Ventilation system design for a thin-seam mining panel
The extraction of coal from thin-seams is an important component of the future of coal mining in the commonwealth of Virginia. For thin-seam mining systems to be successful they must be able to provide production comparable to the current production methods in thicker seams. This necessitates the extensive use of remote mining technology. Regardless of the level of automation of the remote systems, efficient ventilation remains of paramount importance. This paper investigates several thin-seam mine panel schemes and possible variations in the ventilation systems. The primary approach made, however, is one of a pair of parallel panels mined simultaneously. A pair of face belts feed coal onto a common district belt. Ventilation is affected by means of a flow-through system. A cut of air is made to ventilate the mining machine and face. The face air is returned to the exhaust stream from the district. Problems associated with face ventilation in an extended remote cut are addressed and possible solutions presented. At the district level, ventilation considerations are addressed concerning the use of bleeder and bleederless schemes. Some special mention is made related to the potential application of backfilling the thin-seam entries following mining.
- Research Organization:
- Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ., Blacksburg, VA (US)
- OSTI ID:
- 20020936
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 8th US Mine Ventilation Symposium, Rolla, MO (US), 06/11/1999--06/17/1999; Other Information: PBD: 1999; Related Information: In: Proceedings of the 8th US mine ventilation symposium, by Tien, J.C. [ed.], 740 pages.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Design and evaluation of a coal mine entry system for longwall top slicing of thick coal seams. Final report. Volume II
Mine entry system: longwall top slicing of thick coal seams. Design and evaluation. Final report. Volume 1