Coal Mining Using High Pressure Water Jets.

摘要

Engineering feasibility of high-pressure water-jet coal mining and degree of dust and noise health hazards associated with this mining technique were studied. A portable water jet device suitable for field use was designed,fabricated,and tested. The results indicated that with a hydraulic jet operating at 50,000and 100,000psi,the amount of dust produced per ton of coal is less than with conventional miners. The noise levels produced are comparable with noise levels of conventional miners and were not optimized. Thus,it is probable that noise levels can be reduced below that of conventional miners. A miner using several jet units similar to the prototype should be able to mine at rates comparable to conventional mechanical miners. This would allow mining with reduced dust and noise,consequently reducing exposure of operators to the hazards of black lung and hearing loss.