Optimum Bunker Size and Location in Underground Coal Mine Conveyor Systems

The transportation of coal out of a mine is usually done by a serially linked system of conveyors. It is apparent that in a serially dependent system of this type the failure of any one component (conveyor) causes the complete system to be shut down. The provision of bunkers at strategically located points in the conveyor system can result in the production of coal even in the event of failure of some outbye conveyors. Although the use of bunkers can increase mine system availability, the maximum possible system availability may not be attained if the bunker capacity is inadequate and/or the location of these bunkers in the system is inappropriate. This paper presents a stochastic model by which the optimum capacities and locations of bunkers can be determined for a system consisting of a single production section and a system of serially linked conveyors.