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IMPROVING SAFETY OF MINING OPERATIONS BY UPGRADING THE METHODS OF GAS PRESENCE MONITORING IN THE SHETH GROOVES

Abstract

The article deals with the areas and conditions of subterranean leakages initiation in caved areas for the main lava ventilation schemes. At present, all sheth ventilation schemes in coal pits, dangerous in what concerns gas explosion, can be differed over a number of known determining classification features in which the air leakage component is included. Aerodynamic sheth models are built. The list of factors determining the value and the direction of the leakages from the sheth grooves is given, and their origin is analyzed. The probable source of gas penetrating the sheth working zones is analyzed. The analysis of the conditions and causes of the accidents associated with gas and dust explosion that took place during the last twenty years has shown that their majority is constituted by those that took place at the sheths that develop low-angle formations with the development systems equipped with long pillars with complete weighing-down. Using the methods of statistic and technical analysis, we have uncovered that one of the main reasons for the disruption of normal gas conditions at the sheths is air leakage from the weighing-down area, as well as other gas sources located between the automated gas monitoring system gauges. Additional negative effect of the leaks is that their volumes constantly change in space and time at the development of gas-bearing formations using the systems characterized by significant volumes of the goafs. At present, the conditions of subterranean development at modern mining enterprises are often characterized by unsatisfactory forecast of the composition and quantity change characteristics of the mine atmosphere. This circumstance was the justification for the necessity to set the task of improving the methods of long-term and non-stop monitoring of these changes carried out using modern technical means and technologies in the automated mode. The task is to substantiate the necessity to develop and upgrade the methods of gas conditions control at the coal mine sheths basing on the estimations of the leakage dynamics from the weighing-down areas, and other gas emission sources. The main objective of the investigations is the development of practical measures to secure safety during mining operations in what concerns the gas factor.

VALERII VITALIEVICH SMIRNIAKOV  AND VICTORIA VLADIMIROVNA SMIRNIAKOVA

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