Moore, Michael (2023) The Design of a System for the Removal of Underground Air Conditioning Units. [USQ Project]
![[img]](https://sear.unisq.edu.au/style/images/fileicons/text.png) |
Text (Project – redacted)
Moore_M_Goh_Redacted.pdf Download (5MB) |
Abstract
A design methodology for a system to remove and replace industrial air conditioning units in the underground coal mining environment is presented. Traditionally this task was completed with a method that had the potential to place coal mine workers at an unacceptable level of risk, which necessitated the design and implementation of a new method.
A number of concepts where evaluated which ultimately led to the decision to proceed with the detailed design of an interchangeable attachment used on an underground certified skid steer loader. The relevant Australian Standards were identified and used to guide the author toward appropriate design choices. Structural steel of differing grades was identified as most appropriate to use for the fabrication of system, with other standards also used to guide design choices such as the necessary welding techniques, the geometry with which the attachment point subsystem was designed, allowable stresses and recommended maximum deflection of the system.
Two load cases were identified that the system would be subjected to. The most severe load case was used to determine the required geometry and materials with which the primary support members would be fabricated. These members were designed as non-prismatic beams of constant strength due the necessity of mass reduction as the stability of the skid steer loader was identified as a significant design constraint. A rigorous mathematical description of the behaviour of these members is given, which is successfully verified by a finite element analysis.
Several finite element analyses were also conducted to ensure the von Mises stress and the maximum deflection defined in the relevant standards were not exceeded. The load factor and allowable stress factors given in the Australian Standards were used to determine a theoretical factor of safety, which was confirmed by the finite element analysis to be approximately 2.4 which agrees with published design papers and textbooks for this type of mechanical system.
A number of external engineering consultants were engaged for the fabrication of the system. The decision to proceed with one of these vendors was granted, with which the author is currently collaborating. The fabrication and testing that forms part of the certification is part of the ongoing further work that is required to have the system implemented on site.
|
Statistics for this ePrint Item |
| Item Type: | USQ Project |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Current – Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Engineering (1 Jan 2022 -) |
| Supervisors: | Goh, Steven |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Mechanical) |
| Date Deposited: | 30 Sep 2025 04:03 |
| Last Modified: | 30 Sep 2025 04:03 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | coal mining; air conditioning; removal |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52976 |
Actions (login required)
 |
Archive Repository Staff Only |
