The Relevance of the Rotational Speed of Roadheader Cutting Heads According to the Energy Consumption of the Cutting Process / Znaczenie prędkości obrotowej głowic urabiających kombajnu chodnikowego ze względu na energochłonność procesu urabiania

Abstract

The article presents the outcomes of extensive computer investigations the purpose of which was to identify the impact of cutting heads’ rotational speed on the load applied on the cutting heads drive as well as on the efficiency and energy consumption of the cutting process. The investigations were performed based on a simulation of the rock cutting process within a wide range of rocks’ compressive strength with a roadheader transverse head equipped with 80 conical picks. Variations were taken into consideration in the rotational speed of the cutting heads and variations in the factors connected with the properties of the drives driving the cutting heads on the load condition of the cutting system and on the energy consumption of the cutting process. The computer simulations carried out indicate that a reduction is possible in the energy consumption of cutting the rocks with low workability by decreasing the cutting heads’ rotational speed thus preventing also the excessive load on the cutting heads drive. Possibilities are presented along with a concept of the heads‘ automatic speed adjustment according to the power utilised in the cutting process.