Design of coal preparation plant′s networked automatic coal bunker level indication system

As the methods currently available for detection of coal level in bunker suffer from the drawbacks of being low in accuracy, poor in real-time performance and unable to execute network transmission, a frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) radar-based networked automatic system for monitoring coal level in bunker is developed. The system can convert the conventional industrial 485 serial signals into network signals through its signal conversion module, and realize network transmission of measured data using TCP/IP protocol. Real-time of data of all bunkers can display in centralized control room by using the CPU software written by Qt creator; issuing of alarm automatically when bunker is fully loaded or nearly or completely emptied; and making analysis and query of historical coal quality and coal level data. Field application of the system at Tunlan Coal Preparation Plant shows that the system can realize high-precision measurement of coal level in bunker and real-time transmission of measured data over a long distance. The development of the coal level monitor provides an intelligent decision-making support for realizing optimized operation of coal storage and handling systems of coal preparation plant.