Engineering Commons^™

Feasibility Analysis Of Thermal Oxidizer To Determine Remaining Life Using Fitness- For-Service Level 3 Method, Yudhi Yudistirawan, Donanta Dhaneswara, Wahyuaji Narottama Putra, Gama Widyaputra, Dewi Kurnia Suci, Agung Putra Mahardhika

Journal of Materials Exploration and Findings

An aged thermal oxidizer (TOX) in the oil and gas industry necessitates a comprehensive evaluation to ensure its continued safe operation. This study presents a Remaining Life Assessment (RLA) and a Fitness for Service (FFS) evaluation for the four main components of the TOX, in accordance with API 510, API 579/ASME FFS-1, and ASME BPVC Section VIII Div-1 standards. The investigation includes the determination of maximum stress and maximum temperature required to assess the operational viability of the reactor. The four components are radiant, convection, transition, and stack sections—were modeled using the finite element method (FEM). Following the geometric modeling, …

Image Processing Technique To Find The Burden Rock Velocity And Its Interdependency On Bench Blasting Parameters – A Case Study, Channabassamma N, Akhil Avchar, Sahas V Swamy, Vedala Rama Sastry, Hemant Agrawale

Journal of Sustainable Mining

In any rock engineering or excavation project, optimizing blast design is essential for controlling post-blast phenomena such as flyrock, burden throw, and burden rock velocity (BRV). This study investigates the dynamic response of BRV in bench blasting operations by employing a high-speed camera and ProAnalyst software to quantify rock displacement. The relationships between BRV and key blast parameters, number of holes (NH), explosive charge per hole (EPH), total explosive charge (TEC), stiffness ratio (K), and stemming ratio (STR), were analyzed to identify linear or non-linear trends. Non-linear trends, …

Sulfuric Acid Mist Generation, Calculation, And Suppression Mechanism And Methods In Electrowinning: A Review, Ashish Kakoria, Mirza Muhammad Zaid, Guang Xu

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This review discusses the events of acid mist production at the final stage of hydrometallurgical metal production in copper electrowinning. This review entails the complete process of oxygen bubble generation on the anode and its stages to form into acid mist at the surface of the electrolyte. When these bubbles burst at the solution/air interface, fine acid-containing liquid droplets become airborne and spread throughout the workspace, with the impact factors suppressing the acid mist produced during the process. Also, parameters such as bubble size, temperature, surface tension, and visco-elasticity also affect the acid mist. Sulfuric acid affects the tank houses …

Elemental And Mineralogical Characterization Of Permo-Carboniferous Coal In The Ngaka Coalfield, Southwest Tanzania: Implications For Coal Quality Variation, John W. Gama, Justina J. Saroni, Remigius L. Gama

Tanzania Journal of Science

Coal from heterolithic seams exhibits distinct chemical characteristics due to interbedded non-coal beds, which influence its quality and usability. Despite extensive research in these settings, the elemental and mineralogical characteristics of the heterolithic sequences of the Mchuchuma Formation (K2) in the Ngaka Coalfield remain poorly documented. This study provides the first detailed assessment of K2 seams across five active mine sites. Eleven representative samples were analyzed using proximate, elemental, and mineralogical techniques, supported by Pearson correlation, binary analysis, and Principal Component Analysis. Proximate analysis revealed that ash content varies across mine sites, with values ranging from 9.17 to 25.03%, volatile …

Iron Ore Tailings Reprocessing By Electrostatic Separation Plus Two-Stage Froth Flotation, Vincent Bailey Arohunmolase, Akintunde Stephen Samakinde, Palas Kamlakar Borkar, Daniel Amponsah-Berko, Timothy Eisele

Michigan Tech Publications

The reprocessing of tailings is crucial for recovering valuable iron and reducing the environmental impact associated with tailings disposal. The raw iron ore tailings used in this study had an initial iron oxide content of 24.05 wt% Fe2O3, as determined by ICP-OES analysis. This study investigates the practicality of tailings reprocessing to enhance iron oxide content by integrating electrostatic separation with a two-stage froth flotation process consisting of direct anionic flotation using oleic acid followed by reverse cationic flotation using amine collectors. The primary goal is to efficiently recover valuable iron from tailings, thereby reducing waste and promoting sustainable resource …

Sex-Based Effects Of Shock Energy Exposure In Warfighters, Melissa Sutter, Catherine Johnson

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Personal armors were initially designed to fit against the male torso, as men previously filled roles requiring them, thus not made to accommodate the female anatomy. As a result, armor worn by female warfighters tends to have non-form fit in the waist, armpit, bust, and collarbone areas, causing reduced coverage. Shifting, riding up, air gaps, breathing difficulty, and physical discomfort have also been observed. Although this has been documented, the impact on the armor's protective capabilities has not been well studied. To address this, this study compared the protective capabilities of unisex armor for male and female warfighters from shock …

Ai-Driven Frameworks For Mitigating Rockfall Hazards, Unstable Ground Condition And Improving Safety In Underground Mine Through Thermal Imaging, Akhrorbek Narmatov

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

Scaling, the removal of loose rocks from excavation walls to prevent rockfalls is a critical safety procedure in underground mining operations. Approximately a quarter of fatal mining accidents are due to rockfalls. Detecting unstable rocks during scaling and assessing ground stability remain challenging due to limited visibility, dust, and environmental conditions.

Excavation disturbs the in-situ stress state, causing stress redistribution, fracture propagation, and the formation of discontinuities that lead to loose rock blocks. Ventilation airflow affects heat transfer at exposed surfaces, amplifying temperature contrasts between intact rock and fractured blocks associated with instability.

Current practices rely on manual inspection, requiring …

Scenario-Based Pareto Analysis For Multi-Objective Optimization Of Process Parameters To Improve Life Cycle Impacts: Case Study Of Ge Production, Dennis Dadzie

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

Growing demand for critical minerals increases the need for clear evidence on the environmental burdens of their production. Life‑cycle assessment (LCA) quantifies impacts, but it does not by itself show how to navigate competing environmental performance improvement goals. We examine 63 process configurations for single‑crystal germanium made via chlorinated distillation using five indicators: global warming potential (GWP), water consumption (WC), fine particulate matter (FPM), terrestrial acidification (TA), and cumulative energy demand (CED). Across scenarios, WC is negatively correlated with GWP, weakly related to FPM, TA, and CED, while the other four indicators are strongly positively correlated. Pareto analysis highlights a …

A Method To Accelerate Rock Breakage With Soundless Chemical Demolition Agents, Patrick A. Darko, Hani S. Mitri

Journal of Sustainable Mining

Soundless chemical demolition agents (SCDA) are recognized as a safe and sustainable alternative for rock breakage, with the potential to reduce reliance on explosives in mining. However, their mechanical performance is considerably hampered in the extreme cold climate, with slow or no rock fracturing observed. To overcome this deficiency, two methods were developed in recent studies by 1) electric heating the SCDA borehole with high-temperature wire, and 2) increasing the SCDA mixing water temperature. Good results were obtained with both methods. This paper explores the merits of a hybrid approach combining the two methods to further enhance the SCDA efficiency …

Research Status And Development Trend Of Acidification And Permeability Improvement Technology For Low-Permeability Coal Seam, Shaochuan Chen, Yun Lei, Fuchao Tian, Jie Kang

Journal of Sustainable Mining

Low-permeability coal seams in China are often characterized by mineral-clogged pore-fracture systems, severely limiting coalbed methane (CBM) extraction efficiency. Acidification technology, which involves injecting acidic solutions into coal seams to dissolve minerals and enhance permeability, has emerged as a promising approach. This paper systematically reviews the mechanisms, laboratory findings, and field applications of acidification technology for permeability enhancement in low-permeability coal seams. Key findings include significant improvements in pore connectivity, reductions in gas adsorption capacity, and enhanced gas extraction rates post-acidification. Field tests demonstrate that acid fracturing can increase gas extraction volume by 4-7 times. The study also identifies current …

Improving Energy Reliability In Mining Areas Through Modelling And Control Of Resonance Phenomena In Solar-Integrated Power Systems, Yurii Papaika, Gennadiy Pivnyak, Maksim Malyshko, Yuliya Pazynich, Natalia Howaniec, Adam Smolinski

Journal of Sustainable Mining

This study addresses the emergency and operational transient processes that arise when integrating large-scale solar power plants (SPPs) into electrical load nodes, particularly under conditions of limited power system capacity. With the increasing penetration of distributed generation in Ukraine's energy landscape, challenges related to electromagnetic compatibility and harmonic resonance are becoming more prominent. The research builds upon the foundational work of leading Ukrainian scientific schools and focuses on the specific resonance phenomena observed during the operation of solar inverters in medium-voltage networks, especially in regions with high industrial and mining Energy demand. A novel algorithm is proposed for determining the …

Feasibility Study Of Barite Sourcing From Sediments Emerging Due To Treatment Of Waste Water From Coal Mining, Hubert Makuła, Zbigniew Bzowski, Bogusław Michalik

Journal of Sustainable Mining

The accumulation of mine water in settling ponds, which is discharged due to coal mining, allows them to be cleaned out of suspension, and it is the reason for the accumulation of hundreds of thousands of tons of sediments. One interesting mineral enclosed in these sediments is barite, which is considered in the EU as a critical raw material, but it also contains radium originating from formation water.

The effective barite separation and its beneficiation could constitute a win-win solution because then it would be possible to obtain the valuable radium concentrate for further processing, e.g., in nuclear medicine, and …

Wettability Evaluation Via Contact Angle And Data Mining For Enhanced Oil Recovery, Syasya Wadihah Md. Ja’Afar, Bashir Busahmin

Journal of Sustainable Mining

The oil industry has used many enhanced oil recovery (EOR) strategies to increase crude oil production from reservoirs, particularly as production begins to fall. With a significant quantity of hydrocarbon reserves still existing in the reservoirs, improved oil recovery techniques have the potential to increase oil production, with wettability alteration playing a significant role. To date, there has been no comprehensive investigation of wettability in Brunei's sandstone reservoir. The goal of this research is to determine wettability by contact angle measurement and data mining approaches based on the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) algorithm. …

A Model Intercomparison Study To Investigate Mixing Characteristics In Non-Precipitating Stratocumulus Clouds, Fan Yang, Kyoung Ock Choi, Kamal Kant Chandrakar, Fabian Hoffmann, Pei Hou, Steve Krueger, Chunsong Lu, Mikhail Ovchinnikov, Yangze Ren, Shin Ichiro Shima, Peng Wu, Chongzhi Yin, Zeen Zhu, Seong Soo Yum

Michigan Tech Publications

Recent aircraft observations of marine stratocumulus clouds consistently showed that cloud microphysical relationships vary with altitude, indicating inhomogeneous mixing characteristics near cloud top and homogeneous mixing characteristics in mid-levels of clouds. Here, we conduct model intercomparison of an idealized, non-precipitating stratocumulus cloud to evaluate model consistency and examine whether simulations can reproduce the observed mixing characteristics. The results show that eleven large-eddy simulations with various dynamics and microphysics schemes show good agreement on the thermodynamical, microphysical, and dynamical properties of the stratocumulus-topped boundary layer in a steady state. The inter-model spread in steady-state liquid water path is significantly reduced compared …

Efficiency Comparison Of Reduced Graphene Oxide (Rgo) Composite-Incorporated Polyacrylonitrile Nanofibrous Filters For Respirable Crystalline Silica Dust And Coal Dust, Mahsa Moradi, Ashish Kakoria, Lina Zheng, Guang Xu

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The health of miners working in underground mines is greatly threatened by their exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) found in coal dust. While coal dust includes RCS, it is important to know the specific filtration efficiency for RCS particles compared to coal dust to improve protective measures. This study compares the filtration efficiency of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composite-incorporated Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibrous filters at four different concentrations of rGO (0, 2, 6, and 10 wt.%) for RCS particles and coal dust. The filters were made using the electrospinning method. They were tested separately with RCS particles and coal dust …

Geospatial Analysis Of Primary Healthcare Accessibility And Qualitative Assessment Of Affordability In Rural Communities Of Twifo Ati-Morkwaa District, Ghana, Peter Ansah Boakye, Daniel Buor, Francis Tei-Nartey

Michigan Tech Publications

Regardless of the efforts of the government and the private sector to improve health facilities in Ghana, a significant number of rural communities still experience inadequate access to primary healthcare. This study used the mixed-methods approach to provide an overview of the geographic distribution of healthcare facilities and the accessibility and affordability of primary healthcare within the Twifo Ati-Morkwaa District. Accessibility was assessed using Euclidean buffer analysis around primary healthcare facilities, while affordability was examined qualitatively using in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with community members, community leaders and health workers. Focus group discussions and interviews were conducted using the …

Positive And Negative Pressure Distributions And Gas Migration Mechanisms Under Gas Drainage From Coal Seams Using Ultra-Long Directional Boreholes, Li Quanxin, Zhao Yuechen, Mou Quanbin, Wang Liang, Fang Jun, Wang Chenghao

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background Gas drainage via ultra-long directional boreholes plays a significant role in gas control in coal mines. To ensure safe and efficient gas drainage using these boreholes, it is critical to determine the mechanisms behind positive- negative pressure coupling, as well as the dominant mechanisms governing gas migration. However, the evolutionary patterns of positive-negative pressure zoning within the boreholes and the primary factors influencing gas drainage efficiency have yet to be accurately characterized. Methods Under the engineering background of the Shendong Baode Coal Mine, this study developed a multi-field coupling model integrating diffusion, seepage, and in-borehole flow fields based on …

Spatiotemporal Variations And Their Influencing Factors For Vegetation Net Primary Productivity In The Shendong Coal Base, Yang Fei, Cui Kuankuan, Zhang Chengye, Li Jun, Dong Qiulin

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective The Shendong coal base, located within the arid and semi-arid regions in western China, is identified as the region with the most pronounced contradiction between coal resource development and ecological conservation in the country. Analyzing the spatiotemporal variations in the ecosystem and their influencing factors at the base scale provides a necessary foundation for green mine construction while also offering critical support for regional sustainable development.Methods In this study, the vegetation net primary productivity (NPP) was selected as an indicator for the ecological evaluation of mining areas. By integrating data on terrain, weather and climate, socio-economy, and human …

Application Of A Generative Adversarial Network To Super-Resolution Reconstruction Of Fracture Images In Logging-While-Drilling Electrical Resistivity Imaging, Han Sen, Shen Chuanhai, Xu Chen, Tian Yimeng, Zhao Biao, Wang Ze, Liu Yongkang, Kang Zhengming

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective Logging-while-drilling electrical resistivity imaging (LWD-ERI) enables the intuitive presentation of geobodies near wellbores in images, representing an important approach to the fine-scale evaluation of stratigraphic parameters while also providing significant geological guidance during the drilling of fractured reservoirs. However, this technique faces the challenge of low image resolution in real-time data processing due to its limited well-to-surface data transmission rates, exerting adverse impacts on the qualitative identification of wellbore fractures and the quantitative evaluation of their parameters. To address this issue, this study proposed a super-resolution image reconstruction method based on a generative adversarial network (GAN), aiming to achieve …

A Method For Fine-Scale Identification Of Collapse Columns Based On Offset Vector Tile Domain Seismic Data, Zhang Guangzhong, Liu Song, Shan Rui, Cai Wenrui

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objectives and Methods The YQ mining area in the Qinshui Basin is characterized by complex seismic and geological conditions, as well as well-developed collapse columns and flexure structures. Consequently, conventional three-dimensional (3D) seismic exploration fails to meet the precision requirements for safe coal mining. By constructing a physical model based on the actual geological conditions of the study area, this study conducted forward modeling for the seismic responses of collapse columns under varying azimuths. Accordingly, the azimuthal anisotropy of the collapse columns were systematically analyzed. By employing a regular noise suppression technique based on curvelet transform, combined with prestack migration …

Table Of Contents, The Editors

Coal Geology & Exploration

No abstract provided.

Biogasification Potential Of Medium- To High-Rank Coals And Its Controlling Mechanisms At A Molecular Structural Level, Bao Yuan, Li Jiajun, Li Dan, Chen Xueru, Wang Xiaojing

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective Coals with varying metamorphic grades differ significantly in the potential for methane generation through microbial degradation. Medium- to high-rank coals can generate a substantial volume of methane through microbial degradation. However, key factors governing their biogasification potential remain poorly understood. This study aims to identify the dominant factors controlling the potential of medium- to high-rank coals for methane generation through microbial degradation, as well as relevant controlling mechanisms, from the perspective of molecular structures.Methods The Carboniferous-Permian medium- to high-rank coals along the eastern margin of the Ordos Basin were investigated in this study. Using experiments on the hydrocarbon …

Characteristics And Helium Generation Potential Of Ultra-Deep Marine Shales As Helium Source Rocks, Yuan Jiutao, Zhang Wenjin, Song Zezhang, Tian Xingwang, Luo Qingyong, Jin Shigui, Wang Shulong, Wu Meijia, Wang Li, Chen Hongbin, Gao Jiawei, Mikhail Spasennykh, Tagir Karamov

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective Large-scale, effective helium source rocks serve as a material basis for the formation of a helium-rich gas field. In the Weiyuan area, Sichuan Basin, the helium-rich gas reservoirs within the Dengying Formation exhibit helium source rocks consisting of the pre-Sinian basement granites and the shales of the Cambrian Qiongzhusi Formation. Compared to the basement granites, studies on the shales of the Qiongzhusi Formation remain limited, including those on the occurrence characteristics of uranium (U)- and thorium (Th)-rich minerals and helium generation potential.Methods This study investigated the shales of the Qiongzhusi Formation, Weiyuan area, Sichuan Basin. By integrating field …

Mechanisms Behind The Controlling Effects Of Temperature-Pressure Conditions On The Dynamic Ch4–H2O Production From Bituminous Coal, Zhang Hewei, Shen Jian, Li Kexin, Wu Caifang

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background For deep coalbed methane (CBM) exploitation, the temperature-pressure synergistic effect in the CH₄-H₂O two-phase flow remains poorly understood, restricting the establishment of efficient CBM production systems.Methods This study investigated the No.13 coal seam in the Guanjiaya Coal Mine along the eastern margin of the Ordos Basin. Using low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI) techniques, this study explored the dynamic process of CH₄ displacing water and associated gas-water production mechanisms under different displacement pressures (2‒8 MPa) and temperatures (25 ℃ and 60 ℃).Results and Conclusions The sample used …

Enrichment Patterns And Accumulation Models Of Coalbed Methane Under Complex Geological Conditions: A Case Study Of The Xintian Coal Mine In Western Guizhou Province, China, Xu Shuai, Wu Caifang, Bie Xiaofei, Li Guangsheng, Fang Xiaojie, Wang Fangfang, Cheng Yi, Zhao Peng

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective The Xintian Coal Mine, a critical coal-producing mine in western Guizhou Province, faces high risks of coal and gas outbursts and the challenge of low underground coalbed methane (CBM) extraction efficiency, necessitating surface CBM extraction. However, the complex geological conditions in the area limit well placement and the fracturing and gas drainage effectiveness. Therefore, there is an urgent need to systematically elucidate the occurrence characteristics and enrichment patterns of CBM in the area.Methods Based on data from exploration boreholes in the Xintian Coal Mine, combined with experiment and test results and log interpretations, this study revealed the physical …

Mechanisms Behind The Control Of Floor Failure In Deep Coal Mines By Hydraulic Fracturing Based On Power-Law Fracture Networks, Duan Hongfei, Ye Dayu, Zhao Lijuan, Zeng Yifan, Zou Junpeng, Yu Guofeng, Meng Xiang

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective Hydraulic fracturing of coal seam floors represents an important technical approach to mitigating damage to the floor rock masses through proactive pressure relief and to improving seepage pathways. However, there is a lack of systematic, quantitative insights into the evolutionary characteristics of floor fracture networks, as well as their impacts on the stress redistribution and rock stability of coal seam floors, during hydraulic fracturing.Methods This study aims to address the challenge that is prone to cause severe damage to the floor rock masses. First, a coal seam floor was considered a saturated porous medium containing multi-scale fractures based …

Comparison Of Models For Predicting The Floor Failure Depths Of Coal Seams With Moderate Thicknesses And Above Under Fully Mechanized Mining, Xu Bin, Zhong Cen, Dong Shuning, Yin Shangxian, Wang Hao, Li Shuxia, Du Yongwei, Zhang Kebin

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective The failure depth of a coal seam floor represents a critical parameter for assessing the risk of floor water inrushes. With the widespread application of fully mechanized mining with a large mining height, existing empirical equations suffer from insufficient accuracy when used to calculate the mining-induced floor failure depths of coal seams with moderate thicknesses and above.Methods Based on the compressive strength of coal seam floors (i.e., hard, moderately hard, and weak floors), 107 sets of data samples of the measured floor failure depths of coal seams with moderate thicknesses and above under fully mechanized mining were classified. …

Post-Grouting Subsidence Of The Overburden In Goaves At Major Engineering Sites: Fiber Optic Monitoring And Deformation Mechanisms, Cao Xiaoyi, Liu Xiaoping, Liu Haoqi

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background The characteristics and mechanisms of residual deformations in goaves after engineering reinforcement (i.e., grouting filling) concern the design, construction, and long-term safety of major engineering projects. Furthermore, they are identified as the key to the efficient development of abandoned land in goaves within old mining areas. Therefore, it is necessary to explore methods and techniques for monitoring post-grouting subsidence of the entire strata in goaves. This will help acquire high-quality, long-term monitoring data on deformation in the field and reveal the mechanisms behind deformation associated with post-grouting subsidence in goaves.Methods This study investigated the Xiaohegou Bridge site (including …

Discovery Of Quasi-Carbon Nanotube Structures In Tectonically Deformed Coals And Their Formation Mechanisms, Li Yunbo, Wang Rongqi, Song Dangyu, Wang Chengtao, Li Qiang, Yi Ke, Wang Yuanyuan, Pan Jienan

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have attracted wide attention due to their unique structures and performance. However, their artificial synthesis requires stringent conditions, including high temperatures (700 ℃ to 2 300 ℃), stable carbon sources, and catalysts. Furthermore, these structures are rarely discovered in nature. As a carbon-rich medium, coals can form a variety of ordered carbon structures during their metamorphic and deformational processes, serving as an ideal carrier for exploring the formation mechanisms of natural CNTs.Methods Typical tectonically deformed coals from the Pingdingshan and Huaibei mining areas were investigated in this study. After demineralization and chloroform extraction, coal samples …

Dynamic Evolution Of Rock Mechanical Properties Of Coal Seam Roofs Under Thermal Loading: A Case Study Of The Baikouquan Area, Xinjiang, China, Sun Fangfang, Li Xin, Sang Shuxun, Qu Huailin, Yang Shuguang, Wei Bo, Wang Ziqiang, Zhang Bin, Chen Yanpeng, Tian Wenling

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective Underground coal gasification (UCG) represents a key technology for the clean utilization of coal resources. However, during the UCG process, thermal damage to surrounding rocks under thermal effects directly affects the stability and engineering safety of gasification channels.Methods To address the thermal damage to surrounding rocks during UCG, this study investigated the silty mudstones and coarse-grained sandstones in the coal seam roof of the Xishanyao Formation, Baikouquan area, Xinjiang. Through high-temperature uniaxial compression experiments, combined with characterization methods like X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), this study delved into the dynamic evolutionary patterns of rock mechanical …