Selected projects
JSW Group was implementing a total of 46 R+D+I projects in 2021. Presented below is a summary of the more important work and projects conducted in various areas of activity which are part of the R+D+I segment:
| PROJECT NAME | EXECUTING ENTITY | PROJECT DESCRIPTION | TARGET GROUP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Optimisation of support systems for headings at JSW S.A. | JSW S.A. | A research and development project implemented from 2019 in JSW's mines as part of the "Efficiency" program to improve the stability of corridor workings, increase their operational life and reduce the costs associated with rebuilding workings. Improved lining systems have been designed at KWK Pniówek, KWK Budryk and at Ruch Szczygłowice, which, based on data from the installed measurement tools, allow for, inter alia, thinning of the lining, the use of inter-door bolting and the use of mechanical lining to increase the effectiveness of support lining. The project also makes it possible to assess the potential for reducing mining costs, as well as pilot implementation and monitoring of recommended solutions in selected excavations. | JSW S.A. |
| Construction of explosive materials storage site | JSW Innowacje S.A. JSW S.A. |
As a result of the project, the first depot for class 3 explosives was designed and built on the surface of the mine, with the deployment of additional designed and tested safety measures. The project made it possible to place the depot in close proximity to other facilities located within the Budryk mine. Thus far, depots for explosives were built underground at each of the mining levels, which generated high construction costs and the necessity to build a separate ventilation system. The overall solution will optimise technical and logistical processes related to blasting agent management in hard coal mines. | JSW S.A. |
| COKE-2-H2 - Technology for separating hydrogen from coke oven gas | JSW KOKS S.A. – JSW S.A. JSW Innowacje S.A. |
The goal of this project is to develop and test a technology for separating high-purity hydrogen (meeting standards for hydrogen application in electromobility) from coke-oven gas at the Przyjaźń coking plant. Coke oven gas obtained during coke production contains approx. 55% hydrogen, which after separation and removal of impurities to the assumed level, can be used, among others, as hydrogen fuel for zero-emission vehicles. Since coke-oven gas is a by-product, achieving the project's objective on an industrial scale will make it possible to produce hydrogen at a lower cost than competing production technologies. The project was divided into two phases: research and pilot. Phase I (research) assumes modernisation and adaptation of the existing Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) unit for gas separation, including hydrogen production, owned by the Central Mining Institute (GIG), and its adaptation to the conditions and specifics of the Przyjaźń coking plant (hydrogen production at a scale of 0.5 kg H2/h). The main aim of this phase is to confirm, on the basis of research and analysis, the possibility of producing hydrogen of the highest possible quality from coke oven gas available at JSW Group. Phase II of the project (pilot) assumes construction of the installation on the scale of 6 kg H2/h and its optimisation. This installation will be industrially scalable and will also enable the start-up and implementation of small-scale hydrogen production for electromobility in the Upper Silesian and Zagłębie Metropolitan Area region. |
JSW KOKS S.A. and local governments and organisational units managing public transport |
| System for automatic acquisition and analysis of spatial data to automate the process of inventory, modelling and calculation of volumes of mineral deposits in quasi-real time (acronym: AutoInvent) | JSW Innowacje S.A. | The main goal of the AutoInvent project is to create an automatic, multi-sensor unmanned aerial system. The most important task of the system is to automate the process of cyclical inventory measurements. It uses a fusion of innovative measurement technologies: 3D laser scanning and low-altitude photogrammetry, and the integration of two methods of precise positioning: GNSS satellite measurements supported by network RTN corrections and precise TPS laser measurements. The use of data fusion and low altitude laser scanning and photogrammetry technologies allows for a significant increase in data accuracy while reducing the time required for field work. | JSW S.A. |
| Technology for producing a densified mix component for a backfill system for coking chambers using fine coal fractions (acronym: DensiCoal) | Consortium: JSW Innowacje S.A. JSW S.A. JSW KOKS S.A. |
The objective of the project was to develop a technology for producing a component of coke oven charge by densification of coal mixtures containing fine grain fractions. The key subcontractor for part of the research work is IChPW in Zabrze. The main research work was carried out on laboratory, large-laboratory, pilot and industrial scales. Based on the evaluation of the impact of specific variables (such as composition and properties of the mixture being densified, techniques and parameters of densification, share of densified component in coking feedstock) on the quality of the densified product and the coke produced on its basis, assumptions for a pilot installation using DensiCoal technology were developed. Implementation of the DensiCoal technology at Przyjaźń coking plant is envisaged. The implementation should result in an increase in the use of excavated fine grain fractions in the coking industry and a simultaneous decrease in the amount of fine grain fractions deposited in the environment. | JSW KOKS S.A. |
| Improving work safety and communication for small work teams using a networked VR environment (acronym: SENSE VR) | Consortium: JSW Innowacje S.A. JSW Szkolenie i Górnictwo Sp. z o.o. |
The aim of SENSE VR is to develop a training method for miners based on the use of an adaptive VR network environment. Adaptability will consist in the possibility of adapting the ways of conveying knowledge and practising skills to the trainee's level of competence, understood as the ability to fluently operate the VR environment. Implementing the method will lead to more effective training and an increase in the level of occupational safety in mines (i.e. a reduction in the number of accidents caused by the human factor). As part of industrial research, the consortium will develop the following component methods: 1. for preparing branching VR scenarios based on mining accident reports, As part of development work, the consortium will prepare a demo of an adaptive VR environment for miners, including branching training scenarios. The outcomes of the SENSE VR project will be as follows: 1. in the technological area - a VR environment demonstrator with instrumentation at technology readiness level VIII, produced on the basis of the developed component methods; The method for the design, preparation and delivery of VR training for miners will be intended in particular for small work teams operating in health- or life-threatening, stressful conditions (e.g. performing particularly hazardous work). The method will also potentially be implemented in other heavy and/or mining industries. |
JSW Szkolenie i Górnictwo Sp. z o.o. |
| Innovative high-performance power supply system for machinery and equipment to improve safety in underground workings - HEET II | Consortium: JSW Innowacje S.A., Komag, | The aim of the HEET II project is to improve miners' working standards and energy safety in mines, as well as in other industries and public services. The four main issues implemented in the project (single wire power transmission, wireless power transmission, monitoring, management and communication, integrated composite monorail route) certainly provide an innovative solution for a highly efficient and safe power transmission system. | JSW S.A. |
| Technology for producing coal feedstock with increased mechanical strength for stamping system coking battery - ImproStamp | Consortium: JSW Innowacje S.A. JSW KOKS S.A. ICHPW in Zabrze |
This project is intended to develop technology for producing stamped coal feedstock with greater mechanical strength than those currently being produced, which will lead to a 60% reduction in the loss of coal feedstock during placement in chambers. Improving the strength of feedstock will be achieved by introducing a chemical additive that has an impact on the strength of intermolecular interactions and thus on the process of grain re-organisation during the stamping operation and the mechanical strength of stamped feedstock. The project includes industrial research (4 stages, laboratory scale) and development work (5 stages, demonstration scale). Industrial works will involve research on the impact of chemical additives on the density and mechanical strength of stamped feedstock and the quality of coke produced using it. The outcome will lead to additives being selected for use in development works and the development of guidelines and a concept for the construction of a demonstrator installation for this technology. Development works will be performed at the Radlin coking plant, which has a battery with a stamping system. The work will be connected with construction of a demonstration installation for technology implementation. Development works will consist of conducting validation and optimisation tests for the production of stamped feedstock and the quality of coke obtained. The target group for the project's outcome will be coking facilities that have batteries with a stamping system, including one battery working at Koksownia Radlin and two batteries planned to be built at Koksownia Przyjaźń (JSW KOKS S.A.) |
JSW KOKS S.A. |
| DTM CORE data communication system | Hawk-e Sp. z o.o. | A data communication system for local airspace management enabling safe planning and conducting UAV flight operations. Allows real-time, single-site monitoring of air traffic below 150m AGL in a given area and coordination of activities between all its participants. Information on airspace occupancy and integration with the selected API gives managers of specific areas full situational awareness and tools for their control. The integration of local level data with a source of general level information on operators, flight opportunities in a given area completes the necessary functions concerning the U-Space environment and thus allows to automate the coordination of air traffic at the local level. | Geographical zone managers |
| Verification of the feasibility of nanofiltration under conditions of over-saturation with calcium sulphate and its controlled crystallisation | PGWiR S.A. | Investigation of the effect of nanofiltration parameters on the quality and cost of the water and salt obtained, and reduction of the energy consumption of the plant by using ultrafiltration systems, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, evaporation method, crystallisation and reduction of the amount of gypsum obtained. The results of the composition of the output water from the pilot plant will be used to calculate the energy consumption of the evaporative plant, the crystalliser, the water yield and salt. The results will also help to reduce the amount of waste in the salt production process. Thanks to this project, among others, JSW Group is striving to achieve the goal of a circular economy. | PGWiR S.A. |
| Standardisation of data and SCADA systems at JSW S.A. | JSW IT Systems | As part of the project, further modules of proprietary SCADA class system called HADES are being built. The system is based on Asix.Evo platform by Ascom. The system has been installed in all JSW S.A. plants. | JSW employees responsible for individual technology areas and management staff at various levels |
| Expansion of CZAD with new data sources | JSW IT Systems IGSMiE PAN |
The walkway working reports contain a unique set of analyses and reports allowing for cyclical evaluation and comparison of walkway work. For the purpose of the reports, mechanisms were put in place to acquire process data from machines and equipment and link this data with data from business systems. | JSW's management staff in mining facilities and the management board office |
| Research and development work to design innovative method for profiling solid fuels | Centralne Laboratorium Pomiarowo-Badawcze Sp. z o.o. |
Development of an innovative method for characterising solid fuels (hard coking coals). The research and development work will enable the development of solutions introducing a new quality of technological processes in the aspect of ensuring appropriate parameters of coke, including in particular the safety of coking batteries and effective management of raw materials and repairs in industrial plants. | The target customer group includes coking coal producers and firms involved in converting it to coke. A classificator for hard coking coals will be developed as part of the project, along with methodology for measuring changes in the volume of feedstock mixtures. |
| Rescue conveyor | JZR Sp. z o.o. | Construction of a composite scraper conveyor for rescue work to enable rescue teams to carry out rescues more efficiently. | JSW S.A. and other underground mines |
| Roadheader | JZR Sp. z o.o. | Construction of a roadheader of the KCHJZR-90 type, making it possible to expand the company's product range by adding a mining machine to the haulage complex. | JSW S.A. and other underground mines |
| Slings for monorails | JZR Sp. z o.o. | Production of a new type of slings for suspended railways, enabling the company to expand its product range. | JSW S.A. and other underground mines |
| Composites | JSW Innowacje S.A. JSW S.A. |
Verification of the possibility of implementing composite materials in JSW S.A.'s mining plants, using the example of, among others, mining racks. | JSW S.A. |
| Settling tanks -- Circular economy |
JSW Innowacje S.A. JSW S.A. |
Investigation of the possibility of utilising fine coal fractions from the surface settling ponds of the Knurów-Szczygłowice coal mine for the production of useful commercial materials. | JSW S.A. |
| Water Treatment | JSW Innowacje S.A. JSW S.A. |
Mine water management based on electrolysis - production of green hydrogen. | PGWiR S.A. |