Faculty Publications
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Item An Enhanced IoT and LoRa-Based Communication System for Underground Mines(Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2023) Kumar Reddy, S.K.; Naik, A.S.The mining industry is well known for valuable minerals all over the world and the way to get minerals is by mining below the surface. Real-time monitoring of environmental parameters from underground mines is a very complex task to ensure safety. Accidents in the underground area are due to hazardous toxic gas spread beyond the threshold limit value at excavations. These mine gases are a threat to both mine workers’ health and the mine environment and are also very hard for miners to detect. Automation in the mining industry reduces hazardous accidents while improving efficiency and productivity. Adopting the Internet of Things (IoT) with Long Range (LoRa) wireless communication technology to build a robust long-range wireless communication system to monitor environmental parameters and hazardous events. To ensure a safe mine environment for mineworkers at the mine site, Artificial Intelligence techniques are an add-on to automation systems to build predictive modeling for an intelligent early warning alert system. However, current solutions are limited to monitoring, low computing power and processing capability, battery lifetime, suitable at the laboratory level, or reports events in a few cases. The proposed system is comprised of the IoT-based sensor modules, communication protocols, Long-Range (LoRa), and machine learning technologies to establish safe, reliable communication from the underground mine to the surface area. A reliable, robust, and cost-effective communication system should be required that monitors environmental parameters and predicts reports of unusual events by adopting new technology. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.Item Induced stresses in blasting gallery panel during depillaring based on field instrumentation(CAFET INNOVA Technical Society cafetinnova@gmail.com 1-2-18/103, Mohini Mansion, Gagan Mahal Road, Domalguda, Hyderabad 500029, 2012) Kumar Reddy, S.; Sastry, V.R.Selection of a suitable mining method for economical and safe underground extraction of a thick coal seam is an extremely delicate process and brings a number of geo-technical parameters into consideration. In fact, single lift working of full thickness of a thick coal seam has always a verge over the multi slice working due to favorable economics and high production and productivity. Charbonnage de France (CdF) proposed Blasting Gallery (BG) for extraction of virgin thick seams as well as developed pillars in thick seams in single lift. The method was very successful resulting in 85% of extraction with high productivity. But, this method experienced strata control problems during final extraction. Due to strata problems, the method was not successful at East Katras Colliery where overriding of the pillars occurred in one panel. Two BG panels (BG 2/2 and BG 1/10 panels) at GDK No. 8 Incline, Singareni Collieries Company Ltd. (SCCL) were also closed prematurely due to strata problems. In this paper, strata monitoring data of stress cells in pillars of a blasting gallery panel is analyzed for the induced stresses in a Blasting Gallery panel during depillaring in specific geo-mining and working conditions of a underground mine in Southern part of India. © 2012 CAFET-INNOVA TECHNICAL SOCIETY.Item Gallery monitoring in blasting gallery panel during depillaring - A case study(2013) Kumar Reddy, S.; Sastry, V.R.About 50% of coal reserves in India are in seams thicker than 4.5m, which come under the category of thick seams, the exploitation of which is consistently posing challenges to the mining engineers. Extraction of thick seams by conventional hand section method is neither productive nor effective from the conservation point of view. The percentage of extraction by hand section mining in thick seams is as low as 25-30%. Sand stowing for working of thick seams cannot be considered as an option because the cost is prohibitive. Sand has become an increasingly scarce commodity along with timber. Blasting gallery (BG) method of depillaring thick coal seam is one of the productive methods with high production, productivity, economic and conservation. In this method, stability of workings and easily cavability of goaf is very important for safely extraction of pillars, safety of men and machinery. In this paper, strata monitoring data of load cells in galleries of a blasting gallery panel, where spoiling in pillars, instability of galleries and displacement of supports are monitored and analyzed during depillaring in specific geo-mining and working conditions of a underground mine in southern part of India.Item Reliability, availability and maintainability (RAM) investigation of Load Haul Dumpers (LHDs): a case study(Springer, 2022) Balaraju, B.; Raj, G.R.; Murthy, S.M.Load Haul Dumpers (LHDs) are prominent equipment employed for transportation operations in many of the underground mines. This equipment often suffers from frequent breakdowns due to a variety of technical and managerial practices resulting in increased maintenance costs and loss of production and productivity. Reliability, Availability and Maintainability (RAM) analysis deal with the optimal functioning of equipment, maintenance scheduling, controlling cost, and improvement of availability and performance. Keeping this in view, the current study focused on the estimation of the performance of the equipment using RAM investigation. The required failure and repair data of LHDs were collected from field investigations. Graphical analyses using Trend and serial correlation tests and analytical analysis using Statistic-U test were conducted to validate the Independent and Identical Distribution (IID) nature of the data sets. Based on the above tests, the Renewal Process was adopted to carry out the RAM analysis. The best-fit approximation of datasets was selected by performing the Kolmogorov–Smirnov (K–S) test. In addition to that, the reliability-based Preventive Maintenance time intervals were estimated to improve the percentage of reliability. © 2021, The Society for Reliability Engineering, Quality and Operations Management (SREQOM), India and The Division of Operation and Maintenance, Lulea University of Technology, Sweden.Item Maximum Aerobic Capacity and Relative Aerobic Strain among Mobile Mine Equipment Operators in Underground Mines(Springer, 2023) Sridhar, S.; Raj, M.G.; Mangalpady, M.The maximum aerobic capacity and relative aerobic strain could be employed as indicators to establish a balance between work and individuals. Unfortunately, information about the physiological demands of mobile mine equipment operators working in underground mines is nearly nonexistent. The present research aimed to determine the maximum aerobic capacity and relative aerobic strain of the mobile mine equipment operators and assess their relationship with their age and body mass index. Forty operators involved in transporting ore, overburden, mine personnel, explosives, repair material, etc., were examined. The maximum aerobic capacity was determined indirectly using the heart rate of the operators. The mean aerobic capacity of the operators was 38.75 mL/kg/min, and the lowest mean aerobic capacity was found in LHD operators, 37.98 ± 3.93 mL/kg/min. The maximum aerobic capacity was negatively correlated with age and body mass index. Eleven out of 40 operators had relative aerobic strain exceeding 50% of the maximum aerobic capacity. The mean relative aerobic strain was 46.9 ± 5.54, and the highest mean relative aerobic strain of 49.37 ± 5.55 was found among LHD operators. The relative aerobic strain had a positive correlation with age and BMI. Knowing the operators’ maximal capacities while executing their tasks could be crucial in assessing the physiological demands of individuals working in underground mines in terms of acceptable work constraints. © 2022, The Institution of Engineers (India).Item Development of a Novel Real-Time Environmental Parameters Monitoring System Based on the Internet of Things with LoRa Modules in Underground Mines(Springer, 2023) Kumar Reddy, S.K.; Naik, A.S.; Raj, M.G.The mining industry relies on extracting valuable minerals through underground mining. Many industries have implemented automation to enhance workplace safety, optimize operations, improve responses to events, and achieve cost-effectiveness. A real-time communication and monitoring system is indispensable in underground mines to prevent significant hazards and improve safety in underground mines. However, the environmental conditions of underground mines are affected by toxic, flammable, combustible gases and dust. The harmful gases are a significant concern as they can cause gas explosions. Internet of Things (IoT) enabled real-time communication system with Long Range (LoRa) transceiver module is designed and developed to measure the underground mine environmental parameters, temperature, and humidity. The LoRa-based proof of concept (POC) system is tested and evaluated at the surface level and in two underground mines. The LoRa module radio waves range test is carried out to measure the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) value at the surface level. In addition, the developed system is tested and evaluated at different positions of underground mines to measure environmental parameters in straight and curved tunnels. The experimental results represent successful IoT with LoRa-based wireless communication between underground mine tunnels to the surface, wireless transmission of parameters at the straight tunnels, and curved tunnels of underground mines. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2024.Item RTEPMS: Real-Time Environmental Parameters Monitoring System Using IoT-Based LoRa 868-MHz Wireless Communication Technology in Underground Mines(Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2024) Naik, A.S.; Kumar Reddy, S.K.; Raj, M.G.In underground mining, the real-time monitoring of environmental parameters plays a pivotal role in ensuring the safety of mining operations and personnel. This article explores the integration of Long Range (LoRa) wireless communication technology and the Internet of Things (IoT) to bolster safety measures and prevent potential accidents within underground mines. The environmental parameters in underground mines include Oxygen (O2), Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Methane (CH4), Nitric Oxide (NO), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S), Ethylene Oxide (EO), Temperature and Humidity. Currently, underground mines in India use portable multi-gas detector devices to measure environmental parameters. HPD13A LoRa 868 MHz based Real Time Environmental Parameters Monitoring System (RTEPMS) is designed and developed to facilitate real-time data collection in underground mines. In addition, the developed RTEPMS system is tested and evaluated at the open surface level and in one of the underground mines in India. The experimental results represent successful LoRa-based wireless communication established in an underground mine with data acquisition and real-time processing. Major parameters exceeding threshold limits in the underground mine environment include O2, CO, CO2, NO2, and EO. The data correlation between LoRa-based RTEPMS and multi-gas detector devices is 69.47% for CO2 and 72.38% for CO, while the values for CH4 and H2S are nearly zero, indicating their presence in underground mines is almost negligible. The RTEPMS is an affordable solution for smaller and less affluent underground mines. It alerts mine workers if environmental parameters exceed threshold limits during emergencies. © 2013 IEEE.Item Development of a Reliable Wireless Communication System to Monitor Environmental Parameters from Various Positions of Underground Mines to the Surface using ZigBee Modules(Springer, 2024) Kumar Reddy, S.K.; Naik, A.S.; Raj, G.R.The mining industry is known for its valuable minerals, and the way to get minerals is by mining below the surface. Many industries benefitted by adopting automation which has improved workplace operational management, enhanced safety, real-time monitoring, and cost-effectiveness. On the basis of challenges in underground mines, a reliable wireless communication and monitoring system is required in underground mines to enhance safety and prevent major hazards. Underground mine environments are affected by various environmental parameters such as toxic gases, flammable and inflammable gases, and dust. The variation in the presence of harmful gases is a major issue that causes gas explosions and damages the mine infrastructure. Currently, most underground mines adopted conventional multi-gas detectors to monitor mine gases manually at regular intervals or once a day. In this paper, a real-time data communication system to monitor mining parameters based on wireless ZigBee modules is established and evaluated in two different underground mines in India. A wireless message communication establishment process between two ZigBee modules is described in detail, and an investigation of radio range tests by measuring received signal strength indication (RSSI) parameters is carried out in the first underground mine site at level 3 with consideration of 10-m intervals apart at each test for the straight tunnel case. In addition, wireless communication is established to monitor the environmental parameters of underground mine levels to the surface. Further, established wireless communication to monitor the environmental parameters of the straight and curved tunnels of a second underground mine. The experimental result represents successful wireless communication between ZigBee modules with a distance of 100 m to 120 m in straight tunnels and a reduction in signal strength and data packet loss in curved tunnels of underground mines. In addition, the results show that the developed ZigBee-based system is suitable for measuring environmental parameters in open surface and underground mines. © The Institution of Engineers (India) 2023.