In a first for the German equipment manufacturer, it will supply all three conveyors required for this type of mining, including the rear conveyor located behind the shields.

Nearly one hundred top coal caving faces currently operate in China.

The LTCC system incorporates a conventional longwall shearer typically mining at a height of about 3m.

Special shields have an elongated gob shield with a retractable flipper at the back which allows the coal in the roof to come in behind the shields.

This coal is collected by a second chain-driven conveyor located behind the shields. Both chain conveyors dump coal onto a third chain-driven conveyor, the stageloader.

Datong Coal Mine Group ordered the complete chain conveyor system from DBT for a 239m wide LTCC face in the new Tashan mine.

The system comprises a PF 6 front chain conveyor (width 1142 mm, 2 x 750 kW) and a PF 6 rear chain conveyor (width 1342, 2 x 855 kW) – both powered by the CST drive system. It also includes a PF 6 stageloader (1542 mm wide, 1 x 450 kW) with an integrated impact crusher and a belt tail piece.

Datong is one of the biggest coal producers in China and plans to increase annual production over the next few years. The company is moving to improve overall production and reduce total cost of ownership of top coal caving faces.

“After analyzing the various options available, the company concluded that the DBT system offered the best solution based on the superior design and service life of the new PF 6 type line pans and on the CST (Controlled Start Transmission) drive, the world’s most advanced drive system. The DBT solution is expected to set a new standard for LTCC faces in the future,” DBT said.

The new LTCC system is scheduled for delivery in April 2005.