent construction of coal mines to promote the transformation and upgrading of the coal industry as the main line, apply advanced equipment and technology, accelerate the technological change of coal production, comprehensively improve the intelligent level of coal mines, achieve the production process less humanized and unmanned, and strive to achieve the basic intelligent transformation of 600,000-ton and above coal mines by the end of 2021. Mechanized production has been fully realized in coal mines below 600,000 tons.

(3) Shandong

In order to accelerate the high-quality development of the coal industry in Shandong Province and help the province to convert old and new kinetic energy, the Shandong Provincial government has issued the "Implementation Plan of the Major Project to convert New and old kinetic Energy in Shandong Province" and the "Implementation Opinions on Accelerating the transformation and Upgrading of the Coal Industry in Shandong Province", proposing that "by 2022, coal mining will basically realize automation, information and intelligence. Strive to achieve more than 1/3 of the working face intelligent unmanned mining, intelligent mining output proportion of more than 40%, the production management system basically realize intelligent remote visual control, the number of workers in high-risk positions in the underground to reduce by 30%, accelerate the construction of a number of intelligent, safe and efficient modern mines."

A number of coal mines in Shandong have achieved results in intelligent construction and transformation; The rise of 5G commercial applications has helped the intelligent development of Shandong's coal industry. In the second half of 2018, Yankuang Group carried out research and exploration on the application of 5G technology in mining industry in advance. After several rounds of consultations with 5G operating technology manufacturers such as China Unicom and ZTE, Yankuang Group conducted experimental deployment of 5G base stations in Yankuang Headquarters, Dongtan Coal Preparation Plant and Guohong Chemical Company respectively to achieve 5G network coverage in key areas. Actively promote the development and design of 5G intelligent transmission platform for mining, drone video inspection of Dongtan Coal preparation Plant, AR remote maintenance of Guohong Chemical and VR safety education and other scene research and testing work.

(4) Guizhou

On May 20, 2019, China Coal Science signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Guizhou Provincial Energy Bureau. According to the cooperation agreement, the two sides will further strengthen cooperation in the coal mine intelligent equipment industry, accelerate the process of promoting the "two transformation" of coal mines in Guizhou province, strengthen scientific and technological cooperation, and conduct research in smart mines and coal big data centers.

In October 2019, the Office of the Leading Group of Guizhou Coal Industry to eliminate backward production capacity and Accelerate Transformation and Upgrading issued the "In-depth Promotion of Guizhou Coal Mine Intelligent and Mechanized Upgrading and Transformation Plan (2019-2020)" (Guizhou Coal Transformation and Upgrading Office (2019) No. 54). We will further promote the intelligent and mechanized upgrading of coal mines in Guizhou Province. The plan proposes to comprehensively improve the safety production guarantee ability of coal mines and effectively improve the production efficiency of coal mines. By the end of 2020, the mechanization rate of coal mining in the province's production coal mines will reach 96%, the implementation coverage rate of mechanization transformation will reach 100%, and the coverage rate of intelligent and information service management and monitoring of auxiliary systems will reach 100%.