Performance of distributed bagged stone dust barrier in combating coal-dust explosions
The Kloppersbos Research Facility of the CSIR's Division of Mining Technology has developed a new method of building stone dust barriers. The new barrier makes use of a previous concept of containing stone dust in a bag, but incorporates a new method of rupturing the bag. This was achieved by adapting the closing mechanism and by balancing the stone dust content with the void in the bag. The bagged barrier was extensively tested in the 200-m test gallery. During these tests, it became evident that these bags could be made to rupture and spread stone dust when subjected to smaller forces than those required for the most commonly used passive barrier, the Polish light barrier. To validate this, as well as to gain international acceptance of this new barrier, tests were conducted in the German experimental mine, DMT Tremonia, Dortmund. The barrier was evaluated against numerous methane-initiated coal-dust explosions. The paper describes the successful inhibition of coal-dust explosions at Kloppersbos and DMT tremonia. The barrier has been proven successfully for static pressures of 44 to 82 kpa, dynamic pressures of 12 to 36 kpa and for flame speeds as low as 23 m/s. This barrier is now accepted by the South African government and has been implemented in numerous South African collieries.
- Research Organization:
- CSIR-Miningtek Kloppersbos, Pretoria (ZA)
- OSTI ID:
- 20020982
- 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
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