"Previously, when conducting gas inspections underground, I had to carry equipment and check each point individually. Not only was it physically demanding, but records were also prone to errors. In complex scenarios, safety risks were high. Now, with this intelligent system, most of the work can be done by the equipment. We just need to monitor the data and handle any anomalies, which is both reassuring and reliable!" These words from Mr. Li, a ventilation team leader at a large coal mine in Shanxi, reflect the real experience of frontline coal mine workers.

With the official introduction of the 2025 version of the Coal Mine Safety Regulations, significant adjustments were made to the inspection requirements for harmful gases such as methane and carbon dioxide in coal mines. The new regulations not only reduce the frequency of manual inspections at mining faces but also specify that after nine types of locations are monitored by a safety monitoring system, manual inspections are no longer required. This adjustment marks the official entry of coal mine gas inspections into a new stage of "precise prevention and control, data-driven, and human-machine collaboration."

In response to these new regulations, China Coal Science & Technology Changzhou Research Institute independently developed the "Coal Mine Gas Minimalist Intelligent Inspection System." The system adopts a "fixed monitoring + mobile inspection" dual-architecture, deploying inspection equipment according to different underground scenarios, effectively addressing the three major pain points of the traditional inspection mode: "large number of gas inspectors, high workload, and reliance on manual data recording."

For the nine fixed monitoring points, the system deploys multi-parameter sensors or sensor clusters to monitor various parameters such as methane, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, oxygen, temperature, and humidity in real-time. The monitoring data is visualized on local electronic screens, replacing traditional manual inspection processes. Additionally, the system can be integrated with the safety monitoring system to automatically analyze gas outburst dynamics, shifting from "passive response" to "active prevention."

For more complex scenarios such as mining faces that require manual inspections, the system addresses this with a "portable methane multi-parameter detector + smart terminal + wireless low-power display screen" three-level detection link. After inspectors complete their checks at the inspection point, they can wirelessly transmit the detection data to the on-site display screen and then send it via 4G network to the gas intelligent management platform. This mechanism not only enables digital monitoring of manual inspection processes but also allows for the information management and comparative analysis of inspection data, further improving the efficiency and reliability of manual inspections.

Take a large coal mine in Shanxi as an example. Before the system was introduced, 40 gas inspectors were required per shift to handle nearly 600 inspection points, and a single manual inspection took over 7 hours, with the risk of missed checks. With the first phase of the system's implementation, the number of inspection points underground was reduced by 100. As the second phase progresses, both the number of inspection points and personnel will be further optimized and streamlined.

The application of this system has driven three key transformations in coal mine gas inspections: the inspection method has upgraded from "manual running" to "equipment measurement," significantly improving data real-time performance and accuracy; the recording method has shifted from "pen and paper" to "paperless," improving data accuracy and enhancing work efficiency; and the management model has transitioned from "relying on manpower" to "minimal human involvement and traceability," reducing safety risks and effectively controlling labor costs.

Currently, the intelligent inspection system is being implemented in multiple coal mines, not only significantly reducing the labor burden on frontline workers but also greatly improving the intelligence level of gas inspection work. In the future, China Coal Science & Technology Changzhou Research Institute will continue to optimize the solution, deepen its work in coal mine intelligent safety technologies, and support the coal mining industry’s shift towards intelligent and minimal human involvement, ensuring safe production in coal mines.