Hawkins, Samuel Richard (2017) Control of Underground Mining Coal Dust Using Wetting Agents. [USQ Project]
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Text (Project)
Hawkins_Samuel_Dissertation_2017_Redacted.pdf Download (5MB) | Preview |
Abstract
This dissertation investigates the control of respirable coal dust in underground mining. The project focuses on investigating the various methods of detection and control in the literature review. A more specific insight into the effectiveness of wetting agents ability to control the fine dust particles is explained throughout the report. The report investigated the necessary theory to conduct wind tunnel experiments, looking at the fluid mechanics of the coal dust. This would then be compared to the data collected from the experiment stage and analysed to show the effectiveness of surfactants working in a wind tunnel environment.
From the testing that was conducted, both positive and negative results were found in relation to the surfactants ability to reduce the horizontal distance the coal particles travelled. The neutrally charged non-ionic surfactant was found to be slightly advantageous over both the positively charged cationic and negatively charged anionic surfactants. The water control stayed consistent with the literature found and proved to be the least effective. Although results were obtained there was large question about the integrity of the results and their reliability. It was therefore recommended that for any conclusive statements to be made that the methodology of the experiment would need to be improved and the tests redone on a larger scale. This report does however server as a guide for future works to better understand the behaviour of respirable coal dust in an underground environment.
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| Item Type: | USQ Project |
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| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Mechanical) |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering (1 Jul 2013 - 31 Dec 2021) |
| Supervisors: | Buttsworth, David; Baumann, Darren; Grundy, Daniel |
| Date Deposited: | 07 Sep 2022 03:34 |
| Last Modified: | 07 Sep 2022 03:34 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | underground mining; coal dust; detection; control; wetting agent |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/40851 |
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