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

TECHNICAL PROGRAM
cabs. Various field studies over this time have shown an array of results ranging
from very minor to very significant reductions to respirable dust levels inside
these enclosed cabs. In addition and concurrent to the field work, NIOSH also
performed a comprehensive laboratory study to evaluate all the factors involved
in cab filtration and pressurization systems and identified those factors that were
most significant for an effective system. From this comprehensive research effort,
the key components for an effective filtration and pressurization system have
been identified in an effort to provide the best air quality, and thus minimizing the
respirable dust exposure, to equipment operators inside of enclosed cabs of mobile
mining equipment.
10:05 AM
Helmet-CAM: A Tool for Assessing Miners’ Exposure to
Respirable Dust in the Metal/Nonmetal Mining Industry
A. Cecala 1 , W. Reed 1 , G. Joy 1 , A. O’Brien 2 and S. Westmoreland 3 ;
1
Dust Control, Ventilation, and Toxic Substances Branch, NIOSH,
Pittsburgh, PA; 2 Unimin Corporation, Winchester, VA and 3 Unimin
Corporation, Gore, VA
The Helmet-CAM is a recently developed assessment tool that integrates a video
display of the tasks performed by a miner throughout the workday with data
from the workers respirable dust exposure to identify areas or job tasks of high
exposure. After a miner wears the the Helmet-CAM, the video and dust data are
downloaded to a computer and then merged together through a NIOSH-developed
computer software program called EVADE. By providing synchronized
playback of the merged video footage and dust data, the software allows for the
identification of key work areas and processes, as well as work tasks that significantly
impact a workers personal respirable dust exposure. Once areas and tasks
of elevated respirable dust exposure are determined, control technologies can be
developed and the Helmet-CAM can then be used again to assess the effectiveness
of dust control techniques in lowering the miners respirable dust exposure.
The Helmet-CAM technology has been tested at a number of metal/nonmetal
mining operations and has proven to be a very valuable assessment tool.
10:25 AM
Effect of Surfactants on Dust Control in Mining
J. Swanson; Institute of Mining, Clausthal University of Technology,
Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany
The use of water is one of the most widespread methods of dust control in mining.
Surfactants, which lower the surface tension and the interfacial tensions, can
be added to the water used in spray systems for the capture of airborne dust or
the wetting of extraction and conveying areas. The effect of these surfactants on
dust control was measured in a wind tunnel, in which differing dust samples
were introduced and the capture efficiency of the water sprays was determined.
The wetting of surfaces, such as roadways, was also simulated and the effect on
stirring up dust was evaluated. The data indicates that dust control can be improved
through the use of surfactants with variations related to the dust and
spray characteristics.
coal & energy:
Surface Mining I
9:00 AM • Wednesday, February 27
chairs: V. Kecojevic, West Virginia University,
Morgantown, WV
D. Bogunovic, North American Coal, Bailey, MS
9:00 AM
Introductions
9:05 AM
The Next Step Change in the Size of Mining Projects
D. Morrison; Mining and Metals, SKM, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Today moving a million tonnes per week is a big mining operation. Planning for
moving a million tonnes a day is being mentioned in relation to some new and
proposed projects that are nearing approval, and there are plans for moving four
times that volume which have come up in the planning process for near future
projects. Pit room for manoeuvring equipment starts to become a huge issue
when the numbers in the truck fleet pass 100, but when the material movements
require putting ten times that number into the pit, then the mine operator faces an
unimaginable problem. The use of conveying systems is an obvious suggestion,
but there are many issues to consider in contemplating a conveying system that is
going to be expected to move up to 200,000 tonnes per hour from the pit. A tenth
of that volume constitutes a very large conveying installation. Space, cost and
complexity are all an order of magnitude greater again than what the mine operator
expects from their prior experience of conveyor systems. This paper seeks to
examine the magnitude of the challenge facing mining operators who might be
considering infrastructure of this size.
9:25 AM
Impact of Surface Coal Mining on Soil Hydraulic Properties
X. Liu 1 , J. Wu 1 , P. Conrad 2 , W. Elliot 3 , S. Dun 1 , H. Rhee 1 ,
R. McNearny 4 and P. Clark 5 ; 1 Biosystems Engineering, Washington
State University, Pullman, WA; 2 Mining Engineering, Montana Tech,
Butte, MT; 3 USDA Rocky Mountain Research Station, Moscow, ID;
4
Retired, Butte, MT and 5 Office of Surface Mining, Denver, CO
Soil erosion is strongly related to soil hydraulic properties. Understanding how
surface coal mining impacts those properties is important in developing effective
management practices to control erosion during reclamation. Soils from undisturbed
areas, roughly graded mine spoil, replaced topsoil before seeding, and
revegetated areas at the Rosebud Mine in Eastern Montana were evaluated to determine
impacts on soil hydraulic properties. Field and laboratory studies were
conducted to determine soil hydraulic properties, including particle size distribution,
organic matter content, and saturated hydraulic conductivity. WEPP simulations
and risk analyses were performed on the hydraulic property data to determine
the impacts of changes on soil erosion. The hydraulic properties of the soils
in each representative area have significant differences due to the mining and
reclamation practices at the mine. WEPP simulations show that the potential for
soil erosion increases due to mining activities disturbing the soil. WEPP simulations
also indicate that the potential for erosion may return to pre-mining levels
over time with effective revegetation practices.
9:45 AM
Haulage Fleet Definition Tool
J. Wientjes; Komatsu America Corp., Peoria, IL
Inherently, haulage fleets are subjected to a vast amount of operating variables,
many of which are highly unpredictable and hard to quantify. Thus, the mining
industry experiences, at times, great difficulty in trying to define a proper fleet
configuration and then project meaningful performance estimates. To aid with
this fleet definition complexity, the Komatsu Mining Division has developed a
software tool that addresses haulage fleet definition and the variables common to
haulage systems. This tool avoids defining finite performance figures, as typically
done in like software programs, but instead illustrates performance values for
variable haulage applications and fleet configurations. The user has the ability to
evaluate multiple haulage scenarios without having to conduct and comprehend
a series of individual analyses. This presentation will introduce this mining system
tool and its major design principles. An overview of these principles will give
the attendee an understanding of the key functions and capabilities of the program.
Evaluation examples will be presented to further insure understanding of
how this tool can be applied for a haulage application analysis.
10:05 AM
Update on Deployment of Gamma Radiation Controls For Surface
Coal Mining
L. Frederick 1 , P. Mongeon 2 and D. Bogunovic 3 ; 1 Geosteering Mining
Services, LLC, Huntsville, AL; 2 North American Coal-Red Hills
Mine, Ackerman, MS and 3 North American Coal-Liberty Mine,
Ackerman, MS
Gamma radiation within mining Strata is used to control cutting to extract the
coal while minimizing dilution from outside the seam being mined. Earlier experimentation
has led to routine operation using this methodology on a surface
miner. Cutting strategy and improvements in coal recovery is summarized along
with plans for future enhancements strategic removal of material directly above
the coal vein. Application of this technology for other types of mining such as
boring machines in potash mines, highwall miners, room and pillar continuous
miners, and longwall miners will be reviewed.
This is the Technical Program as of September 1, 2012. IT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
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Please see the Onsite Program for final details.