As outlined in OPC 40560, OPC UA type definitions and data items contained in this OPC UA Companion Specification are based on the Use Cases developed for the Application Case Longwall Operation by a Specialist Working Group. The Use Cases of the Armoured Face Conveyor, within the context of underground longwall operation, are explained in detail in OPC 40569-1. Please refer to this document to gain an overview of longwall mining Use Cases for this machine as well as to study detailed descriptions of the Use Cases.

As a core feature, OPC UA offers the possibility to extend and complement type definitions. Therefore, the type definitions developed for the AFC only contain the minimum amount of data elements, such as variables and methods, necessary for the Use Cases described in OPC 40569-1. Manufacturers and mine operators are advised to extend the type definitions defined in this document, e.g. using inheritance, to adapt the type definitions to their individual requirements. This typically includes adding custom variables or alarms to type definitions derived from the ones specified in this document.

Thus, the scope of this document is to define the basic elements of data that are necessary for operation of the AFC and parameters of the AFC that are required by other longwall components as defined in OPC 40569-1. These include, for example:

State of the AFC (includes e.g. current run direction) 

Current load on the AFC in percent

A precise overview of the data contained in the OPC 40563-2 Information Model is given in Chapter 6.

The following information sources are excluded and may be added by manufacturers or mine operators using custom type definitions derived from the ones presented in this document:

Real-time sensor data (e.g. temperature, motor current) 

Tele-remote control signals (e.g. start, stop)

Alarms and events (e.g. current tripping alarm, temperature warning)

Custom state machines