NIOSHTIC-2 No. 20030321


Predicting Methane Emissions from Longer Longwall Faces by Analysis of Emission Contributors

June 2006

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NIOSH conducted a longwall methane emission and mining time study at a mine operating in the Pittsburgh Coalbed to access the methane emission consequences of mining a longer face. The methane emission contributors from mining a longwall face are: (1) gas released from the coal broken by the shearer, (2) gas emitted from the coal on the face conveyor, (3) gas emitted from the coal transported on the belt, and (4) background gas emitted from the coal face and adjoining ribs. Based on the results of the study, a set of site-specific mathematical formulas and constants were developed to characterize each of the four longwall emission contributors. The formulas were then applied to longer longwall face mining scenarios to predict the methane emissions from these faces.

Author(s):Krog-RB, Schatzel-SJ, Garcia-F, Marshall-JK
Reference:Proceedings of the 11th U.S./North American Mine Ventilation Symposium, University Park, Pennsylvania, June 5-7, 2006. Mutmansky JM, Ramani RV. eds., London, U.K.: Taylor & Francis Group, 2006 Jun; :383-392

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Page last updated: September 17, 2008
Content Source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Mining Division