Coal Mine Ventilation and Environmental Engineering Vocabulary

Vocabulary and regulatory flashcards covering coal mine ventilation planning, airway design specifications, and safety regulations based on Environmental Engineering in S.A. Mines.

Out-bye Area

Any area in a coal mine layout situated outside the $180\,\text{m}$ hazardous area demarcation.

Witbank Area Methane Survey

A study of 279 headings across four mines revealing that methane was absent in 214 headings ($77\%$), detected in 65 headings, and found a significant distance away from cracks in only 8 instances.

Regulation 10.8.5

A ventilation regulation requiring an air quantity of $0{,}15\,\text{m}^3/\text{s}$ per square metre of cross-sectional area to be supplied if a heading has advanced more than $20\,\text{m}$.

Regulation 10.8.4

A ventilation regulation specifying that the air velocity in the last through road must be at least $0{,}25\,\text{m/s}$, though a design velocity of at least $1{,}0\,\text{m/s}$ is recommended.

Air Utilization Item (AUI)

The fraction of air entering a working section that flows through the face through roads, with a reasonable design assumption being $80\%$ ($0{,}8$).

Intake Roadway Velocity Limit

The maximum air velocity limit of approximately $2{,}5\,\text{m/s}$ applied to intake roadways carrying conveyor belts.

Return Roadway Design Velocity

A recommended air velocity of $3{,}0\,\text{m/s}$ to $3{,}5\,\text{m/s}$ in return airways, resulting in pressure losses between $280\,\text{Pa}$ and $380\,\text{Pa}$ per kilometre.

Upcast Shaft Design Velocity

A design air velocity of approximately $10\,\text{m/s}$ in a vertical upcast shaft, resulting in pressure losses of about $125\,\text{Pa}$.

Regulation 10.8.1

A mine regulation requiring each working section to be provided with at least $0{,}025\,\text{m}^3/\text{s}$ of air per ton mined per shift.

Regulation 10.13.2

A regulation requiring the main fan installation to be situated on the surface, unless written permission from the Inspector of Mines has been obtained.

Surface Exhaust System

A main surface fan system arrangement where, upon fan shutdown, underground barometric pressure increases, preventing contaminated air in worked-out areas from entering active workings.

Downcast Shaft Design Velocity

A design air velocity of about $8\,\text{m/s}$ for unequipped circular vertical downcast shafts.