Location
Rolla, Missouri
Session Dates
11 Jun 1999 - 17 Jun 1999
Keywords and Phrases
Methane; Continuous Miners; Roadheaders; Burnt Coal; Gas Contents
Abstract
An intensive research programme has quantified the methane conditions around mechanical miners in production conditions. Methane seam gas contents show an increase of up to 26 times when mining burnt coal compared with normal increase in emission rates. Coal seam methane contents at the face increased from 1 m3/t to 6m3/t in one section, and from 0.1 m3/t to 2.6 m3/t in another. Emission rates from burnt coal were as high as 300 lit/min as it was mined. These increases in content and emission occur immediately after cutting into the burnt coal. Methane concentrations of 3% were recorded behind the cutting drum of a continuous miner working in burnt coal, with other peak concentrations of 2.5% and 2.7%. Concentrations above the legislated 1.4% were maintained for 52 percent of actual coal cutting time, and above 2% methane for 23 percent of cutting time. Highest methane was generally detected on the return side of the continuous miners, but did also cover the entire front area, at least to the back of the cutting drum. Methane sensors positioned in the operator's cab were ineffective in detecting the high methane concentrations close to the face.
Department(s)
Mining Engineering
Meeting Name
8th U.S. Mine Ventilation Symposium
Publisher
University of Missouri--Rolla
Document Version
Final Version
Document Type
Article - Conference proceedings
File Type
text
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Cook, A. P., "Increased Methane Emissions for Mechanical Miners Working in Burnt Coal" (1999). U.S. Mine Ventilation Symposium. 5.
https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/usmvs/8usmvs/8usmvs-theme3/5
Increased Methane Emissions for Mechanical Miners Working in Burnt Coal
Rolla, Missouri
An intensive research programme has quantified the methane conditions around mechanical miners in production conditions. Methane seam gas contents show an increase of up to 26 times when mining burnt coal compared with normal increase in emission rates. Coal seam methane contents at the face increased from 1 m3/t to 6m3/t in one section, and from 0.1 m3/t to 2.6 m3/t in another. Emission rates from burnt coal were as high as 300 lit/min as it was mined. These increases in content and emission occur immediately after cutting into the burnt coal. Methane concentrations of 3% were recorded behind the cutting drum of a continuous miner working in burnt coal, with other peak concentrations of 2.5% and 2.7%. Concentrations above the legislated 1.4% were maintained for 52 percent of actual coal cutting time, and above 2% methane for 23 percent of cutting time. Highest methane was generally detected on the return side of the continuous miners, but did also cover the entire front area, at least to the back of the cutting drum. Methane sensors positioned in the operator's cab were ineffective in detecting the high methane concentrations close to the face.
