초록 ▼

A process of inerting the coal mine site formed by a coal cutting auger or continuous miner at a coal face to supress methane/coal dust explosion includes introducing an inert gas such as waste gases of combustion or nitrogen, for example, to a site downstream of the coal face in a sufficiently grea

A process of inerting the coal mine site formed by a coal cutting auger or continuous miner at a coal face to supress methane/coal dust explosion includes introducing an inert gas such as waste gases of combustion or nitrogen, for example, to a site downstream of the coal face in a sufficiently great volume to always replace the volume of coal carried from the coal face by a conveyor. The flow of coal by the conveyor is used to form the impetus to move inert gas from the introduction site to the coal face. The volume of inert gas at the introduction site is maintained sufficient to inhibit ingress of oxygen bearing atmospheric air to the coal face. A leaky seal may be used at the entrance to the coal face at the mining site. The inert gas may be introduced by a conduit arranged part way in the coal seam to form a separate duct extending in the coal seam to the mined cavity or by a duct formed as in integral part of the coal conveyor.

대표청구항 ▼

A process of inerting the coal mining site formed by a coal cutter at a coal face and a conveyor to carry coal won by the coal cutter away from the receding mine face to a transfer area serviced by the conveyor downstream of the coal face, said process comprises the step of: introducing an inert gas

A process of inerting the coal mining site formed by a coal cutter at a coal face and a conveyor to carry coal won by the coal cutter away from the receding mine face to a transfer area serviced by the conveyor downstream of the coal face, said process comprises the step of: introducing an inert gas to site downstream of said coal face in a sufficiently great volume to always replace the volume of coal carried from the coal face by said conveyor; using the flow of coal by the conveyor for the impetus to move inert gas from the introduction site to the coal face; and maintaining a volume of said inert gas at the introduction site sufficient to inhibit ingress of oxygen bearing atmospheric air to the coal face.