China has put its first high-efficiency intelligent shearer for ultra-thin coal seams into operation, marking a major breakthrough in coal mining technology.
Source: Science and Technology Daily
China has put its first high-efficiency intelligent shearer for ultra-thin coal seams into operation, marking a major breakthrough in coal mining technology. Developed by the Shanghai Research Institute of China Coal Technology & Engineering Group (CCTEG), the new equipment is designed to tackle long-standing challenges in extracting thin coal seams, a key issue as the country shifts toward more complex mining operations.
Thin coal seams—those measuring less than 1.5 meters—make up roughly 20% of China’s total coal reserves, or about 350 billion tons. However, their contribution to national coal output remains low, accounting for just 7% of total production. As easily accessible medium-to-thick seams dwindle, efficiently mining thin and ultra-thin coal seams has become a pressing industry priority.
Despite their abundance, ultra-thin coal seams are notoriously difficult to extract. Current technology struggles with precision, labor intensity is high, and uneven geological conditions make operations challenging. Take the Huangling Mining Area, operated by Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group: roughly half of its mineable reserves fall into the ultra-thin category (0.6–1.5 meters thick), yet many remain underutilized due to inefficient extraction methods.
“To solve this problem, we developed a suspended-body transmission system and a dual-cutting motor structure, enabling the shearer to maneuver in spaces as low as 0.78 meters,” said Wei Sheng, lead engineer on the project. The team also incorporated medium-voltage frequency conversion technology to make the machine more compact and agile, allowing it to navigate uneven, narrow tunnels with ease. Beyond hardware upgrades, the shearer is equipped with an inertial navigation system and an intelligent cutting algorithm, enabling it to map optimal cutting paths and operate with centimeter-level accuracy and millimeter-level precision.
With this new system, coal mines can now extract ultra-thin seams through an "unmanned operation with remote intervention" model, reducing human labor while improving efficiency. Wei noted that if widely adopted, the technology could unlock over 100 billion tons of coal reserves—effectively adding the equivalent of 10 large-scale coal mines to China's energy supply. The breakthrough is expected to play a crucial role in securing the country’s long-term energy needs while modernizing its coal mining sector.
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