Fires have been one of the major hazards for miners. In order to minimize fire risks in underground mines, preventive measures need to be taken. Such means are for example using materials which are hard to ignite and hardly spread fire or hydraulic fluids with low flammability. Testing and assessing those properties is standardized in Germany and Europe. In addition, ...
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Hazard Analysis on Underground Mine Fires in Collieries
Since the mid sixties, there were over 200 spontaneous combustion fires in German collieries, with more than a dozen cases of CH4 ignitions. It should be agreeable that the related mine rescue work for the prevention of damage to property should not be more hazardous than ordinary underground work. This claim requires a regular check of safety regulations for the ...
Read More »Early Detection of Smouldering Fire Using the GESO-FireFinder M-System – Description and Experiences
The arising of smouldering fire of slack coal in close proximity of conveyer belt systems still cannot be prevented despite of all safety engineering. That is why it is necessary to find the source of fire at an elementary stage and detect it locally. The GESO Firefinder M is based on the technology of fibre optical distributed temperature sensing and guarantees ...
Read More »One Seven MINING – an Innovative System for Firefighting and Prevention in Mining
By adding a special foam concentrate and compressed air to water the One Seven MINING system produces compressed air foam (CAF). The foaming agent is a surfactant and a non-flammable substance unlike phenol or polyurethane. By inundating a mine space with foam it displaces any explosive gases and prevents oxygen contact with the fuel. The foam has strong penetrating and ...
Read More »Latest Developments in LIBS for Distinction of Coal and Waste Rock in Explosive Areas
The Institute for Mineral Resources Machine Technology (IMR) at the RWTH Aachen University, Aachen/Germany has been working on options to enable boundary layer detection as well as horizon control for underground coal operations for more than a decade. One of these tested options is laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). After a short introduction into the technology of LIBS, this article describes ...
Read More »Commemorative Silver Medal marks 250 Years of Mine Engineer Training at Freiberg University of Mining and Technology 1766-2016
Freiberg Mining Academy was established in November 1765 by Prince Xaver, regent of Saxony, based on plans drawn up by Friedrich Wilhelm von Oppel and Friedrich Anton von Heynitz. It was set up as a training institution for mine engineers and was known as the Electoral Saxon Mining Academy of Freiberg. Teaching began in May 1766. The new institution was ...
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