Two pump stations made in Germany supply a longwall project at around 500 metres depth

For a major longwall project in underground mining in India, KAMAT is supplying two pump stations: one for the emulsion supply of the longwall support, one for cooling and spraying. Both units are manufactured in Germany, and on-site commissioning is currently being prepared. At a depth of 500 metres, one thing matters above all: that the supply runs reliably and that equipment can be serviced quickly if needed. That is exactly what the stations are designed for.

India is opening up its mining sector underground

The order comes at a time when mining in India is changing. So far, the country has produced most of its coal in opencast operations. As the near-surface reserves decline, underground mining is gaining importance – and India is actively encouraging this shift, among other things with incentives for modern extraction technology such as longwall systems for longwall mining. A growing market is emerging for suppliers of high-pressure hydraulics. KAMAT brings experience there from high-performance longwalls in the USA, Australia and China, together with a broad range of pumps for mining.

Conditions the design has to match

The site sets clear requirements: around 500 metres depth, seam thickness between 2.7 and 3 metres, a longwall face 300 metres long. The planned annual output is 2.0 million tonnes. Under conditions like these, the equipment has to run reliably over long periods and be easy to service when required.

Both stations were designed and built for this specific project. They run on the high-pressure pumps from KAMAT, whose construction is aimed at long service intervals. One key feature is the one-piece forged stainless steel pump head with no coatings: what is not coated cannot flake off, so a typical starting point for leaks is removed. On top of that, the components are standardised across all KAMAT product series. This keeps the spare-parts inventory small and servicing manageable, even underground. In mining, that point often counts for more than the peak figure on a data sheet.

Bergbauzug low

Click to enlarge

The two stations at a glance

The emulsion pump station supplies the hydraulic longwall support:

  • Configuration: 3 × KAMAT HP pump K25050M1-3G
  • Flow rate: Q = 318 l/min (per pump)
  • Operating pressure: p = 340 bar
  • Drive power: P = 250 kW

The cooling and spraying station handles cooling and dust control at the face:

  • Configuration: 2 × KAMAT HP pump K45075M21-3G
  • Flow rate: Q = 816 l/min (per pump)
  • Operating pressure: p = 220 bar
  • Drive power: P = 350 kW

Support all the way into operation

For KAMAT, the work does not end with delivery. The technicians support installation and commissioning on site and train the customer’s personnel – together with the other partners in this international pilot project, which involves manufacturers from China, Germany, the Czech Republic and Poland. KAMAT is also on site during the first phase of operation, when, in our experience, most of the questions come up.

For KAMAT, the project is another step in a market that is now gaining momentum – and evidence that German high-pressure technology runs reliably even under the demanding conditions of underground mining in India.