A coal burst occurred on 15 April, 2014 at the Austar Coal Mine, located west of Newcastle, NSW,Australia. The burst resulted in fatal injuries to two men working as part of the mining crew at the development face. At...A coal burst occurred on 15 April, 2014 at the Austar Coal Mine, located west of Newcastle, NSW,Australia. The burst resulted in fatal injuries to two men working as part of the mining crew at the development face. At the time, a continuous miner was being used to mine a longwall development gate road through heavily structured coal, at a depth of approximately 550 m. A number of pre-cursor bumps had occurred on previous shifts, emanating from the coal ribs of the roadway, in proximity to the coal face.This paper reviews the geological, geotechnical and mining conditions and circumstances leading up to the coal burst event; and presents and discusses the available evidence and possible interpretations relating to the geomechanical behaviour mechanisms that may have been critical factors in this incident. The paper also discusses some key technical and operational considerations of ground support systems and mining practices and strategies needed for operating in such conditions in the future.展开更多
Mine dust is one of the main hazards in underground longwall mines worldwide.In order to solve the mine dust problem,a significant number of studies have been carried out regarding longwall mine dust control,both in C...Mine dust is one of the main hazards in underground longwall mines worldwide.In order to solve the mine dust problem,a significant number of studies have been carried out regarding longwall mine dust control,both in China and Australia.This paper presents a comparative study of dust control practices in Chinese and Australian longwall mines,with particular references to statutory limits,dust monitoring methods and dust management practices,followed by a brief discussion on the research status of longwall mine dust control in both countries.The study shows that water infusion,face ventilation controls,water sprays,and deep and wet cutting in longwall shearer operations are commonly practiced in almost all underground longwall mines and that both Chinese and Australian longwall mine dust control practices have their own advantages and disadvantages.It is concluded that there is a need for further development and innovative design of more effective dust mitigation products or systems despite the development of various dust control technologies.Based on the examinations and discussions,the authors have made some recommendations for further research and development in dust control in longwall mines.It is hoped that this comparative study will provide beneficial guidance for scholars and engineers who are engaging in longwall mine dust control research and practice.展开更多
University of New South Wales(UNSW Australia) had been involved in the study of premature failure of rock bolts in Australia coal mines from the initial identification of the problem in 1999. Rock bolt steel changes o...University of New South Wales(UNSW Australia) had been involved in the study of premature failure of rock bolts in Australia coal mines from the initial identification of the problem in 1999. Rock bolt steel changes over the last decade appear to have not reduced the incidence of failures. A broadened UNSW research project funded by the Australian Research Council(ARC) and Industry has targeted finding the environmental causes through extensive field and laboratory experiments. This paper describes the field studies conducted in underground coal mines,in particular attempts to measure the contribution to corrosion from groundwater,mineralogy and microbial activity. Various underground survey techniques were used to determine the extent of broken bolts,with the presence of both stress corrosion cracking(SCC) and localized deep pitting making no single technique suitable on their own.Groundwater found dripping from bolts across various coalfields in Australia were found to be not aggressive and known groundwater corrosivity classification systems did not correlate to where broken bolts were found. In-hole coupon bolts placed in roof strata containing claystone bands confirmed the clay as being a major contributor to corrosion. Microbes capable of contributing to steel corrosion were found to be present in groundwater,and culturing of the microbes taken from in-situ coupon bolts proved that the bacteria was present on the bolt surface. An ‘in-hole bolt corrosion coupon' development by the project may have multiple benefits of (1) helping quantify newly developed corrosivity classification systems,(2) providing an in-situ ground support corrosion monitoring tool,and (3) for testing possible corrosion protection solutions.展开更多
Two coal samples of similar rank were chosen from Australia and China to investigate the differences in Coal-Water Slurry （CWS） made from them. The effect of ash content and particle size gradation on these properti...Two coal samples of similar rank were chosen from Australia and China to investigate the differences in Coal-Water Slurry （CWS） made from them. The effect of ash content and particle size gradation on these properties was also studied. Different grinding times were used when grinding the two coals and particle size analysis of these ground coals was used to select samples with a ＂double-peak＂ particle size distri- bution. All the ＂double-peak＂ samples were used to prepare a CWS. The concentration, viscosity, fluidity, and stability of each CWS were measured. The results show that the properties ofa CWS prepared from a coal sample with a ＂double-peak＂ size distribution are better than those CWS prepared from samples with a mono-modal particle distribution. The ash content of Australian coal is 21.72g higher than the ash content of Shenhua coal. The highest coal concentration in slurry from the Australia coal is 11.01% higher than in CWS from the Shenhua coat. The fluidity and stability of the CWS prepared from the Australian coal are both better than the fluidity and stability of slurry prepared from Shenhua coal. High ash content in the Australian coal imnroves the nulning results of a CWS made from it.展开更多
The coal mine roof rating(CMRR) is a measure of roof quality or structure competency for bedded roof types typically of underground coal mines. The CMRR has been used widely in the US, South Africa,Canada and Australi...The coal mine roof rating(CMRR) is a measure of roof quality or structure competency for bedded roof types typically of underground coal mines. The CMRR has been used widely in the US, South Africa,Canada and Australia. In order to investigate the application of the CMRR system in Chinese coal mines,two coal mines in China located in Panjiang Coal Field in Guizhou Province were investigated. Field data were collected which is required to calculate the CMRR value based on underground exposure. The CMRR values of 11 locations in two coal mines were calculated. The investigations demonstrated that the chance of mine roof failure is very low if the CMRR value is more than 50, given adequate support is installed in mine. It was found that the CMRR guideline are useful to preliminarily investigate stability in Panjiang Coal Field mines.展开更多
Longwall mining is by far the most common method of underground coal extraction in Australia. The industry trends and expectations are placing increasing emphasis on the reliability and productivity of these operation...Longwall mining is by far the most common method of underground coal extraction in Australia. The industry trends and expectations are placing increasing emphasis on the reliability and productivity of these operations. The longwalls are becoming wider and longer while retreat rates are continuously increasing due to significant improvements achieved in longwall equipment reliability and automation.This increased longwall productivity is placing significant emphasis on the reliability of longwall panel development. Although there have been significant improvements in the reliability of continuous miners and hydraulic drill rigs,the traditional resin encapsulated bolt installation is still the principal method used in all major coal-producing countries around the world. Anglo American realised an opportunity existed to introduce an alternative roof bolt installation technique called ‘‘spin to stall" in Australia.Spin to stall was first introduced in Anglo American Coal in South Africa where it has been successfully used for over a decade,though implementation of South African spin to stall resin in Australia has proven to be near impossible due to a significant difference in geotechnical conditions,mining method,and,subsequently,roof bolting equipment. Therefore,a new spin to stall development project was initiated between Anglo American Coal and Jennmar Australia(SPIN2STALLò). This paper summarises the journey of this project,the results,and the successful implementation of spin to stall achieved at Grasstree Mine.展开更多
Spontaneous combustion of coal is a major cause of coal mine fires.It not only poses a severe hazard to the safe extraction of coal resources,but also jeopardizes the safety of mine workers.The development of a scient...Spontaneous combustion of coal is a major cause of coal mine fires.It not only poses a severe hazard to the safe extraction of coal resources,but also jeopardizes the safety of mine workers.The development of a scientific management system of coal spontaneous combustion is of vital importance to the safe production of coal mine.This paper provides a comparative analysis of a range of worldwide prediction techniques and methods for coal spontaneous combustion,and systematically introduces the trigger action response plans(TARPs)system used in Australian coal mines for managing the spontaneous heating of coal.An artificial neural network model has been established on the basis of real coal mine operational conditions.Through studying and training the neural network model,prediction errors can be controlled within the allowable range.The trained model is then applied to the conditions of Nos.1 and 3 coal seams located in Weijiadi Coal Mine to demonstrate its feasibility for spontaneous combustion assessment.Based upon the TARPs system which is commonly used in Australian longwall mines,a TARPs system has been developed for Weijiadi Coal Mine to assist the management of spontaneous combustion hazard and ensure the safe operation of its mining activities.展开更多
The varying temperature pulse proton NMR method was adopted to determine the e-quilibrium moisture content of several Chinese and Australian coals. The pulse proton NMR spec-trometry is sensible to the hydrogen at dif...The varying temperature pulse proton NMR method was adopted to determine the e-quilibrium moisture content of several Chinese and Australian coals. The pulse proton NMR spec-trometry is sensible to the hydrogen at different physical state which occurs for water when temperature changes through 273 K. The equilibrium water,with some interactions to the coal surface, will not transform from one phase to another while the free water does. The measured results are reasonable comparing to the conventional gravimetric method.展开更多
文摘A coal burst occurred on 15 April, 2014 at the Austar Coal Mine, located west of Newcastle, NSW,Australia. The burst resulted in fatal injuries to two men working as part of the mining crew at the development face. At the time, a continuous miner was being used to mine a longwall development gate road through heavily structured coal, at a depth of approximately 550 m. A number of pre-cursor bumps had occurred on previous shifts, emanating from the coal ribs of the roadway, in proximity to the coal face.This paper reviews the geological, geotechnical and mining conditions and circumstances leading up to the coal burst event; and presents and discusses the available evidence and possible interpretations relating to the geomechanical behaviour mechanisms that may have been critical factors in this incident. The paper also discusses some key technical and operational considerations of ground support systems and mining practices and strategies needed for operating in such conditions in the future.
基金supported by the Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University of China(No.NCET-10-0770)the financial support provided by the China Scholarship Council(Nos.201306425002&201406425048)the University of Wollongong to pursue study at the University of Wollongong as undergraduate visiting students
文摘Mine dust is one of the main hazards in underground longwall mines worldwide.In order to solve the mine dust problem,a significant number of studies have been carried out regarding longwall mine dust control,both in China and Australia.This paper presents a comparative study of dust control practices in Chinese and Australian longwall mines,with particular references to statutory limits,dust monitoring methods and dust management practices,followed by a brief discussion on the research status of longwall mine dust control in both countries.The study shows that water infusion,face ventilation controls,water sprays,and deep and wet cutting in longwall shearer operations are commonly practiced in almost all underground longwall mines and that both Chinese and Australian longwall mine dust control practices have their own advantages and disadvantages.It is concluded that there is a need for further development and innovative design of more effective dust mitigation products or systems despite the development of various dust control technologies.Based on the examinations and discussions,the authors have made some recommendations for further research and development in dust control in longwall mines.It is hoped that this comparative study will provide beneficial guidance for scholars and engineers who are engaging in longwall mine dust control research and practice.
基金the UNSW ARC funded project,these companies includeAnglo American Coal,BHP Billiton,Centennial Coal,Glencore,Jennmar Australia and Whitehaven Coal
文摘University of New South Wales(UNSW Australia) had been involved in the study of premature failure of rock bolts in Australia coal mines from the initial identification of the problem in 1999. Rock bolt steel changes over the last decade appear to have not reduced the incidence of failures. A broadened UNSW research project funded by the Australian Research Council(ARC) and Industry has targeted finding the environmental causes through extensive field and laboratory experiments. This paper describes the field studies conducted in underground coal mines,in particular attempts to measure the contribution to corrosion from groundwater,mineralogy and microbial activity. Various underground survey techniques were used to determine the extent of broken bolts,with the presence of both stress corrosion cracking(SCC) and localized deep pitting making no single technique suitable on their own.Groundwater found dripping from bolts across various coalfields in Australia were found to be not aggressive and known groundwater corrosivity classification systems did not correlate to where broken bolts were found. In-hole coupon bolts placed in roof strata containing claystone bands confirmed the clay as being a major contributor to corrosion. Microbes capable of contributing to steel corrosion were found to be present in groundwater,and culturing of the microbes taken from in-situ coupon bolts proved that the bacteria was present on the bolt surface. An ‘in-hole bolt corrosion coupon' development by the project may have multiple benefits of (1) helping quantify newly developed corrosivity classification systems,(2) providing an in-situ ground support corrosion monitoring tool,and (3) for testing possible corrosion protection solutions.
基金received funding from the Australian Government as part of the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate
文摘Two coal samples of similar rank were chosen from Australia and China to investigate the differences in Coal-Water Slurry （CWS） made from them. The effect of ash content and particle size gradation on these properties was also studied. Different grinding times were used when grinding the two coals and particle size analysis of these ground coals was used to select samples with a ＂double-peak＂ particle size distri- bution. All the ＂double-peak＂ samples were used to prepare a CWS. The concentration, viscosity, fluidity, and stability of each CWS were measured. The results show that the properties ofa CWS prepared from a coal sample with a ＂double-peak＂ size distribution are better than those CWS prepared from samples with a mono-modal particle distribution. The ash content of Australian coal is 21.72g higher than the ash content of Shenhua coal. The highest coal concentration in slurry from the Australia coal is 11.01% higher than in CWS from the Shenhua coat. The fluidity and stability of the CWS prepared from the Australian coal are both better than the fluidity and stability of slurry prepared from Shenhua coal. High ash content in the Australian coal imnroves the nulning results of a CWS made from it.
基金supported by the Science Foundation of Guizhou Province of China (No. 20177283)the Special Program for Academic Foster and Innovation research of Guizhou University of China (No. 20175788)
文摘The coal mine roof rating(CMRR) is a measure of roof quality or structure competency for bedded roof types typically of underground coal mines. The CMRR has been used widely in the US, South Africa,Canada and Australia. In order to investigate the application of the CMRR system in Chinese coal mines,two coal mines in China located in Panjiang Coal Field in Guizhou Province were investigated. Field data were collected which is required to calculate the CMRR value based on underground exposure. The CMRR values of 11 locations in two coal mines were calculated. The investigations demonstrated that the chance of mine roof failure is very low if the CMRR value is more than 50, given adequate support is installed in mine. It was found that the CMRR guideline are useful to preliminarily investigate stability in Panjiang Coal Field mines.
文摘Longwall mining is by far the most common method of underground coal extraction in Australia. The industry trends and expectations are placing increasing emphasis on the reliability and productivity of these operations. The longwalls are becoming wider and longer while retreat rates are continuously increasing due to significant improvements achieved in longwall equipment reliability and automation.This increased longwall productivity is placing significant emphasis on the reliability of longwall panel development. Although there have been significant improvements in the reliability of continuous miners and hydraulic drill rigs,the traditional resin encapsulated bolt installation is still the principal method used in all major coal-producing countries around the world. Anglo American realised an opportunity existed to introduce an alternative roof bolt installation technique called ‘‘spin to stall" in Australia.Spin to stall was first introduced in Anglo American Coal in South Africa where it has been successfully used for over a decade,though implementation of South African spin to stall resin in Australia has proven to be near impossible due to a significant difference in geotechnical conditions,mining method,and,subsequently,roof bolting equipment. Therefore,a new spin to stall development project was initiated between Anglo American Coal and Jennmar Australia(SPIN2STALLò). This paper summarises the journey of this project,the results,and the successful implementation of spin to stall achieved at Grasstree Mine.
基金provided for this work by the China Scholarship CouncilNational Natural Science Funds of China(No.51304212)
文摘Spontaneous combustion of coal is a major cause of coal mine fires.It not only poses a severe hazard to the safe extraction of coal resources,but also jeopardizes the safety of mine workers.The development of a scientific management system of coal spontaneous combustion is of vital importance to the safe production of coal mine.This paper provides a comparative analysis of a range of worldwide prediction techniques and methods for coal spontaneous combustion,and systematically introduces the trigger action response plans(TARPs)system used in Australian coal mines for managing the spontaneous heating of coal.An artificial neural network model has been established on the basis of real coal mine operational conditions.Through studying and training the neural network model,prediction errors can be controlled within the allowable range.The trained model is then applied to the conditions of Nos.1 and 3 coal seams located in Weijiadi Coal Mine to demonstrate its feasibility for spontaneous combustion assessment.Based upon the TARPs system which is commonly used in Australian longwall mines,a TARPs system has been developed for Weijiadi Coal Mine to assist the management of spontaneous combustion hazard and ensure the safe operation of its mining activities.
基金This project was supported by UNDP Project DP/CPR/85/031 headed by Prof. Wang Zuna
文摘The varying temperature pulse proton NMR method was adopted to determine the e-quilibrium moisture content of several Chinese and Australian coals. The pulse proton NMR spec-trometry is sensible to the hydrogen at different physical state which occurs for water when temperature changes through 273 K. The equilibrium water,with some interactions to the coal surface, will not transform from one phase to another while the free water does. The measured results are reasonable comparing to the conventional gravimetric method.
