Fachartikel

Issue 02/2015 In the last few decades, China has dramatically expanded access to energy and, as a result, has achieved nearly universal electrification (Figure 1). Although this accomplishment is notable, China’s energy mix is facing several pressing issues with important domestic and global implications. China is coal-rich and, for this reason, continues to rely on coal for the majority of ...

Issue 02/2015 Every CO2 reduction strategy should commence with the increase in efficiency of existing power plants followed by investments in state-of-the-art technologies and most advanced plants. EURACOAL’s three step strategy therefore starts in a logical sequence with the replacement and modernisation of existing power plants. In a second step application of state-of-the-art technologies would increase the average efficiency to ...

Issue 2/2015 As an alternative to petroleum the methanol production via synthesis gas – based on natural gas or biomass – may be a viable solution. But special attention should get the „green methanol“. Relevant research is to be supported, how to really produce out of CO2, sunlight and water, an important chemistry source of energy and basic raw material. ...

Issue 02/2015 Between 2011 and 2014 two new high-pressure water barriers were constructed at Ibbenbüren Mine, RAG Anthrazit Ibbenbüren GmbH, to provide a long-term seal capable of resisting the ground movements expected as a result of the planned extraction of the Beustfeld panel. Two water stoppings had already been erected at the end of the 1970s for the hydrological separation ...

Issue 02/2015 The deepening of number 10 shaft and an extensive programme of development work has given Prosper-Haniel colliery access to new reserves of coal on mine level 7, at a depth of 1,159 m. In order to extract the gas outburst-prone Zollverein 1/2 seam in the Prosper North district, where the coal is up to 4.65 m in thickness, ...

Issue 02_2015 Over the years underground drilling equipment for drifting and rockbolting were primarily developed with a view to increasing the penetration rate. The computer technology that gradually became available was subsequently employed for control and automation of the drilling systems. This ongoing development was not continuously pursued in more recent times until it became apparent that because of limitations ...

Introduction    In July 2014 the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) in Berlin published a new Energy Reference Projection for Germany (1). This study was carried out for the BMWi by the Institute of Energy Economics (EWI), Cologne, the Institute of Economic Structures Research (GWS), Osnabruck, and the Economic Research Institute AG, Basel and Berlin, under the ...

Ausgabe 01_2015 The colliery closure programme under way in the German coal industry has also involved the permanent filling of mine shafts after underground operations have come to an end. The chosen filling technique depends very much on the future requirements that the shaft will have to meet. At RAG-operated sites the fill column in the disused shaft becomes a ...

Ausgabe 01_2015 The mostly applied shaft sinking method is conventional shaft sinking by drilling and blasting. Using this method, almost any shaft geometry is feasible and challenging ground conditions can be sunk through with acceptable sinking performances. Particularly mucking and hoisting operations of the sinking cycle have a relevant impact on sinking performance and offer a considerable optimization potential. Nevertheless ...