Preventing spontaneous combustion in gob areas of retreating longwall panels by ventilating without bleeders

Spontaneous combustion occurring in inaccessible areas of underground coal mines is often intractable. Even though routine inspection and/or continuous monitoring help detect the incubation of spontaneous heatings, they may not be able to identify the locations with accuracy. Moreover, implementation of remedial measures is difficult. A new approach to ventilation system design to overcome the problem is investigated in this dissertation. Ventilation layouts are analyzed to identify potential problem areas and nullify the probability of fire occurrence. The focus is directed to longwall gobs. The changing gob characteristics, especially the varying degree of consolidation at different parts of a gob as the face moves, is considered. Analytical studies and computer modeling show that bleederless ventilation in retreating panels is promising. The W -system of ventilation is most suitable. However, there may be difficulties in maintaining the middle entry in a Wsystem

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph. D.

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Mining and Minerals Engineering

Department dc:contributor.department

Mining and Minerals Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

1994

Author dc:creator

• Banik, Janajiban

Chairs dc:contributor.committeechair

• McPherson, Malcolm J.
• Topuz, Ertugrul

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Karmis, Michael E.
• Roby, Richard J.
• Karfakis, Mario G.
• Stevenson, Jack W.

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

etd-11102005-141113

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/40307