09.02.2013 Views

WATER JET CONFERENCE - Waterjet Technology Association

WATER JET CONFERENCE - Waterjet Technology Association

WATER JET CONFERENCE - Waterjet Technology Association

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

level for open jets can largely be prevented during practical application of high-pressure<br />

water.<br />

To reduce any related effects, the following personal protective measures are<br />

made compulsory, apart from technical requirements for machinery (Fig. 21):<br />

- reinforced rubber boots<br />

- protective suit against splash water<br />

- protective gloves<br />

- helmet with eye protection<br />

- noise protection<br />

- respiratory protection (for use of additives).<br />

EVALUATION<br />

Summarizing the results and experience made so far with the novel heading<br />

systems, the potential advantages of a technical-economical and reasonable application in<br />

the hard coal industry may be evaluated as follows:<br />

The applicability of the techniques studied could basically be confirmed. As to<br />

conventional operation of cutting tools in particular, the high cutting force components<br />

required could substantially be reduced, or the rate of advance could alternatively be<br />

increased using the same thrust. Besides, there were both positive effects on tool wear<br />

and important economic advantages.<br />

The tests have also shown, however, that the energy requirement is relatively<br />

high. A reduction of the energy requirement could, for example, be achieved by selective<br />

application of the high-pressure water jets in particular areas, such as at the periphery and<br />

in the center of the roadway.<br />

High-pressure water jets combined with carbide picks have proved to be highly<br />

effective. In contrast, rock destruction by water jets alone has an extremely high specific<br />

energy requirement since the water jet, as an excellent means of cutting, is not suited to<br />

extract larger rock volumes.<br />

Further tests were conducted to improve the effect of high-pressure water jets by<br />

additives. The results have confirmed that, by using additives in the high-pressure water,<br />

the slot depth can be increased by up to 100% (Fig. 22), or that the pressure can be<br />

reduced by 30% for the same slot depth.<br />

Most of the above-mentioned development work of Bergbau-Forschung GmbH is<br />

still in the laboratory stage. Based on the results achieved, however, field tests on large<br />

technical scale could already be carried out which will, in one or another case, certainly<br />

lead to a further improvement of roadheading techniques.<br />

350

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!