Bhowmick, B.C. and Sahay, N. and Ahmad, I. and Verma, S.M. (2000) Significant improvement in effectiveness of nitrogen infusion technology for control of fire by dynamic balancing of pressure —A case study of powered support longwall face. CIM Bulletin, 93 (1038). pp. 74-80. ISSN 0317-0926

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Abstract

A large number of powered supports and other equipment costing millions of rupees were trapped due to sudden loading and collapse of part of the roof of longwall panel No. 3 in Samla Seam (R III / II) of Kottadih colliery, Raniganj coalfields, India. In fact 55 out of 83 chock shields were badly damaged and subsequently heating was detected in the panel which quickly aggravated, leading to sealing of the panel. Therefore, at that stage, the most urgent need was to bring the fire under control as quickly as possible, preferably within three weeks time, and without allowing the temperature to exceed 50°C at the face, as it could have caused heavy leakage of hydraulic fluid due to failure of the “O” rings of the powered supports. Both the aforesaid objectives were achieved by nitrogen infusion along with dynamic balancing of pressure. Liquid and gaseous nitrogen were infused in the affected panel through boreholes and pipes already laid in the mine. The panel was then successfully reopened after 19 days of sealing, and it was possible to keep the temperature of the face below 40°C throughout the operation. This, therefore, paved the way for safe recovery of all the healthy supports and other equipment worth over Rs 400 million. In essence, the paper briefly highlights salient features of the fire problem, and the results of investigations undertaken before and after implementation of various control measures adopted in the mine. Successful control of fire even under critical geo-mining conditions has led to the conclusion that liquid nitrogen (LN2) in conjunction with dynamic balancing of pressure has the potential to control underground mine fire quickly and safely.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Coal mining, Equipment, Safety, Fire control measures, Dynamic balancing of pressure, Nitrogen infusion, Sealed-off area, Pressure characteristics.
Subjects:	Mine Ventilation
Divisions:	UNSPECIFIED
Depositing User:	Dr. Satyendra Kumar Singh
Date Deposited:	24 Nov 2011 13:03
Last Modified:	24 Nov 2011 13:03
URI:	http://cimfr.csircentral.net/id/eprint/115

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