Intelligence will become the development direction of mining in China

“At present, domestic and international mining industry has entered a period of high-speed development of intelligent business,” said Zhang Da, deputy director of the Mine Engineering Research Institute of Beijing Research Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, in an interview with reporters. It is understood that the research and development of mine safety, high-efficiency, and clean mining technologies in the mine engineering research and design institute represent the national level, and the mining intelligent mining technology, equipment and engineering applications have become the main research direction of the institute.

Reporter: In what context did the intelligent mining technology develop? What is the significance of its development?

Zhang Da: With the increase in the global demand for mineral resources, the entry of high-yield, high-efficiency, high-quality, and low-cost mineral products from the international market, and the exploitation of some unconventional predatory mineral products in China, make resources and management among mining enterprises. Competition with the market is increasingly fierce, forcing mining companies to make changes in resource utilization, environmental protection, mining technology, technology and equipment, and safety management in order to cope with the current severe challenges.

China's metal mines are dominated by underground mining, and many mines are gradually turning from shallow mining to deep mining. Due to differences in resource endowment conditions, mining processes, production processes, and production equipment of underground metal mines, as well as the uncertainty and dynamic nature of resources, the discrete nature of workplaces, the mobility of productivity factors, and the high risk of production environment, etc. Many problems have arisen, resulting in low production efficiency and frequent accidents in mining enterprises. Under this circumstance, in order to improve the technical strength of China's mines, it is particularly important to carry out the research on the intelligent mining technology for underground metal mines that aims at safety, efficiency, and economy.

Intelligent mining refers to the intelligent, automated mining equipment as the core, high-speed, large-capacity, two-way integrated digital communication network as the carrier, intelligent design and production management software system as a platform, through the mine production objects and processes in real-time, dynamic , Intelligent monitoring and control, to achieve the safety, efficiency, and maximum economic efficiency of mine mining.

The smart mining technology of the mine is a series of functional modules that are interdependent and connected with each other, and they are merged together through real-time data streams to finally form an organic whole. Its core functions include mine production planning, mine production system operation, mine operating status monitoring and intelligent intelligence of underground mining equipment.

The significance of smart mining lies in the use of modern high technology to upgrade traditional industries, promote the development of China's mineral resources to be efficient, safe, green, and sustainable, and enhance the core competitiveness of China's mining industry. Mine intelligent mining technology is also of great significance for promoting the revitalization of non-ferrous metal and steel metallurgy industries.

Reporter: What are the development stages of foreign intelligent mining technology?

Zhang Da: The application and development of modern information technology has made it possible for mine automation or intelligent mining. Since the 1990s, countries such as Finland, Canada and Sweden have formulated development plans for "intelligent mines" and "unmanned mines" in order to obtain competitive advantages in the mining industry.

Finland presented the Intelligent Mine Technology Research Project (IM) led by the Finnish Technology Development Center (TEKES), Outokumpu Mining Services, Tannock Drilling and Shipping Machines, Normet Ollion, Lochmo The company and the Rock Institute at the Helsinki University of Technology completed the joint project and lasted five years from 1992 to 1997. The plan is divided into 28 research projects with a budget of 12 million U.S. dollars. Through research on real-time management of resources and production, automation of equipment, and automation of production and maintenance, the intelligent mine technology system is preliminarily established to increase the production of open pit mines and underground mines. Efficiency and economic efficiency.

On this basis, Finland further proposed the Intelligent Mine Implementation R&D Technical Plan (IMI), which began in 1997 and lasted for 3 years. Through the implementation of advanced technology and technology, it has developed mechanical equipment and systems, and in the Outokumpu company Kemi Underground mines have undergone development tests, which have increased the labor productivity of mines, reduced production costs, and improved working conditions.

In addition, Canada completed the demonstration and implementation of the five-year plan for the mining automation project (MAP), with a budget of nearly US$20 million. It is undertaken by Canadian International Nickel Limited, Eagle Bridge Nickel Mines Ltd., Canadian Automation and Robotics Technology Center, etc., based on international The underground high-frequency broadband communication system developed by Nickel Co., Ltd. develops core technologies such as remote operation, autonomous operation, and self-adjusting system. The orebody delineates the robot device and connects it with the intelligent geological model through the communication system. The development process is based on the delineation results of the ore body. . The automated engineering development model provides information directly to the remote control equipment that is working, and the information of the remote control equipment is also provided to the mine model at the same time and acts on the production process. The device that implements the above functions is a mining robot controller, which is both a computing device that connects a monitoring sensor with a local remote control actuator and a radio frequency modem. On the other hand, basic mine auxiliary systems have been established, such as ventilation, pumping, formation control, power distribution, mine drainage, compressed air, and process water. In these auxiliary systems, sensors deployed at the site send information to the central control computer through a control device connected to the communication system. The computer processes the data according to the model and sends signals to the various remote remote actuators for adjustment. Through the research and development of the above content, Canada has made Canada an international leader in mining automation technology, maintaining its competitive advantage in the mining industry and forming a new pillar technology industry. Canada also worked out a vision to be implemented by 2050, that is, to build an unmanned mine in a remote area of ​​northern Canada and use satellites to control all equipment in the mine to achieve mechanical crushing and automatic mining.

Canadian International Nickel Corporation has developed an underground communication system based on a combination of CATV and radio transmission technology and trialled at the Stobie mine. This highly functional broadband network is combined with the radio units in each of the mine's mid-sections to transmit multi-channel video signals and operate each device. In addition to the automation of the fixed equipment in the mine, the scraper, rock drill trolley, and underground vehicles have all been unmanned. Workers control the equipment at the ground level, and there is basically no need to set up workers throughout the well.

At the same time, other countries are also simultaneously implementing strategies for mine automation and intelligence. Sweden has also formulated a strategic plan to improve mine automation. Australia's Micromine developed a web-based online remote mining control system, PITRAM, for mining applications, achieving a 10% reduction in mining costs. The United States and Japan's Rajant Corporation developed a highly flexible, broadband mobile target wireless mesh network in harsh environments, enabling reliable and rapid access to mobile targets.

In the past 10 years, several internationally renowned mining equipment companies have been vigorously developing intelligent mining equipment and related technologies, such as the Sandvik company in Sweden, Atlas Copco, etc. Not only did the development of a large number of mining equipment have a good Automation or intelligent functions, and the development of a variety of smart mine technology and equipment systems, such as AotoMine system, OptiMine system and MineLan system, using these technologies, these companies are gradually from the original single equipment supplier to the technical solution provider change.

Reporter: Will you talk about the status quo and existing problems in the development of smart mining technology in China?

Zhang Da: Western developed countries started to research intelligent mining technology since the 1990s. Compared with this, China’s related technology research has fallen behind for a long time. At the same time, it should also be noted that due to the rapid development of high-tech represented by network information technology, China has now laid a very good foundation for informatization technology. The gap with foreign countries in this respect is not large, at least far higher than that of foreign countries. As a result of the technological level, China is completely engaged in the research of intelligent mining technology at a new starting point, and it is entirely possible to achieve or surpass the international advanced level in a short period of time.

In recent years, with the development of China's social economy and the recovery of the mining industry, many high-tech applications related to intelligent mining have come a long way. For example, our institute has developed the BLSS-PE mining three-dimensional laser scanner, mine high-bandwidth wireless communication system and mine intelligent dispatch and control system, which can provide technical support for smart mining. In China's six major mining systems and other information construction, most of the underground fiber trunk communication networks have been established. Video monitoring, environmental monitoring, and automatic control have been applied in some large and medium-sized mines, and remotely controlled scrapers based on imported equipment have been widely used. Some advanced personnel and equipment positioning systems and underground pressure disaster monitoring systems have been applied. Advanced mining software such as DataMine, Surpac abroad, and Dimine, 3Dmine etc. in China have also been applied. The country has established a number of key or special scientific and technological projects related to intelligent mining, such as "digital mining key technologies and software development", "underground unmanned mining equipment high-precision positioning technology and intelligent unmanned scrapers. The research on model technology, “downhole (unmanned work surface) mining remote control key technology and equipment development”, “km deep well pressure and high temperature disaster monitoring technology and equipment” and other projects have laid a good foundation.

At present, the main problems in China's intelligent development are: the technological level of domestic mining equipment is relatively backward, especially its level of automation and information can not meet the requirements of intelligent mining; lack of integrated communications, positioning and navigation with independent intellectual property rights to achieve The supporting technology and software platform for intelligent mining; the research of related technologies is scattered and fails to form a strong R&D team.

The research of intelligent mining technology is a huge system project. From the foreign experience, all are funded by the state to set up special projects, organize multiple research institutions and related companies to jointly tackle the problem, and then further improve the enterprise.

Reporter: What is the development trend of intelligent mining technology?

Zhang Da: The overall trend of underground intelligent mining in foreign countries is down-to-earth broadband communication network, real-time downhole data collection, automation of downhole production equipment, and informatization of downhole production management, to achieve large-scale intelligent mine automation, comprehensive optimization scheduling and production management To achieve economic, safe and efficient goals.

The overall development trend of intelligent mining technology is mainly represented by the following 10 characteristics: First, the three-dimensional visualization system of the mine surface, mineral deposits and engineering environment model; second, an effective production and operation management information system, including mine planning, mining plans, production plans, Statistical scheduling, production monitoring, geodetic management, business management, etc., and the formation of enterprise local area network; third is the network system of video and data transmission on the same network, multimedia communication network with fiber or radio communication as the main body, and the realization of mine data distributed sharing The fourth is to realize the automatic collection and processing of mine production process data, use sensor network technology to realize the production process, mine safety, equipment operation monitoring and automatic data acquisition and visualization processing; fifth is to achieve centralized control of mine production systems, through the intelligent control system; , Centralized remote control of lifting, transportation, ventilation, and drainage; Sixth, computer software systems are used to realize the digitization, modeling, and visualization of mine resources, design optimization, production planning, and mining environment; Seventh, mining blasting based on digital mine platforms one Design system and process monitoring system; eight is the use of multimedia, simulation, simulation, and virtual technology to reproduce the mine's overall and production activity processes, including scheduling, process monitoring, and disaster warning; Nine is the real-time dynamic response of information integration through the entire production process , To achieve centralized control of the main mining equipment, or stylized control of the driverless; 10 is to use intelligent mining equipment, automatic positioning and navigation systems, the mine from a single process to the entire system, to achieve the remote operation of the production process.

Reporter: In the field of intelligent mining, what research has been conducted by the Beijing General Research Institute of Mining and Metallurgy?

Zhang Da: Our institute is the first company in China to carry out research on the intelligent mining technology of underground metal mines. During the “Twelfth Five-Year Plan” period, our institute took the lead in carrying out the “863 underground metal mine intelligent mining technology” research project under the national “863” theme project, aiming at the particularity of underground metal mines, with information collection, downhole high-frequency broadband real-time communication network, and downhole positioning. Technology, dispatching and control systems are the technical means to control the underground blasting rock blasting equipment. Through multi-level, on-line real-time dispatching and control, the mine production process is optimized, and underground metal mines with industry and versatility are formed. Mining platforms lay the foundation for the efficient, safe, green and sustainable mining of underground metal mines. The task setting of the project is to consider not only the key technical issues for the intelligent mining of underground metal mines, but also the feasibility of realizing the project with limited funds and time.

After many discussions and demonstrations by experts, the project was eventually drafted with intelligent downhole equipment, ubiquitous information acquisition and high-frequency broadband communications, mine high-simulation three-dimensional display information platform and intelligent navigation, scheduling and control based on the platform. The application of typicality and urgency is the object of research. Specifically, the intelligent deep-hole hydraulic rigs, underground high-pressure smart submerged drilling rigs, underground intelligent scrapers, underground intelligent mining vehicles, and underground metal mines have been specifically identified. The research and development of mining blasting technology and equipment, ubiquitous information collection and communication systems for intelligent mining, intelligent mining support software and intelligent scheduling and control systems, and precise positioning and intelligent navigation of downhole equipment totaled 8 research and development tasks.

At present, the research results of the project are undergoing on-site industrial trials in domestic mines, and relevant results have begun to be applied to domestic mines. It should be noted that in the near future, China’s mining industry will gradually develop from mechanization, informatization, digitization, and automation to intelligent and rapid development through the “intensity of integration of the two industries” and create an intelligent mining country that belongs to China.