Mine demonstration of longwall dust control techniques: Final report

Technical Report · Fri Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988

OSTI ID:6965232

Pothini, B R

This report represents the results of in-mine demonstration of three dust control techniques for controlling respirable dust levels on shearer-longwall faces. The techniques were: water infusion, foam spray and reverse shearer drum rotation. The mines in which tests were conducted were in Upper Freeport seam and Pocahontas No. 3 seam. Both gravimetric samplers and GCA RAM-1 real time dust monitors were used for dust surveys. Dust control technology was reviewed, pertinent techniques were selected, equipment was procured and demonstrated as part of the program. The results indicated that water infusion can be readily implemented, foam spray holds promise, but requires more work to be done, and reverse drum rotations effective in select conditions. The tests showed that reversing cutting drum rotation has brought several positive results: (1) lower dust levels; (2) lower methane liberations; (3) improved productivity and (4) less fines. Although the improvements were only in the 10% range, the costs except for the initial change of cutting drums are nil. Therefore this technique should further be tested in soft seams with thick binder rock and also in hard blocky seams. Such investigations may lead to universal application of reverse drum rotation in the industry for beneficial reductions in respirable dust levels at insignificant costs. 13 refs., 34 figs.

• Research Organization: Island Creek Corp., Lexington, KY (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AI01-81FE00016
• OSTI ID: 6965232
• Report Number(s): DOE/FE/00016-T139; ON: DE88013132
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
012033* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Underground Mining-- Mine Environment-- (1987-)
ALKANES
COLLOIDS
CONTROL
CUTTER LOADERS
CUTTING MACHINES
DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS
DISPERSIONS
DOCUMENT TYPES
DUSTS
EQUIPMENT
FLUID INJECTION
FOAMS
HAULAGE EQUIPMENT
HYDROCARBONS
LOADERS
LONGWALL MINING
MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
METHANE
MINING
MINING EQUIPMENT
OPERATION
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT
PRODUCTIVITY
PROGRESS REPORT
RECOMMENDATIONS
SAMPLING
SCRUBBERS
SHEARER LOADERS
SPRAYS
UNDERGROUND MINING