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face haulage

mining
Also known as: section haulage

Quick Summary

Face haulage in mining refers to the initial stage of transporting mined coal from the active working faces to an intermediate haulage system. This is a critical part of underground coal mining efficiency, as face haulage systems must handle large, instantaneous production from cutting machines.1

In room-and-pillar systems, rubber-tired vehicles called shuttle cars are used for face haulage. In mechanized longwall systems, an armoured face conveyor (AFC) serves this purpose, also guiding the shearer. These systems are designed to manage surges and often discharge onto feeders or feeder-breakers to regulate material flow and break down large lumps.1

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