scholarly journals An Inspection Robot for Belt Conveyor Maintenance in Underground Mine—Infrared Thermography for Overheated Idlers Detection

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (14) ◽  
pp. 4984 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jarosław Szrek ◽  
Jacek Wodecki ◽  
Ryszard Błażej ◽  
Radoslaw Zimroz
Keyword(s):  
Infrared Thermography ◽  
Hot Spots ◽  
Underground Mining ◽  
Mechanical Systems ◽  
Conveyor System ◽  
Safe Place ◽  
Inspection Robot ◽  
Spatially Distributed ◽  
Underground Infrastructure ◽  
Belt Conveyors

It is well known that mechanical systems require supervision and maintenance procedures. There are a lot of condition monitoring techniques that are commonly used, and in the era of IoT and predictive maintenance one may find plenty of solutions for various applications. Unfortunately in the case of belt conveyors used in underground mining a list of possible solutions shrinks quickly. The reason is that they are specific mechanical systems—the typical conveyor is located in the mining tunnel and its length may vary between 100 and 1000 m. According to mining regulations, visual inspection of the conveyor route should be done before it will start the operation. On the other hand, since environmental conditions in mining tunnels are extremely harsh and the risk of accidents is high, there is a tendency to minimize human presence in the tunnels. In this paper, we propose a prototype of an inspection robot based on a UGV platform that could support maintenance staff during the inspection. At present, the robot is controlled by an operator using radio however, we plan to make it autonomous. Moreover, its support could be significant—the robot can “see” elements of the conveyor route (RGB camera) and can identify hot spots using infrared thermography. Moreover, the detected hot spots could be localized and its position can be stored together with both types of images. In parallel, it is possible to preview images in a real-time and stored data allow analysing state of conveyor system after the inspection mission. It is also important that due to radio control systems, an operator can stay in a safe place. Such a robot can be classified as a mobile monitoring system for spatially distributed underground infrastructure.

scholarly journals A Mobile Robot-Based System for Automatic Inspection of Belt Conveyors in Mining Industry

Energies ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 327
Author(s):  
Jarosław Szrek ◽  
Janusz Jakubiak ◽  
Radoslaw Zimroz
Keyword(s):  
Underground Mining ◽  
Mining Industry ◽  
General Concept ◽  
Underground Mines ◽  
Automatic Inspection ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Inspection Robot ◽  
Spatially Distributed ◽  
First Results ◽  
Belt Conveyors

Mechanical systems (as belt conveyors) used in the mining industry, especially in deep underground mines, must be supervised on a regular basis. Unfortunately, they require high power and are spatially distributed over a large area. Till now, some elements of the conveyor (drive units) have been monitored 24 h/day using SCADA systems. The rest of the conveyor is inspected by maintenance staff. To minimize the presence of humans in harsh environments, we propose a mobile inspection platform based on autonomous UGV. It is equipped with various sensors, and in practice it is capable of collecting almost the same information as maintenance inspectors (RGB image, sound, gas sensor, etc.). Till now such experiments have been performed in the lab or in the mine, but the robot was controlled by the operator. In such a scenario the robot is able to record data, process them and detect, for example, an overheated idler. In this paper we will introduce the general concept of an automatic robot-based inspection for underground mining applications. A framework of how to deploy the inspection robot for automatic inspection (3D model of the tunnel, path planing, etc.) are defined and some first results from automatic inspection tested in lab conditions are presented. Differences between the planned and actual path are evaluated. We also point out some challenges for further research.

scholarly journals Coal Flowability Control on Preventing Spillage on Conveyor Belt Through Modeling and Simulation for Improving its Performance

2021 ◽  
Vol 90 (1) ◽  
pp. 130-145
Author(s):  
Sabri Bahrun ◽  
Mohd Shahrizan Yusoff ◽  
Mohamad Sazali Said ◽  
Azmi Hassan
Keyword(s):  
Bulk Material ◽  
Extraction Process ◽  
Conveyor Belt ◽  
Underground Mines ◽  
Mining Site ◽  
Dem Simulation ◽  
Conveyor System ◽  
Average Production ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Belt Conveyors

Belt conveyors are generally used in mining plant areas, both surface and underground mines. The belt conveyor is mainly applied to transport the extracted bulk material from the mining site to delivery. The effectiveness of the extraction process depends on the reliability and durability of the conveyor belt system. In addition, conveyor performance is very important specially to control material flowability to prevent spills or other operational disturbances to optimize production throughput. However, the transfer chute and settling zone can cause some problems during the transfer process, such as material spills. This problem can reduce the function and performance of the conveyor belt. This paper discusses a design model to reduce the problem of spillage in the settling zone. The model was developed by compiling the previous defecting data from the durability of the conveyor system, then analyzed using Discrete Element Method (DEM) software and compared with bulk characteristics. The initial performance of certain conveyors is only capable of serving with an average production of 76% of the designed capacity while energy is consumed at full load. By applying the DEM simulation result, the blade gate can reduce the peak angle break in the depositional zone before exiting. After the analysis is completed using DEM, the conveyor increases the average production to 95% of the designed capacity. In conclusion, controlling the maximum belt load without spillage will reduce interruption on conveyor belt operation and maintenance costs therefore increase plant reliability and availability.

scholarly journals A Computer Vision-Based Real-Time Load Perception Method for Belt Conveyors

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Mengchao Zhang ◽  
Manshan Zhou ◽  
Hao Shi
Keyword(s):  
Computer Vision ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Conveyor Belt ◽  
Conveyor System ◽  
Load Detection ◽  
Speed Regulation ◽  
Computer Vision Technology ◽  
Belt Conveyors ◽  
Energy Saving Control ◽  
Load Perception

Real-time load detection method for belt conveyors based on computer vision is the research topic of this paper. A belt conveyor system equipped with cameras and a laser generator is used as the test apparatus. As the basis for conveyor intelligent speed regulation, two methods from different angles to perceive the load of conveyor belt were proposed, applied, and compared in this paper. Method 1 is based on the area proportion and method 2 is the detection based on laser-based computer vision technology. Laboratory experiments show that both methods can well detect the load on the conveyor belt. Method 2 is more economical and practical under the background of existing technology, also compared to the method 1, which provides a new idea and theoretical basis for the energy-saving control and intelligent development of the conveyor.

scholarly journals Infrared Thermography for DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction Part II: Analysis of the Results

Proceedings ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gunther Steenackers ◽  
Ben Cloostermans ◽  
Filip Thiessen ◽  
Yarince Dirkx ◽  
Jan Verstockt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Reconstruction ◽  
Infrared Thermography ◽  
Hot Spots ◽  
Breast Surgery ◽  
Infrared Camera ◽  
Diep Flap ◽  
Flap Surgery ◽  
Qualitative Information ◽  
Thermal Measurements ◽  
The Individual

Dynamic infrared thermography (DIRT) has been used to locate perforating vessels and to assist in reconstructive breast surgery. Qualitative information on the perforating vessels is obtained by analysing the rate and pattern of rewarming of hot spots which are easily registered with an infrared camera. Thermal measurements are made before and during surgery and are compared with the CT-images available before operation. The thermal images can provide the individual influence of each perforator on the flap, as well as the dimensions of the perfused area. We will investigate if the influence of the different dominant perforators can be assessed by dynamic infrared thermography as a useful tool for recostructive DIEP-flap surgery.

scholarly journals Cloaking through cancellation of diffusive wave scattering

2016 ◽  
Vol 472 (2192) ◽  
pp. 20160276 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Farhat ◽  
P. Y. Chen ◽  
S. Guenneau ◽  
H. Bağcı ◽  
K. N. Salama ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infrared Thermography ◽  
Hot Spots ◽  
Wave Scattering ◽  
Tissue Imaging ◽  
Photon Density ◽  
Core Shell ◽  
Diffusive Scattering ◽  
Photon Density Waves ◽  
Potential Applications ◽  
Shell Geometry

A new cloaking mechanism, which makes enclosed objects invisible to diffusive photon density waves, is proposed. First, diffusive scattering from a basic core–shell geometry, which represents the cloaked structure, is studied. The conditions of scattering cancellation in a quasi-static scattering regime are derived. These allow for tailoring the diffusivity constant of the shell enclosing the object so that the fields scattered from the shell and the object cancel each other. This means that the photon flow outside the cloak behaves as if the cloaked object were not present. Diffusive light invisibility may have potential applications in hiding hot spots in infrared thermography or tissue imaging.

Parametric Finite Element Analysis on Key Parts of the Conveyor

2011 ◽  
Vol 101-102 ◽  
pp. 755-758 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chun Sheng Yang
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Characteristics ◽  
Bulk Material ◽  
Viscoelastic Model ◽  
Conveyor Belt ◽  
Belt Conveyor ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Conveyor System ◽  
Belt Conveyors ◽  
Parametric Finite Element Analysis ◽  
Research Situation

Belt conveyors are the major equipments for bulk material transportation.This paper analyses the static and dynamic behaviours of the belt, and establishes the dynamic elastic modulus. By analyzing the characteristics of the Kelvin and Maxwell viscoelastic model, the former is selected as the conveyor belt model as it can more realistically reflect the mechanical characteristics of the conveyor system. This paper introduces the development of the belt conveyor, and analyzes the current research situation at home and abroad.

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