November 17, 2021 - Caterpillar has announced it will deliver a complete armored face conveyor system upgrade to Siberian Coal Energy Company, SUEK, for its V. D. Yalevskogo Mine, located in the Kemerovo region, Siberia, Russia. The order includes the Cat® AFC PF6 Armored Face Conveyor, BSL PF6 Beam Stage Loader, SK1114 Crusher Station, SMB 1600/3500 Belt Return Units, and a steering system including 45 sets for 225 roof supports plus a spare parts package. 

The armored face conveyor and belt return are powered by three, 1,200-kW Cat CST65 drive systems, offering 2 133 kN (479,415 ft-lb) short-duration, maximum torque output. Specially designed for long, high-capacity faces, the controlled start transmission (CST) drive systems provide no-load motor start-up, synchronized soft-start, and heavy-load start-up capabilities as well as accurate load sharing and instant, effective overload protection. 

The longwall panel at the Yalevskogo Mine averages a 3,8-m (12.5-ft) seam height and 400-m (1,312-ft) face length. With a minimum targeted productivity of at least 4 400 tonnes/hr (4,850 tons/hr), the mine’s targeted average production is approximately up to 5 million tonnes/year of a thermal (steam) coal. Using the Caterpillar longwall system, the mine has previously set monthly and annual Russian national coal production records. 

Patented Replaceable PF6 Trough Concept

The backbone of the PF6 Armored Face Conveyor, the line pan conveys material from the face and acts as the guiderail for the sheerer, offering traction forces reaching 1 000 kN (224,809 ft-lb). The line pan ordered for the Yalevskogo Mine offers a 5 000 tonnes/hr (5,512-tons/hr) conveying capacity. 

A unique hybrid pan design addresses pan wear by making the parts subject to the most wear replaceable. Its patented replaceable trough concept with extremely rugged pan allows worn top troughs to be quickly and easily replaced by new ones. The new design splits the PF6’s different functional areas to enable the separation of wear parts from structural. Its replaceable trough made from highly wear-resistant materials plus rugged pan design makes the PF6 ideally suited for extended face length panels like the Yalevskogo Mine. 

The system’s bottom race features a special shape that nearly doubles the contact surface area to reduce flight bar shoulder wear and substantially lower friction. Curved transitions at the pan ends significantly reduce noise levels during chain conveyor operation. 

Installation and technical support will be provided by Cat dealer, Vostochnaya Technika. The complete armored face conveyor system has an anticipated late-Q2 2022 delivery date.