Place Panel

The Place Panel function requires a panel perimeter drawn in the PERIM layer. If you draw the panel with Advanced Projections in the Basic Mining Module and use the option to draw the pillars, the program will automatically calculate the extraction ratio (as shown in the example panel on the left). The extraction ratio can be entered into the Edit Section dialog box, if you start with the perimeter only drawn in the PERIM layer (as shown in the example panel outline on the right).

The underground timing routine operates with a tree-like structure of the panels built using a centerlines network. The new panel may be added or an existing panel (i.e. created using Advanced Projections) may be attached to the existing network of centerlines using this function.

Each panel may consist of a number of sections, where each section is characterized by the uniformity in the section attributes such as owner, coal thickness and qualities, complexity of mining, extraction ratio, azimuth and length. Therefore each panel is represented by a centerline and a set of panel perimeter polylines, one for every section.

Due to the tree-like structure of the Mine Plan, each new panel should branch from the existing panel. This allows for proper timing calculations and data management. The user is prompted for the starting point and direction of each section, with dimensions dependent on the existing perimeter polyline or on user input.

If an existing polyline is used to define the panel, the program evaluates the section length by intersecting the centerline with this polyline. Otherwise the sizes of the section are defined in the Edit Section Dialog. The appearance of the dialog depends on the way the section is defined. Both kinds of dialogs are shown here.


Dialog for pre-drawn panel	Dialog for panel defined on the fly

User has a number of options to define a direction of the panel. The following methods are available:

Perim: The direction of panel is defined by the direction of the first segment of polyline.

Text: Direction is from "branch off" point to insertion point of the text found inside the panel. The text must be in PANELNM layer and it defines panel name.

Pick: Direction of the panel is from "branch off" point to pick point.

Segment: Direction is defined by user-picked segment of the panel polyline.

Panel name: Identifies the panel for Underground Timing.

Difficulty factor: Represents the effectiveness of the mining equipment within the section. Values above 1.0 will cause a proportional slowdown of the production and below 1.0 will speed it up. This value may be specified using difficulty factor grid file by selecting file with Select File button or typing it in instead of the actual value. The run-time difficulty factor will then be evaluated for corresponding area.

Precedence: Defines whether development of the section may not start until all listed sections are completed. Precedence is especially important for the longwall sections, since production there is not possible until all headings are completely developed. The listbox shows panels which have to be developed before the section being edited. Since some sections may be defined after the current section, it is advisable to edit precedence later with Edit Panel function. The precedence can be set by either picking from the list, or screen picking.

Panel start: Defines fixed start date of the development. This field is optional and is ignored if the actual starting date is later than date specified.

To define attributes for this panel section (such as THICKNESS, DENSITY and etc. as explained in Define Panel Attributes function) select Prompt for coal qualities toggle.

In the case of using an existing perimeter, the extra unknown is Extraction Ratio, whereas in the other case the dimensions of the section and entry/crosscut spacings need to be defined. The extraction ratio will default to value calculated using pre-drawn pillars and panel perimeter.

The Entry Width for predefined panel is only used if the section is mined by the piece of equipment with the linear feet of advance production rate specification.

Retreat Extraction: Defined as ratio of area of all coal extracted on retreat to the area of whole panel. Therefore if extra side coal is picked up on retreat this value combined with advance extraction ratio, exceeds 1.0. To simplify estimation Prompt for retreat options may be used to calculate the retreat extraction for given the extraction polyline.

Retreat Difficulty Factor: Similar to Difficulty Factor except it applies on the retreat stage.

Users who are creating an extensive mine plan, may prefer to use a streamlined Quick-Place mode to create layout and later on use Edit Panel Dimensions to modify panel properties.

Prompts

Use Quick-Place mode (Yes/<No>)? press Enter
Start new Mine Plan (Yes/<No>)? press Enter Choose Yes to start Mine Plan.
Select an entry to branch from: pick the panel to branch from at desired location
Enter the azimuth for the segment:
Select a panel polyline or press Enter for dialog:
Edit Section Dialog
Enter the azimuth for the segment:
Select a panel polyline or press Enter for dialog:
Edit Section Dialog

Pulldown Menu Location: AdvMine
Keyboard Command: place_panel