Peabody's Camoy System - "True Continuous Coal Mining" - Summary

Peabody's Camoy mining system is a truly continuous conceptual method of underground mining of coal. The system solves the three factors which limit coal from being mined continuously. Camoy's principal features are improved productivity and increased recovery. A conservative retreat production rate of 2 1/2 times normal continuous miner room-and-pillar mining rates are projected for a 6-7' seam. Overall mine productivity will be 2 times normal, with a potential for considerably higher rates. Major incremental production increases can be achieved by partial implementation of the system. Total mine recoveries of 75% are expected. The system includes both advance and retreat mining. The retreat half of the approach encompasses many of the features of short wall mining. A central panel is prepared for retreat mining by driving entries using room-and-pillar mining to the left and right of it. The room-and-pillar mining encompasses the advance features of Camoy. In the retreat phase, the roof of the face is supported by self advancing chocks or shields. All mining is done under the chocks by a continuous miner. As the miner advances the chocks continuously move forward behind it. Thus, as in a typical short wall system, continuous roof support is attained. Ventilation is unidirectional, another characteristic of short-wall type systems. Fresh air is brought in and passed over the working personnel. It moves to the face where the continuous miner is operating, picks up the generated dust and released methane, and is exhausted away from all personnel. Exposure to respirable dust and ignition hazards due to methane build-ups are almost totally eliminated. Thus, the second limiting factor is overcome and continuous ventilation is attained. Coal mined with the continuous miner is passed to a surge car and then to a Serpentix conveyor. The Serpentix, a Peabody invention, is a flexible conveyor capable of going around corners.