Evaluation of water-jet-assisted cutting capability on longwall shearers. Report of Investigations/1989
The U.S. Bureau of Mines evaluated water-jet-assisted longwall shearers in full-scale laboratory tests and underground. Both test programs showed that use of high-pressure water did little to reduce the shearer motor energy required to maintain a given cutting rate. However, three other major benefits were achieved with the use of water-jet-assisted cutting. At 1,800 psi, respirable dust levels were reduced about 80% compared with the dust levels of the conventional water spray system operating at 340 psi. Operating at higher pressures required for water-jet assist also resulted in an increase in the average size of coal cut, which translates into a decrease in product fines. Finally, although no controlled measurements of bit wear as a function of water pressure were made, mine personnel reported that the shearer bits lasted longer when water-jet-assisted cutting was used.
- Research Organization:
- Bureau of Mines, Pittsburgh, PA (USA). Pittsburgh Research Center
- OSTI ID:
- 7042385
- Report Number(s):
- PB-90-157132/XAB; BUMINES-RI-9270
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Water-jet-assist cutting evaluation and cutting trials. Research report (Final)
Shearer-mounted dust collection: evaluation of ventilated cutting drums. Open File Report (Final)
Related Subjects
CUTTING TOOLS
EVALUATION
LONGWALL MINING
COAL MINING
CUTTING
DUSTS
HYDRAULICS
MINING ENGINEERING
PERFORMANCE TESTING
TEST FACILITIES
UNDERGROUND MINING
ENGINEERING
FLUID MECHANICS
MACHINING
MECHANICS
MINING
TESTING
TOOLS
012030* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Underground Mining- (1987-)