Jeff digs it
A huge improvement in coal mining dragline efficiency has won Queensland inventor Jeff Rowlands a major award.
Dr Jeff Rowlands (pictured) from UDDTek Pty Ltd in Brisbane has won one of the six Clunies Ross Awards for 2004 for his development of the Universal Dig and Dump Dragline (UDD).
The UDD uses a new way to suspend the dragline bucket and a computer-assisted method of controlling it, resulting in more earth going into the bucket and the bucket being lifted as soon as it is full.
Jeff describes the UDD as the biggest single increase in open-cut mining productivity since bulk explosives.
"Over the past 100 years, increases in coal mining efficiency have been in minor increments but the UDD delivers at least a 20 per cent increase in productivity.
"When you consider that the average dragline in Queensland uncovers about $75 million worth of coal a year, that is a big increase."
The UDD was developed at the Cooperative Research Centre for Mining Technology and Equipment (CMTE) at Pinjarra Hills with support from BHP Billiton-Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA), Anglo Coal and Rio Tinto Coal. UDDTek Pty Ltd was formed to commercialise the technology and provide the necessary technical services.
Three BMA draglines in Queensland have already been retrofitted with the fourth ready for upgrade in July.
"With BMA having another 29 draglines in Queensland and Anglo Coal and Rio Tinto controlling another 100 of the world's 350 draglines, we plan to be very busy for a long time," Jeff said. "Of the $7 million retrofit cost, around $6 million stays in Australia with up to 150 jobs created during each retrofit."
Jeff Rowlands is a fourth-generation coal miner. His father was Professor of Mining Engineering at the University of Queensland while his grandfather and great-grandfather were underground miners in Wales.
Presented by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, the Clunies Ross Awards recognise people who have devoted themselves to applying science and developing technology to create new business, advance industry and solve community problems.
Email: j.rowlands@uddtek.com
Information: www.cluniesross.org.au/cr2004/index_04.htm