Abstract: The common faults of scraper conveyor chains and its causes were analyzed. The calculation process of chain tension of scraper conveyor was expounded. The principles and characteristics of five main chain tension monitoring technologies at home and abroad were introduced, namely monitoring technology based on relationship between tension force and power or cylinder pressure, based on chain suspension, based on micro—strain, based on sliding mode control, and based on current method. The shortcomings of existing monitoring technologies were summarized, and the development direction of chain tension monitoring technologies was prospected from tension monitoring and automatic control technologies.