Annual Meeting Preliminary Program - Full Brochure (PDF) - SME

TECHNICAL PROGRAM
10:05 AM
Development of Computer-Based Training Exercise for
Underground Mine Firefighting
S. Arya and A. Wala; Department of Mining Engineering, University
of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
This paper presents the development of a Computer-Based training exercise to
fight fire in an underground longwall development panel (headgate). It discusses
the effects of fire on the mine ventilation system for different panel arrangements.
The differences include inclination of entries, location of intake, belt, and return
entries, and mine ventilation system (forcing and exhaust). Also, the advantages
and disadvantages of approaching the fire from different directions, the sequence
of firefighting actions, the spread of combustion products throughout the ventilation
system, and the effect of buoyancy on an ascensional or a descensional ventilation
system are discussed. Moreover, the effect of fire controlling actions, such
as implementing check curtains, breaching a stopping, opening and closing a
door, and applying water/foam, are discussed. The paper concludes that the
Computer-Based training exercise can help in decision making during firefighting,
and it can also significantly enhance the understanding of the behavior of
mine ventilation system in the case of fire.
10:25 AM
West Elk Mine: The Conversion from an Exhausting to a Forcing
Ventilation System
J. Poulos; Engineering, Mountain Coal Co., Somerset, CO
Arch Coal, Inc., Mountain Coal Co., West Elk Mine (WEM) is a large underground
longwall coalmine located in western Colorado. Past production ranges
between 5.5 and 7.0 million tons per year. The West Elk Mine moved longwall
production from the B Seam to the E Seam in December 2008. The resultant ventilation
system is comprised of both exhausting and forcing ventilation. This
paper will discuss: 1) The actual mine layout and the need to implement a forcing
system for the new E Seam Reserve while at the same time maintaining the exhausting
system for the F Seam and B Seam portions of the mine. 2) How the
conversion was accomplished. 3) How the two systems perform together.
environmental:
Process Solution and drainage
Management for the Metal Mining Sector
9:00 AM • Tuesday, February 26
chairs: E. Milosavljevic, Newmont Mining Corporation,
Englewood, CO
J. Croall, Newmont Mining, Englewood, CO
9:00 AM
Introductions
9:05 AM
ASTM Standardization of the Acid Neutralization Potential
Acidity Titration (ANPA) in the Low Range for Investigation of
“Uncertain” Results
C. Bucknam; Water Technologies, Nemont Metallurgical
Technologies, Englewood, CO
Classical acid-base accounting using modified Sobek titration methods has resulted
in interpretation of results for materials with neutralization potential (NP)
less than 20 tons of CaCO3/ton of material (2% CaCO3) as “uncertain” due to
lack of sensitivity within that content range. Standardization of a “fizless” acid
neutralization potential (ANP) method was undertaken in the American Society
for Testing and Materials (ASTM) International using two ranges of sulfuric acid
additions based on reaction pH and carbonate carbon estimates rather than subjective
fizz testing as well as hydrogen peroxide additions to correct for mineral
acidity. The method is identified as the acid neutralization potential acidity
(ANPA) titration method. During interlaboratory testing a positive bias was discovered
within the “uncertain” range with was further investigated and resolved
by increasing the test sample weight from one to five grams for samples needing
improved accuracy in materials with ANP