Advanced Mine Ventilation: Respirable Coal Dust, Combustible Gas and Mine Fire Control

Underground coal mining involves a higher safety risk than open-cast (surface) mining, so worker health and safety is a key concern in this industry. Great progress has been made in the past fifty years in key areas such as the reduction of dust-related diseases in mine workers, methane control, explosion prevention and mine fire control. Efforts are also ongoing to further advance the implementation of the safest available mining practices.

Written by an expert with over forty years’ experience in the field, this book provides an authoritative review of proven technologies and practices in one convenient volume. After an introductory part on mine environment control, different sections of the book address the essential topics of respirable dust control, methane control and mine fire prevention and control.

Reviews the three inter-related topics of respirable dust, gas and fire control in underground coal mines in one convenient volumeOffers practical guidelines for the development and implementation of appropriate control strategies in underground coal minesDraws on the author’s forty years of experience in the coal industry

Part 1 Mine environment control 1. Properties of gases in underground coal mine atmospheres 2. Properties of dust particles in underground coal mine air and particle mechanics 3. Ventilation of underground coal mines: methods and computer simulation of ventilation networks

Part 2 Respirable dust control 4. Respirable coal dust control in underground coal mines 5. Silica dust control in underground coal mines 6. Diesel particulate matter control in underground coal mines 7. A strategy to eliminate dust-related diseases in underground coal mines

Part 3 Methane control in coal mines 8. Methane control pre-mining in underground coal mines 9. Methane control post-mining in underground coal mines 10. Gas outbursts in underground coal mines and their control

Part 4 Coal mine fire control 11. Spontaneous combustion of coal in underground mines and its prevention 12. Gas explosions in underground coal mines and their prevention 13. Dust explosions in underground coal mines and their prevention 14. Management of fires in underground coal mines 15. Recovery of sealed underground coal mines after extinction of the fire