Systems to limit coal dust and methane explosions in coal mines.

Abstract

In response to the need for enhanced precautionary measures to safeguard mine workers in collieries from the consequences of methane ignitions in a heading, the coal mining industry has expressed the desire for the development and testing of active on board suppression systems. As overseas system cannot be used directly in the bord-and-pillar geometry, it is necessary to adapt overseas and local technology to suit local mining conditions, as well as to test such developed systems for their compliance with expressed needs. As the system has to be tested in a specific roadway configuration, a facility was developed to enable them to be tested in South Africa.