Dry-feed spray system for coal mine sealants
The two-channel nozzle of this spray discharges two separate flows, a mixture of air and dry sealant from a central cylinder, and an encircling spray of water from a concentrically mounted water ring (a ring-shaped manifold). Downstream of the nozzle, the water mixes with the air and sealant to form a wet sealant spray that adheres to mine surfaces with very little rebound. Extensively modified commercial spray machines are used to feed the sealant to the spray nozzle smoothly, without raising dust. Plugging of the nozzle is practically eliminated by two self-cleaning design features of the nozzle. This spraying system was developed by the Bureau of Mines Spokane Mining Research Center in cooperation with Unisul Inc. The Bureau's experiments began with testing and modifying commercially available equipment and sealants. More than 52 sealant mixtures, several nozzle configurations and different sizes of mineral wool nodules were tested. The system is now being used experimentally by the Westmoreland Coal Company in their Eccles No. 6 Mine near Beckley, West Virginia. Demonstrations of the spray system were also given to mining industry representatives this year by personnel of the Spokane Mining Research Center. Similar spraying machines are now commercially available from Unisul Inc. of Winterhaven, Florida.
- OSTI ID:
- 6157364
- Journal Information:
- Bur. Mines Technol. News; (United States), Vol. 62
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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