Scemtec Automation GmbH PPDREADER Benutzerhandbuch
Personnel Proximity Detection System – PPD User Guide
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INTRODUCTION
Wherever large machine movements take place in the
vicinity of personnel, danger lurks. In underground
mining, this problem has conventionally been
associated with Room & Pillar operations, where LHD
vehicles and Continuous Miners often operate in very
cramped conditions with relatively poor operator
visibility due to the sheer size of vehicles and
machines. The same dangers apply in longwall mining,
despite the fact that movement of each roof support is
signaled by an acoustic warning. But personnel often
become ‘complacent’ when responding to warning tones heard often, so the onus is very much on the
miner to be aware of surrounding danger.
vicinity of personnel, danger lurks. In underground
mining, this problem has conventionally been
associated with Room & Pillar operations, where LHD
vehicles and Continuous Miners often operate in very
cramped conditions with relatively poor operator
visibility due to the sheer size of vehicles and
machines. The same dangers apply in longwall mining,
despite the fact that movement of each roof support is
signaled by an acoustic warning. But personnel often
become ‘complacent’ when responding to warning tones heard often, so the onus is very much on the
miner to be aware of surrounding danger.
Miners are constantly required in the active longwall for maintenance and repair tasks, and an operator is
always required for shearer longwalls. Closing down the entire longwall to carry out maintenance would
cause an unacceptable loss of production, so work is carried out with the longwall in full operation.
Optimal safety requires a careful balance between ensuring workplace safety and minimizing disruption
of production. But these safety features require the miner to take the action – something easily forgotten,
or, indeed, sometimes deliberately not taken to speed work. And the identity of the miner is not known.
always required for shearer longwalls. Closing down the entire longwall to carry out maintenance would
cause an unacceptable loss of production, so work is carried out with the longwall in full operation.
Optimal safety requires a careful balance between ensuring workplace safety and minimizing disruption
of production. But these safety features require the miner to take the action – something easily forgotten,
or, indeed, sometimes deliberately not taken to speed work. And the identity of the miner is not known.
After the shearer or plow has passed, the longwall advances automatically. If a miner were still under a
moving roof support, there would be a great risk of injury or even death. A longwall equipped with the
Personnel Proximity Detection (PPD) system automatically detects the presence of the person and reports
this directly to the local Control System, which then responds in real time, preventing motion while the
person is present as long as the person is wearing a tag.
moving roof support, there would be a great risk of injury or even death. A longwall equipped with the
Personnel Proximity Detection (PPD) system automatically detects the presence of the person and reports
this directly to the local Control System, which then responds in real time, preventing motion while the
person is present as long as the person is wearing a tag.
The goal of a longwall Personnel Proximity Detection System is to clearly identify the presence or absence
of personnel with a high degree of repetitive accuracy, and to transmit this information in real time to the
local control system to allow appropriate action to be taken in order to prevent injury.
of personnel with a high degree of repetitive accuracy, and to transmit this information in real time to the
local control system to allow appropriate action to be taken in order to prevent injury.
The Personnel Proximity Detection System uses a dual-frequency system and a special antenna setup to
enhance reception in mining environments containing large amounts of steel.
enhance reception in mining environments containing large amounts of steel.
The PPD system essentially comprises local readers (transceivers) and RFID tags worn by personnel. When
a miner enters a marker field, the reader is immediately aware of their presence and reports this to the
controller, as shown in the following figure.
a miner enters a marker field, the reader is immediately aware of their presence and reports this to the
controller, as shown in the following figure.