ESTIMATING GAS AND ROCK OUTBURST RISK ON THE BASIS OF KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE – THE EXPERT SYSTEM BASED ON FUZZY LOGIC

The Author endeavored to consult some of the Polish experts who deal with assessing and preventing outburst hazards as to their knowledge and experience. On the basis of this knowledge, an expert system, based on fuzzy logic, was created. The system allows automatic assessment of outburst hazard. The work was completed in two stages. The first stage involved researching relevant sources and rules concerning outburst hazard, and, subsequently, determining a number of parameters measured or observed in the mining industry that are potentially connected with the outburst phenomenon and can be useful when estimating outburst hazard. Then, the Author contacted selected experts who are actively involved in preventing outburst hazard, both in the industry and science field. The experts were anonymously surveyed, which made it possible to select the parameters which are the most essential in assessing outburst hazard. The second stage involved gaining knowledge from the experts by means of a questionnaire-interview. Subjective opinions on estimating outburst hazard on the basis of the parameters selected during the first stage were then systematized using the structures typical of the expert system based on fuzzy logic.

STRESS STATE ANALYSIS IN ASPECT OF WELLBORE DRILLING DIRECTION

Drilling directional wells challenges designers. Apart from known problems until now they face exact description of stress distribution in near wellbore region issue. Paper presents analysis of stress state taking into account drilling direction. The transposed in-situ stress state relative to the borehole coordinate system (Cartesian borehole coordinate system) and the total stress component at the borehole wall (cylindrical coordinate system) exhibits cyclic behaviour with respect to drilling direction of borehole. It allows to find optimal wellbore path

MODELING ATMOSPHERE COMPOSITION AND DETERMINING EXPLOSIBILITY IN A SEALED COAL MINE VOLUME

Explosions originated from or around the sealed areas in underground coal mines present a serious safety threat. The explosibility of the mine atmosphere depends on the composition of oxygen, combustible and inert gases. In additional, the composition in the inaccessible sealed areas change with time under various factors, such as gases emissions, air leakage, inert gases injected, etc. In order to improve mine safety, in this paper, a mathematical model based on the control volume approach to simulate the atmosphere compositions is developed, and the expanded Coward explosibility triangle diagram is used to assess the mine gas explosion risk. A computer program is developed to carry out the required computations and to display the results. In addition, the USBM explosibility diagram is also included in the program to serve as a double check.

THE EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE OF ROCKS ON MICROCLIMATIC CONDITIONS IN LONG GATE ROADS AND GALLERIES IN COAL MINES

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of the temperature of surrounding rocks on enthalpy and temperature of air flowing along several model mine workings. Long workings surrounded by non- -coal rocks as well longwall gates surrounded by coal were taken into consideration. Computer-aided simulation methods were used during the study. At greater depths the amount of moisture transferred into a mine working from the rock mass is two orders of magnitude smaller than the moisture that comes from external (technological) sources, mainly from coal extraction-related processes, therefore in the equation describing temperature changes only the terms representing the flux of heat from rocks were included. The model workings, for calculation purposes, were divided into sections, 50 m in length each. For each of the sections temperature of its ribs and temperature and stream of enthalpy of air flowing along it were calculated with the use of the finite differences method. For workings surrounded by non-coal rocks two variant calculations were carried out, namely with or without technological sources of heat. For coal surrounded workings (longwall gates) a new method for determination of heat from coal oxidation was developed, based on the findings by Cygankiewicz J. (2012a, 2012b). Using the results of a study by J.J. Drzewiecki and Smolka (1994), the effects of rock mass fracturing on transfer of heat into the air stream flowing along a working were taken into account.

ENERGY USAGE OPTIMISATION IN SOUTH AFRICAN MINES

In recent years, South Africa has encountered a critical electricity supply which necessitated the implementation of demand-side management (DSM) projects. Load shifting and energy (EE) efficiency projects were introduced in mining sector to reduce the electricity usage during day peak time. As the compressed air networks and the water pumping systems are using large amounts of the mines’ electricity, possible ways were investigated and implemented to improve and optimise the energy consumption and to reduce the costs. Implementing DSM and EE in four different mines resulted in achieving the desired energy savings and load-shifting.

WATERPROOF ANTI-EXPLOSIVE POWDERS FOR COAL MINES

Limestone powder characterized by hydrophobic properties is used as an anti-explosive agent in coal mining industry. Unfortunately, the standard method of producing such powder by milling limestone with stearic acid is practically unprofitable in many modernized quarries and plants, and sometimes literally impossible due to the introduction of technological changes and implementation of modern mills. Then new methods of hydrophobization of limestone surfaces ought be searched. In the work two methods hydrophobization: from the stearic acid vapour phase and from silicone solutions are proposed. Lime dust from the Czatkowice Quarry of Lime was used as a raw material during investigations. It is a good agent for research because it is possible to compare the properties of samples modified in this work to the properties of anti-explosive lime powder (Polish Standard, 1994) used in mining industry in Poland. The first technique of limestone powder hydrophobization was carried out in an apparatus of own design (Vogt, 2008, 2011), and it consisted in free sedimentation of the powder layer dispersed by stearic acid vapour in powder counter current flow. The second way of modification consisted in mixing in the evaporating dish substrates: limestone powder and dope - silicone solution - Sarsil® H-15 (Vogt & Opaliński, 2009; Vogt & Hołownia, 2010). Evaluation of properties so-obtained waterproof powders was carried out according to the Polish Standard, as well as using original powder determination ways, with the Powder Characteristic Tester (Index tables, Tablets & Capsules, 2005). Moreover water vapour adsorption isotherms were obtained and the thermal decomposition of powder was made. All modified samples acquired the hydrophobic character. Therefore we can state that the both proposed methods of hydrophobization of the limestone powder are useful. The parameters obtained with the use of Powder Characteristics Tester enable us to make a characterization of limestone properties not only as a water resistant material but also from the cohesion point of view. On the base of TG, DTG or DTA and EGA curves for all investigated materials was stated that the character of the thermal decomposition of modified samples is the same as this one for raw powder, what is profitable for application of hydrophobized powders as an anti-explosive agent.

INVESTIGATING THE SLOPE STABILITY BASED ON UNCERTAINTY BY USING FUZZY POSSIBILITY THEORY

The main purpose of this paper is to investigate the slope stability condition by using fuzzy estimation method based on fuzzy possibility theory. Due to use of this theory, the inaccuracy, ambiguity and uncertainty in input parameters are considered and therefore, the calculated factor of safety (FOS) is highly reliable. In this research, first, the input parameters of slope stability analysis, based on statistical characteristics and grade of membership concept, as a fuzzy numbers are defined. Then the performance function of slope behavior is defined and by using the fuzzy parameters, the FOS is calculated. In next step, by using the several α - cut, the calculated FOS is defined as a fuzzy form and subsequently, the slope stability condition based on fuzzy presentation of FOS is evaluated. The results show that, although based on deterministic analysis the studied slope is stable but based on fuzzy interpretation of FOS, the slope stability condition is scare. The fuzzy analysis of slope stability condition, by applying the uncertainty in calculating the FOS and defining the grade of membership for each unknown input parameters in model, a more realistic interpretation of slope stability condition is provided. In addition, the fuzzy presentation of the FOS, allowing more accurate judgments about slope stability condition.

DISTURBANCES IN SELF-SYNCHRONISATION OF VIBRATORS IN VIBRATORY MACHINES

An influence of elastic support elements arrangements and ratios of elasticity and damping constants in vertical and horizontal direction on self-synchronisation accuracy was investigated in the paper. The obtained results of the other factors influence on disturbances in self-synchronisation of vibrators in vibratory machines are also presented. Especially, influence of a diversification of driving and anti-torque moments, not central direction of the resulting force of the vibrators set , the local flexibility of mounting of vibrators to the machine body and influence of collisions with a feed were described.

DETERMINATION AND ANALYSIS OF THE THEORETICAL PRODUCTION OF A BUCKET WHEEL EXCAVATOR

The theoretical capacity of a bucket wheel excavator is the basis of mining theory. The paper concludes that the use of “1/cosφ” to adjust the speed of a bucket wheel excavator will result in rapid speeds, which may cause nonuniform flow from the distribution of material flow, and decreased capacity utilization. Consequently, this scenario may produce unreasonable structure parameters and performance parameters that are based on theoretical analysis and mathematical derivation. If the rotary speed of an excavator body is too fast, it will require excessive mechanical strength and will generate increased rotary drive power, power consumption and extractive costs. Thus, the rotary speed of an excavator body should be appropriately reduced.

VALUE OF GEOLOGICAL INFORMATION IN EXPLOITATION MANAGEMENT: THE CASE OF EXPLOITATION UNITS OF THE POLKOWICE-SIEROSZOWICE MINE

The application of mathematical techniques of management is particularly significant in managing mineral deposits as well as generally in the mining industry, in which the execution of geological-mining projects is usually time-consuming and expensive. Such projects are usually undertaken in conditions of uncertainty, and the incurred expenses do not always generate satisfactory revenues. Mineral deposit management requires close cooperation between the geologist providing necessary information about the deposit and the miner conducting exploitation work. A real decision-making problem was undertaken, in which three exploitation divisions of a certain area in the Polkowice-Sieroszowice mine, differing in ore quality, could be developed in an order which would guarantee maximisation of income. First, the ore price was calculated with the NSR formula; next, the decision-making problem was presented as a kind of game between the geologist (the mine) and states of Nature.