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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Improved performance of linear coal cutting compared with rotary cutting

Book ·
OSTI ID:99279
The linear cutting system, developed by the US Bureau of Mines uses geometric principles developed by Cardan to produce a nearly constant cut depth. The new system has been extensively tested in a synthetic material under laboratory conditions to verify mechanical capability and to identify operational characteristics. Comparison between 15-rpm linear cutting and 50-rpm rotary cutting systems show significant improvement in respirable dust entrainment, product size distribution, and energy usage. Respirable dust is reduced by as much as 90%. Recovered product showed a 67% reduction in {minus}0.32-cm ({minus}1/8-in) material and a 200% increase in +5.08 cm (+ 2 in) materials. Average power was reduced by 66% for the linear cutting. Because the bit cutting paths differ between linear and rotary cutting, it was necessary to compare the two at the same cut depths and bit types. These comparisons show that low revolution per minute rotary cutting entrains about the same amount of respirable dust as the linear cutting system, but the average shaft torque may be 55 to 130% greater for the rotary system.
OSTI ID:
99279
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English