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Articles 3721 - 3750 of 4559

Full-Text Articles in Engineering

Considerations For Estimating Remote Operator Dust Exposure Using Fixed-Point Samples On Continuous Mining Sections, Jeffrey M. Listak, Gerrit V. R. Goodman, Robert A. Jankowski Jun 1999

Considerations For Estimating Remote Operator Dust Exposure Using Fixed-Point Samples On Continuous Mining Sections, Jeffrey M. Listak, Gerrit V. R. Goodman, Robert A. Jankowski

U.S. Mine Ventilation Symposium

Respirable dust studies were conducted at several underground coal mining operations to evaluate and compare the dust measurements of fixed-point machine-mounted samples on a continuous miner and personal samples of the remote miner operator. Fixed-point sampling was conducted at the right rear corner of the continuous miner which corresponded to the traditional location of the operator's cab. Although it has been documented that higher concentrations of dust are present at the machine-mounted position, this work sought to determined whether a relationship exists between the concentrations at the fixed-point position and the dust levels experienced at the remote operator position and …

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Laboratory Evaluation Of Pressure Differential Based Respirable Dust Detector Tube, Jon C. Volkwein, April L. Schoeneman, Steven J. Page Jun 1999

Laboratory Evaluation Of Pressure Differential Based Respirable Dust Detector Tube, Jon C. Volkwein, April L. Schoeneman, Steven J. Page

U.S. Mine Ventilation Symposium

A new type of respirable dust sampler was developed and compared side by side to personal gravimetric samplers in the laboratory. The new sampler correlates filter back pressure with mass accumulation to provide mid-shift and end-of-shift determinations of cumulative exposure. The sampler uses a small low flow rate pump to draw dust through a small detector tube that contains a porous urethane foam respirable classification section and glass fiber filter that collects respirable dust. Six different coal dusts were aerosolized in a laboratory dust chamber and a total of 118 triplicate observations were obtained. For individual coal types, the correlation …

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The Effects Of A Diesel Particulate Filter And Fuel Borne Catalyst On Engine Emissions, Mahé Gangal, Thierry Leprince, John Muter, Brent Rubeli Jun 1999

The Effects Of A Diesel Particulate Filter And Fuel Borne Catalyst On Engine Emissions, Mahé Gangal, Thierry Leprince, John Muter, Brent Rubeli

U.S. Mine Ventilation Symposium

CANMET has been involved in an industry-government program to assess the quality of mine air and to improve the working environment. One aspect of the program is to reduce diesel particulate matter (DPM) generated by heavy-duty diesel vehicles having low exhaust temperature duty cycles. The low exhaust gas temperatures that are common in modem engines lead to insufficient regeneration of diesel particulate filters (DPF). A study was undertaken in partnership with DCL International to examine additive assisted regeneration. This study uses a cerium based fuel-borne catalyst to complete the regeneration of a DPF. Regeneration of a DPF occurs when the …

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Computer Simulation Of Climatic Conditions For Underground Automated Mines For Standard And Reduced Airflow Requirements, Julian Partyka, Stephen Hardcastle, Charles Kocsis Jun 1999

Computer Simulation Of Climatic Conditions For Underground Automated Mines For Standard And Reduced Airflow Requirements, Julian Partyka, Stephen Hardcastle, Charles Kocsis

U.S. Mine Ventilation Symposium

This study demonstrates the importance of ventilation in an automated mine through climatic simulations. These have been performed on workings located at depths of 1000 m to 3000 m below surface in an underground metal mine. Each active working area employs either an electric or a diesel piece of equipment that has a full load power output of 100 kW to 200 kW. The airflows considered in the mining areas were standard full-flow conditions, i.e. 100% (6.5 m3/100 kW), and 125%, 75%, and 50% of full-flow. The analyses show, for instance, that a 100 kW electric machine can increase the …

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Rapid Evaluation Of Rock Thermal Parameters At The Lucky Friday Mine, Ian J. Duckworth Jun 1999

Rapid Evaluation Of Rock Thermal Parameters At The Lucky Friday Mine, Ian J. Duckworth

U.S. Mine Ventilation Symposium

In many hot mines a large portion of the total heat load is associated with the surrounding strata. In order to maintain acceptable underground environmental conditions, the mine heat load must be controlled by the ventilating airstream, and in certain cases by mechanical refrigeration. To compute existing, or future heat additions from the surrounding rock, certain parameters must be -determined. These parameters include the rock thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, and the geothermal gradient (with relation to a virgin rock datum). These rock thermal parameters are typically estimated from published literature, or evaluated by laboratory or in-situ measurements. Presented in the …

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The State Of Mining Research In Niosh, R. Larry Grayson Jun 1999

The State Of Mining Research In Niosh, R. Larry Grayson

U.S. Mine Ventilation Symposium

No abstract provided.

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Control Of Heat And Humidity In German Mines, Wolfgang Schlotte Jun 1999

Control Of Heat And Humidity In German Mines, Wolfgang Schlotte

U.S. Mine Ventilation Symposium

In order to increase the economic efficiency of West European hard coal, great efforts are being made at present in the coal-producing countries to lower production costs. This aim is to be achieved in Germany, among other things, by a drastic increase in the saleable output per working face up to an average of 10,000 t/d in these cases where very long longwall faces (400 m ± 50 m) are possible. With the substantially greater heat input into the air stream which this involves, there is the danger that climatic limits will be exceeded even at longwall faces with lower …

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Management Of Mine Explosion Risks, Jan J. L. Du Plessis, J. W. Oberholzer Jun 1999

Management Of Mine Explosion Risks, Jan J. L. Du Plessis, J. W. Oberholzer

U.S. Mine Ventilation Symposium

The management of explosions in the underground mining environment has been a high priority for managers since the turn of the century. In the early 1900s explosions, worldwide, reached catastrophic dimensions. In a number of large explosions more than 1000 people have died. In the early years of research, the basics of why explosions occurred were investigated and the participation of coal dust in underground coal mine explosions was proved. Taffanel, a French researcher, was one of the pioneers in establishing the use of stone dust and was instrumental in the design and development of the first stone-dust barriers. Throughout …

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Shock Waves Generated In The Presence Of Barriers In Gas Explosions, Baiquan Lin, Shining Zhou Jun 1999

Shock Waves Generated In The Presence Of Barriers In Gas Explosions, Baiquan Lin, Shining Zhou

U.S. Mine Ventilation Symposium

This paper examines conditions that generates shock waves in a gas explosion through experiment. The result shows that the presence of barrier and thin film, which is similar to air door and stopping in underground coal mines, is very important for the generation of shock waves in a gas explosion. When there are physical barriers, the speed of transmission would be very fast and shock waves will result in the process; when the film is destroyed in gas explosion, shock waves will also appear which would result in an increase in explosion power. Therefore, in order to weaken the gas …

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Modelling Of Gob Inertization With Nitrogen, Michael Michaylov, Elena Vlasseva Jun 1999

Modelling Of Gob Inertization With Nitrogen, Michael Michaylov, Elena Vlasseva

U.S. Mine Ventilation Symposium

The paper deals with a modelling of nitrogen distribution throughout gob so that the effect of inertization could be measured. The model takes into account flow transient character, methane liberation and different locations for nitrogen injection. Computer modelling, reflecting mathematical models is done by a specially created computer programme NITRO_ GOB, which allows dealing with different parameters of air leakage, of coal waste distribution as well as of gas picture in the gob before inertization. Effective evaluation of the most important parameters - injection place and nitrogen volume- on gob gas picture is illustrated under typical cross-section profiles of gas …

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Method For Operative Prediction Of Sponcom Hazard In Gob Area, Michael Michaylov Jun 1999

Method For Operative Prediction Of Sponcom Hazard In Gob Area, Michael Michaylov

U.S. Mine Ventilation Symposium

Expert systems for SPONCOM risk assessment ·are used for choosing suitable fire-proof mining systems and ventilation schemes. Some of them can even estimate the effectiveness of planned ventilation and specific anti-fire measures for SPONCON risk reduction as early as at the design phase. The method proposed herewith is appropriate for operative evaluation of SPONCM risk in gob areas for the following three phases during longwall development: design stope, the commencement of production, and during production. Data from mine and model experiments and statistical data for the actual coal seams serve as a basis for defining index of relative SPONCOM risk …

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Anti-Stall Fans For The Mining Industry, Phil Blankenship, Hakan Bard, Robert Z. Smith Jun 1999

Anti-Stall Fans For The Mining Industry, Phil Blankenship, Hakan Bard, Robert Z. Smith

U.S. Mine Ventilation Symposium

Stable performance of mine ventilation fans is important not only for maintaining adequate ventilation of the mine, but also to maintain the integrity of the fan unit itself. It is demonstrated, herein, that a properly designed and applied stabilization device, integrated into the fan casing itself, will assure stable performance and actually extend the fan's capability.

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Improving The Ventilation Efficiency Of Jet Fans In Longitudinally Ventilated Rectangular Ducts, Eddy Jacques, Pierre Wauters Jun 1999

Improving The Ventilation Efficiency Of Jet Fans In Longitudinally Ventilated Rectangular Ducts, Eddy Jacques, Pierre Wauters

U.S. Mine Ventilation Symposium

The performance of a jet fan in a longitudinally ventilated tunnel is significantly reduced by the proximity of wall or ceiling where important shear stress losses occur. The paper focuses on the effect of jet fan inclination on the reduction of these losses; reducing losses means improved installation efficiency manifested by increased ventilation flow for the same fan power input. Experimental tests were carried out on a model at scale 1/5.5th. They allow one to determine the optimal jet pitch angle and the resulting benefit that could be drawn out of this solution in the case of tunnels …

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Evaluation Of Different Airflow Sensors At The Wipp Facility, Kirk Mcdaniel, Ian J. Duckworth, Brian S. Prosser Jun 1999

Evaluation Of Different Airflow Sensors At The Wipp Facility, Kirk Mcdaniel, Ian J. Duckworth, Brian S. Prosser

U.S. Mine Ventilation Symposium

The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) is an U.S. Department of Energy underground disposal facility designed to permanently and safely isolate U.S. defense-generated transuranic radioactive waste. The underground ventilation system is engineered to minimize the release of radioactive contamination to the environment in the event of an accident. During 1994 an extensive ventilation remote monitoring and control system was installed. It consists of fifteen air velocity sensors, eight differential pressure stations, automated control features on key underground air regulators, and eight psychrometric stations. The airflow monitoring component of the system has been a problem since the original installation. Due to …

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Axial Fan Monitoring By Pressure Transients Close To The Blades, A Preliminary Study, Ian Loomis, Shaun Ramsay Jun 1999

Axial Fan Monitoring By Pressure Transients Close To The Blades, A Preliminary Study, Ian Loomis, Shaun Ramsay

U.S. Mine Ventilation Symposium

As the axial fan blades move within the fan case pressure transients are developed, which can be measured and qualified by a fixed point monitor. The nature of the pressure transient pattern observed close to the fan blade varies with the location on the fan performance curve. Measurement of the pressure fluctuation around the fan blade ring reveals the minute variation in pressure associated with the movement of the air within the fan. Such observations could be the basis for an on-line fan monitoring system based on the acoustic emissions from the fan blade. This paper describes a preliminary study …

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Validation Of Computational Models Of Auxiliary Ventilation Systems With Experimental Data, K. W. Moloney, D. M. Hargreaves, I. S. Lowndes, W. Pearce Jun 1999

Validation Of Computational Models Of Auxiliary Ventilation Systems With Experimental Data, K. W. Moloney, D. M. Hargreaves, I. S. Lowndes, W. Pearce

U.S. Mine Ventilation Symposium

This paper reports the interim findings of a research program whose objective is to determine whether Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) models can be employed to accurately predict the airflow patterns within rapid development headings. In particular, the project aims to investigate the optimum set back distances for the ducts in order to adequately ventilate the face of the drivage. To validate the accuracy of the CFD model simulations measurements were obtained from a series of experiments performed on both scale models and within a full-scale surface gallery. The experimental scale-modeling program included making a series of pressure measurements across the …

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Simulation Of Airflow Expansion Requirements For An Exhaust Raise Common To Two Mines, Eurel De Souza, László Götz Jun 1999

Simulation Of Airflow Expansion Requirements For An Exhaust Raise Common To Two Mines, Eurel De Souza, László Götz

U.S. Mine Ventilation Symposium

A complex raise system managed by Battle Mountain Canada Ltd. serves as a main exhaust ventilation airway system for two mines, Golden Giant mine and David Bell mine. Increased exhaust airflow requirements associated with new orebody development at Golden Giant mine have necessitated a study to investigate the feasibility of expanding the exhaust raise system capacity while maintaining exhaust requirements at David Bell. This paper describes a complex ventilation study aimed at optimizing exhaust ventilation conditions for the raise system common to the two operating mines.

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Environ 2.5 — A Mine Ventilation And Cooling Network Simulation Tool, W. M. Marx Jun 1999

Environ 2.5 — A Mine Ventilation And Cooling Network Simulation Tool, W. M. Marx

U.S. Mine Ventilation Symposium

As mining operations progress, ore reserves are depleted and alternative are almost invariably found at increasing depth and a host of attendant difficulties in this regard face· the mine operator. Most significant among these is the control of the increasingly hostile environment encountered at depth in terms of both ground behaviour and the increasing hot environment. To enable the practical and economical design of mine ventilation and cooling systems, ventilation practitioners need effective and efficient tools to perform their duty. One such tool is the Environ 2.5, an interactive network simulation program that allows for the simultaneous simulation of airflow …

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Genetic Algorithm Optimization Of A Large U.K. Coal Mine Ventilation Network, Zhi-Yuan Yang, I. S. Lowndes, B. Denby Jun 1999

Genetic Algorithm Optimization Of A Large U.K. Coal Mine Ventilation Network, Zhi-Yuan Yang, I. S. Lowndes, B. Denby

U.S. Mine Ventilation Symposium

This paper reports on results of an application of a genetic algorithm to the optimisation of a large UK Coal Mine Ventilation Network. The genetic algorithm technique has been developed into a computer program for minimising the total network operating fan power costs. The application of booster fans may become an attractive alternative for ventilation engineers to provide an adequate supply of fresh air around the working areas in some deep and/or extensive mines. The objective of this research is to minimize the total power consumption of a ventilation system by determining the optimum combinations of (1) main fan and …

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Msha Approval Process, David C. Chirdon Jun 1999

Msha Approval Process, David C. Chirdon

U.S. Mine Ventilation Symposium

The hazardous nature of the underground mining environment necessitates the use of equipment and mining products designed to ensure safe usage in this hostile environment. Title 30, code of federal regulations (30 CFR) includes requirements that all equipment and products intended for use in potentially gassy areas of underground mines be approved by the mine safety and health administration (MSHA). Design and performance requirements for many of the products intended for use in the underground environment are also part of 30 CFR. This paper describes the processes available to potential applicants for obtaining MSHA approval. Emphasis is placed on ventilation-related …

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Ventilation Optimization — Balancing The Need For More Power Against Environmental Concerns, Stephen G. Hardcastle, R. D. Lamond, D. T. Willoughby Jun 1999

Ventilation Optimization — Balancing The Need For More Power Against Environmental Concerns, Stephen G. Hardcastle, R. D. Lamond, D. T. Willoughby

U.S. Mine Ventilation Symposium

This paper shows how the Nanisivik mine was able to improve the underground working environment, decrease operational costs, and reduce its impact on the environment through optimizing their ventilation system. Through re-organizing their ventilation system, the overall flow through the mine increased by at least 20%, and local flows increased by over 100%. This change also resulted in a 45% reduction of fan motor power. And as a consequence of reduced power demands the mine has decreased its Green-house gas (GHG) emissions. Currently, ventilation is typically responsible for 40% of a Canadian mine's underground electrical consumption. This could dramatically change …

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Mine Safety In Chinese Coal Mines: Today And Tomorrow, Xintan Chang, Yunxiu Sai Jun 1999

Mine Safety In Chinese Coal Mines: Today And Tomorrow, Xintan Chang, Yunxiu Sai

U.S. Mine Ventilation Symposium

As a result of governmental agency restructuring, China's coal industry has been going through evolutionary changes as well in recent years. This paper discusses the various structural changes within the former Ministry of Coal Industry (MOCI) that occurred recently and its impact on coal production, health and safety regulation enforcement, safety training, and higher education.

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Equivalent Roughness And Its Application In Calculating Friction Drag Of Mine Roadway, Yan Zhou, Xingshen Wang Jun 1999

Equivalent Roughness And Its Application In Calculating Friction Drag Of Mine Roadway, Yan Zhou, Xingshen Wang

U.S. Mine Ventilation Symposium

Some roadways, which do not behave as "wholly rough pipe" as we expected, will have different impact on airflow in a mine ventilation network because of the low Reynolds numbers. For a "non-Wholly-rough" roadway, its resistance factor (R) or the friction factor (¦) is not only dependent upon the relative roughness but also dependent upon the Reynolds number, which varies directly as the flow rate. In this case, R or ¦ is no longer a constant independent of flow rate. Thus, in order to correctly calculate the friction drag of the same roadway for different flow rates, ¦ must be …

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Modelling Of The Occurrence Of Hydrogen Sulphide In Coal Seams, A. D. Stewart Gillies, Mehmet S. Kizil, Hsin Wei Wu, Timothy J. M. Harvey Jun 1999

Modelling Of The Occurrence Of Hydrogen Sulphide In Coal Seams, A. D. Stewart Gillies, Mehmet S. Kizil, Hsin Wei Wu, Timothy J. M. Harvey

U.S. Mine Ventilation Symposium

Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) has been encountered within a number of Bowen Basin collieries, Central Queensland, Australia. High concentration occurrence during mining of a longwall panel raises a number of potential problems, which demand greater understanding to allow efficient mining while maintaining safe and healthy environmental conditions. Longwall panels at Mine A and Mine B have recently mined through H2S zones. The high H2S zone mined through at Mine A was wide and covering the whole length of the face comparing to the narrow H2S zone which was cutting the panel at 45° …

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Characteristics Of Airborne Dust In The Return Airways Of The Mechanized Longwall Face, Tevfik Güyagüler, Sinan Keskin Jun 1999

Characteristics Of Airborne Dust In The Return Airways Of The Mechanized Longwall Face, Tevfik Güyagüler, Sinan Keskin

U.S. Mine Ventilation Symposium

In this paper the results of a research study on the characterisation of airborne dust in the return airway of the mechanized longwall face at Middle Anatolian Lignite Mine, OAL are presented. Dust, temperature, moisture and air velocity measurements were carried out in the return airways of the fully mechanized longwalls. Then the analyses of results on real-time concentration data, mass concentration data, effect of moisture, heat and air velocity on dust concentration are made. It has been found that amount of dust in return airway is directly related to the face activities and to the amount of settled dust …

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Mitigation Of Methane Emissions From Coal Mine Ventilation Air, Peter Carothers, Milind D. Deo Jun 1999

Mitigation Of Methane Emissions From Coal Mine Ventilation Air, Peter Carothers, Milind D. Deo

U.S. Mine Ventilation Symposium

U.S. EPA's coalbed methane outreach program, (CMOP) has prepared a technical assessment of techniques that combust trace amounts of coal mine methane contained in ventilation air. Control of methane emissions from mine ventilation systems has been an elusive goal because of the magnitude of a typical airflow and the very low methane concentrations. One established and cost-effective use feeds the air into a prime mover in lieu of ambient combustion air. This method usually consumes just a fraction of the flow available from each ventilation shaft. The authors evaluated the technical and economic feasibility of two emerging systems that may …

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The General Characteristics Of Electromagnetic Radiation During Coal Fracture And Its Application In Outburst Prediction, Xue-Qiu He, En-Yuan Wang, Zhentang Liu Jun 1999

The General Characteristics Of Electromagnetic Radiation During Coal Fracture And Its Application In Outburst Prediction, Xue-Qiu He, En-Yuan Wang, Zhentang Liu

U.S. Mine Ventilation Symposium

Coal and methane outburst are catastrophic in coal mining, their prediction is difficult. In this paper, the electromagnetic radiation (EMR) generated during coal or rock deformation and fracturing is measured and analyzed. The results show that EMR truly exists during the fracture of coal or rock (with or without the presence of gas). It follows the Hurst statistical rule, and it basically exhibits gradually enhancing tendency during the process. The EMR strength and frequency are correlated to the coal or rock fracture process. Based on the experimental and theoretical studies, a new method for coal and methane outburst prediction is …

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Scale Tests, In-Situ Measurements And Simulation Of Methane Gas Distribution At Heading Faces, Shinsuke Nakayama, Masamoto Ichinose, Kenichi Uchino, Masahiro Inoue Jun 1999

Scale Tests, In-Situ Measurements And Simulation Of Methane Gas Distribution At Heading Faces, Shinsuke Nakayama, Masamoto Ichinose, Kenichi Uchino, Masahiro Inoue

U.S. Mine Ventilation Symposium

Distributions of methane gas concentration at a heading face with an auxiliary fan were measured in both an actual coal mine and a scale model. As a result, general distribution pattern of methane gas concentration was elucidated and it was found that there exist several areas where gas concentrations tend to rise to dangerous levels. A CFO (Computational Fluid Dynamics) method was also developed and the results of the computation were compared with those obtained in these measurements. It was concluded that the CFD can be used for simulating the distributions of gas concentration that are affected by conditions in …

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A New Laboratory Technique To Estimate Gas Diffusion Characteristics Of Coal, Satya Harpalani, Shaofan Ouyang Jun 1999

A New Laboratory Technique To Estimate Gas Diffusion Characteristics Of Coal, Satya Harpalani, Shaofan Ouyang

U.S. Mine Ventilation Symposium

This paper describes a new experimental technique developed to measure the diffusion coefficient (D) for a coal-methane system using the transient flow mechanism, and examine its dependency on factors that change with continued flow – pressure and gas concentration. Although developed primarily for coalbed methane reservoirs and coal in the gob regions, it also has application in situations where a second gas is injected in coal since it utilizes the principle of counter-diffusion. The results show that there is a continuous decrease in the value of D with decreasing mean concentration of methane in coal. The logarithm of D varies …

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Gob Well Flaring: Design And Impact Analysis, Daniel J. Brunner, Karl Schultz Jun 1999

Gob Well Flaring: Design And Impact Analysis, Daniel J. Brunner, Karl Schultz

U.S. Mine Ventilation Symposium

Currently, over 30 U.S. Coal Mining operations employ a system of degasification to assist in reducing the emission of methane into their mine ventilation systems. All of these mines use vertical gob wells. This is an effective gob de gasification technique for U.S. longwall coal mining operations, particularly when prime movers apply suction to the wellheads (active gas extraction). In most cases mine operators discharge gas recovered from gob wells directly to the atmosphere. This practice poses safety and environmental concerns, and wastes a potential resource. In the U.S. there are no standards for equipping actively extracted or passive gob …

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