Salvage Units Enable Safe Retrieval Of Mining Equipment

The process of installing and recovering mining equipment at the coal face is both time consuming and labour intensive, meaning that coal production drops extensively.

In order to assist in reducing the overall time lost to the recovery phase, RMI Pressure Systems has developed a salvage unit designed to improve the efficiency of the recovery of the hydraulic roof support structures.

The efficiency of a mine is ultimately what keeps it working, so mine operators are continually looking to improve performance.The process for designing and selecting roof support systems for longwall mining must be rigorous to ensure the safety of all those working in the mine.

It is therefore important to be able to recover this equipment, once the mining in a certain area has been completed, as efficiently as possible. This retrieval process requires the use of salvage pump units, which can be installed to provide hydraulic power while the main systems are disconnected and relocated.

RMI is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of high pressure, high flow pumping systems and has been designing solutions for the mining industry for many years. The latest addition to its product portfolio provides a self-contained pumping unit which has extensive safety features and is designed to ensure safe and reliable operation in the harsh mining environment.

The standard design of salvage pumping unit is fitted with the proven S300 Trimax pump which is driven by the on-board 110kW electric motor, which provides a typical duty of 202 l/min at 208 bar. These basic specifications can be altered to suit specific customer requirements to ensure that the delivered system will provide reliable hydraulic power during the retrieval process.

The pump assembly is fully flameproof and comes complete with a starter unit with remote start/stop facility as well as strobe lighting to indicate the running condition. The tank assembly provides inlet and return lines which are fitted with filters to ensure the hydraulic fluid is kept free from contamination and promote longer component life.

The salvage units are each contained within a steel framed skid, which is fitted with both forklift truck slots and lifting eyes to ensure safe and secure transportation. The frame is equipped with four manually adjustable legs to ensure the pump and fluid tanks can be levelled to maintain correct operation.

Mike Sherman, RMI Marketing Manager, comments “RMI has been designing solutions for the mining industry for many years. With the majority of applications in remote areas, with limited access and where unplanned downtime is very expensive, reliability is an essential quality required of our equipment. We have an enviable reputation for designing efficient and reliable equipment, which has been used across the world in the longwall mining industry for many years.”

This latest product can be hired or purchased to suit the operational requirements of each mine, while the individual specifications can be arranged to ensure optimum operating performance.

For further information on the product, or to learn more about RMI's services, please contact your local RMI sales office, which can be located on the website.