The paper discusses the results of a study carried out to determine the thermal condition of a conveyor power unit using a thermal imaging camera. The tests covered conveyors in the main haulage system carrying coal from a longwall. The measurements were taken with a thermal imaging diagnostic method which measures infrared radiation emitted by an object. This technology provides a means of assessing the imminence and severity of a possible failure or damage. The method is a non-contact measuring technique and offers great advantages in an underground mine. The thermograms were analysed by comparing the temperature distribution. An analysis of the operating time of the conveyors was also carried out and the causes of the thermal condition were determined. The main purpose of the research was to detect changes in thermal state during the operation of a belt conveyor that could indicate failure and permit early maintenance and eliminate the chance of a fire. The article also discusses the construction and principle of operation of a thermal imaging camera. The findings obtained from the research analysis on determining the thermal condition of the conveyor drive unit are a valuable source of information for the mine’s maintenance service.

The paper presents preliminary research conducted to determine the thermal condition of the main belt conveyor transporting coal from the longwall. The results show the thermal condition of the conveyor and in the further stage are used to effectively diagnose possible causes of damage to the belt conveyor’s drive unit. The tests were performed on the conveyor whose operation is strategic to the mine. The research comprised a thermal imaging camera that allows taking contact-free measurements. The main purpose of a thermal imaging measurement is to detect changes in thermal conditions without the need to stop the conveyor belt. The paper presents the methodology and discusses the manner of performing underground measurements as well as a procedure for processing the results. The final conclusions concerning the technical condition of the drive unit were based on the results and their analysis.

Underground fires are phenomena that pose a possibly fatal threat to human life, and they are particulary dangerous in the environment of underground workings where the amount of space and number possible escape routes are limited. Therefore, it is important to carefully control changes in temperature and the condition of machinery and equipment used in mine in order to avoid critical situations. The most common cause of fires are defects in mechanical and electrical devices, in order to conduct an analysis of their condition thermal imaging is perfectly suitable. In this article approximed a problem of underground fires, thermal imaging diagnostic method, temperature measurements taken in the KWK ROW Ruch Chwałowice in Rybnik, made an analysis of publicly available data from the KGHM mines and methods of combating the factors leading to the fire emergency been proposed.

A brief description of the program of Industry 4.0 and the impact it has on the economy and its development provided by the students show how the young generation sees the concept–a reality they themselves will soon be engage in as workers. The paper discusses the principles of Industry 4.0 and what they mean to Polish economy. The authors developed a survey and conducted it among students of the Wrocław University of Technology, Faculty of Geoengineering, Mining and Geology, and engineers from the Polska Grupa Górnicza S.A. KWK ROW Ruch Chwałowice. The survey was of an informative nature. It covered a group of underground workers holding different positions including miners, electricians or mechanical fitters. The respondents are employed to carry on various tasks related to operation and maintenance of mining machinery and devices. The questionnaire consists of 15 questions. They were arranged in such a way that the participants could respond in an efficient and quick way. Additionally, the questionnaire contained information about the seniority of a given employee, education and age. The results of the survey demonstrate how employees understand technological change. They can be helpful in implementing the development and implementation of new technologies.

The interaction between surrounding liquids and optical fibers with protective coatings immersed in them is investigated in this paper. The research aims to determine whether, and to what extent, the liquid impacts the properties of the fiber coatings. Using long-term spectral shift monitoring by Rayleigh backscattering optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR), the study examines how different coatings behave when exposed to different liquids, including water, acetone, ethanol, and methanol. These findings provide valuable insight into selecting appropriate optical fiber coatings, which could be used as sensors in various fluids. The results led to the determination of the stabilization period, after which the influence of the liquid on the coating - indirectly on the fiber - stabilizes, providing accurate and reliable measurements by Rayleigh-based OFDR. Spectral shifts in used fibers immersed in different liquids were observed at room temperature. Consequently, the strain effects (either compression or elongation), which originated from the interactions between the coating and the liquid, were thoroughly analyzed. The findings of this study are important for proper undisturbed measurement by Rayleigh-based OFDR when designing fiber sensor setups that work in different fluids.