Introduction

Abstract

One of the cheapest methods of generating energy by burning lignite. This type of coal is mined in open-pit mines, first by excavating a layer of overburden and then the coal itself. Once the layer of coal deposit is uncovered, the overburden and lignite are excavated simultaneously by special machines. The process of excavating overburden uses bucket wheel excavators, mobile conveyors, conveyors and spreaders. The same machines are used for excavating lignite, but the coal is transported by belt conveyors to a stockpile at the power plant, where stacker-reclaimers are used. The deepest layers of coal are excavated by bucket-chain excavators. The first chapter of the book provides a general overview of the machines working in the lignite mines. Detailed information about the excavation and reclamation process and related problems is presented in the following chapters.