Frictional ignition of methane by continuous-mining machines in underground coal mines

Technical Report · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1979

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5720747· OSTI ID:5720747

Kawenski, E. M.; Price, G. C.; Stephan, C. R.

This report presents information on frictional methane ignitions associated with continuous miners. Data indicate a gradual increase in frictional methane ignitions over the 6-year period 1971 through 1976. Ninety percent of these ignitions are attributed to continuous-mining machines. Factors affecting such frictional ignitions are analyzed and recommendations are submitted for reducing their incidence: make proper use of diffuser fans, line curtains, check curtains, and ventilation tubing or combinations thereof; minimize obstructions to air flow such as coal piles and secondary loading behind continuous miners; minimize air leakage by proper construction and maintenance of ventilation controls; and utilize Venturi principle of water sprays to increase flow of air between face and continuous miner cutter head. The following additional safety measures may aid in preventing and/or quenching frictional ignitions: reduce speed of rotation of cutting heads; insure adequacy of water flow through spray heads to facilitate cooling of cutter bits; exercise caution with respect to possible methane liberations while mining through clay veins and taking roof or bottom rock; replace dull and broken cutter bits promptly; insure proper functioning, maintenance, and calibration of methane monitors; locate methane monitors as near as practicable to the front of the continuous mining machine; and fromote and encourage developments in technology leading to a system to detect and suppress methane ignitions caused by face-cutting equipment.

• Research Organization: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Pittsburgh, PA (USA). Pittsburgh Technical Support Center
• OSTI ID: 5720747
• Report Number(s): MSHA/IR-1110; ON: DE83902805
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
012000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Mining
016000 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Health & Safety
ALKANES
ANGULAR VELOCITY
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CLASSIFICATION
COAL MINERS
COAL MINING
CONTINUOUS MINERS
CUTTER LOADERS
CUTTING TOOLS
DATA
DETONATION LIMITS
DUSTS
EQUIPMENT
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FRICTION
HYDROCARBONS
IGNITION
INFORMATION
INJURIES
IRON COMPOUNDS
IRON SULFIDES
METHANE
MINERALS
MINERS
MINING
MINING EQUIPMENT
MONITORING
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
PERSONNEL
PYRITE
RECOMMENDATIONS
ROCKS
SPRAYS
SULFIDE MINERALS
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
TOOLS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
UNDERGROUND MINING
VELOCITY
VENTILATION
WEAR