Longwall dust control field tests

Technical Report · Thu Jun 14 04:00:00 EDT 1984

OSTI ID:6843406

Following are highlights of the observations and conclusions drawn from the certain field tests: The use of Kaiser's wing curtain significantly reduced the average air velocity around the face corner, particularly when the gob curtain was removed (Kaiser's existing procedure). The velocity reduction will result in a lessened tendency for headgate cutout dust to be blown directly into the walkway negatively impacting the operator's exposure. Dust will be more effectively channeled around the face corner and downstream past the shearer body. At shield No. 10, average air velocities were within 15 percent of each other over all four of the curtain configurations tested. This indicated that curtain usage had a minimal effect on airflow levels along the face for Kaiser's given condition of gob consolidation. The high air velocity (spot) readings occurring just downstream of the installed wing curtain were due to leakage through gaps in the curtain around the stageloader. The volume of leakage was not significant, but proved to be helpful in sweeping the downstream headgate region clean of contaminants and preventing recirculation. Kaiser's curtain system design has proven to be very rugged, practical and effective and would be suitable for use in many coal mines. Used in conjunction with the semipermanent stageloader curtain, the wing curtain can remain in position for nearly 30 to 40 feet of face advance before needing to be repositioned. The stageloader curtain itself could be mounted directly to the stageloader for automatic advance with headgate equipment. This would only be feasible if the headgate roof horizon was consistent. Kaiser currently hangs the curtain independently and repositions it as required.

• Research Organization: Foster-Miller, Inc., Waltham, MA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AI01-81FE00016
• OSTI ID: 6843406
• Report Number(s): DOE/FE/00016-T39; ON: DE84012952
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
012000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Mining
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
COAL MINING
CONTROL
DATA
DUSTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FIELD TESTS
INFORMATION
LONGWALL MINING
MINING
NUMERICAL DATA
POLLUTION CONTROL
SPRAYS
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
TESTING
UNDERGROUND MINING
VENTILATION BARRIERS