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LECTURE 7

THE CONTENTS OF THIS LECTURE ARE AS FOLLOWS:


1.0 COMPONENTS OF METHANE DRAINAGE SYSTEM
1.1 Pipe Ranges
1.2 Monitors
1.3 Control and Safety Devices
1.4 Extractor Pumps
REFERENCES

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1.0 COMPONENTS OF METHANE DRAINAGE SYSTEM


The methane drainage system consists of mainly four sets of components.
These are as follow:
a. Pipe ranges
b. Monitors
c. Controls
d. Safety devices
Besides these, set up of extractor pumps are also required in some cases.
1.1 Pipe Ranges
A simple layout of connection of different types of pipes set-up used in
methane drainage system can be represented as shown in Fig.1

Standpipes (the one


which is inside the
bore holes)

Flexible hoses, a valve


and a water trap

Branch pipes (in


districts or section)

Flexible
hoses, a
valve and
a water
trap

Surface connecting
pipes

Flexible hoses and


valves

Main or trunk gas lines

Fig. 1 Different types of pipe set-up used in methane drainage


system

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Pipes may be made of steel or high density polythene (HDP). Both have their
own advantages. Steel is preferred where there is a need of high mechanical
strength (like in underground where rock fall is a major problem). It is also
preferred as the main pipe. On the other hand, we use HDP pipes because
they are resistant to corrosion, light in weight, and easy to install. Steel pipes
must be galvanized before installations to avoid rusting.
Some of the safety measures that must be kept in mind during installation of
pipes are as follow:
o

Pipes in the underground should be placed suspended to the roof. This


reduces the impact of falling materials.

Pipes should be installed mostly in return to reduce load on ventilation.

Installation of pipes should be done in places where there is no chance


of spark due to electrical supply, etc.

Regular inspection of pipes for damage, corrosion, leaks, etc. should


be carried out.

A uniform gradient should be maintained for laying of pipes on the


surface as well as in the underground.

1.2 Monitors
We know very well that methane drainage is the economical extraction of
methane from coal seams, gob areas etc. Since it involves flow of a fluid
material (methane), the parameters which are more likely to be considered
for monitoring are:a. Concentration
b. Pressure
c. Flow rate

All the above three parameters are interdependent. We need to apply


required suction pressure for a reasonable gas flow rate. Application of

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pressure is dependent on the concentration of methane in the seam/strata


and the permeability of the strata. Table 1 gives the list of instruments used
for the monitoring of different parameters.
Table 1 Instrument/methods for monitoring different parameters in
a methane drainage system
PARAMETERS

INSTRUMENTS / METHOD

MEASUREMENT
STATION/ LOCATION
- Mouth of boreholes

Pressure

Pressure differential indicators


(may be simple U-tube or
capsule/diaphragm gauges)
- Across orifice plates
- Strategic locations
(like at junction of
pipes, etc)

Flow rate

- Swinging vane/rotating vane


anemometers with pitot tubes
- Strategic locations
- Pressure measuring across
orifice plate and relating the
pressure drop, quantity of air and
turbulent resistance of the orifice
plates

Concentration

Probes
of
methanometers
- Transducers

high

range - Spot measurements at


ports in gas line
- Strategic locations

1.3 Control and Safety Devices


Various control and safety devices with their applications and installing
locations is given in Table 2.

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Table 2 Various control and safety devices used in methane drainage


system
Type of
device

Name of device

Location

Application

Valves
/Diaphragm
valve

- Mouth of
boreholes

- To minimize pressure
losses*

- In all branch
and main lines

- To vary the gas pressure


near the mouth of each hole
- To join different pipes and
allow pressure measurement
in a specified part of the
system

Control
Water traps

- At the junction
between the
borehole pipe and
branch pipe
- At all the low
points of the
methane drainage
system network

Control
and
safety

Very fast detection and


location of areas having
problems due to blockage,
faulty components,
fractured pipes, abnormal
flow, etc.
Flame trap
To avoid propagation of any
ignition from surface to
subsurface pipelines.
Lightening
Close to surface
To avoid ignition of methane
Safety
conductor
discharge point
at the discharge due to
lightening/thunder
Flame
Usually in
It injects extinguishing
extinguisher
combination with
powder in the methane
flame trap
drainage pipelines once the
temperature inside the pipe
line goes beyond a pre-set
limit.
*Some methane drainage boreholes need lesser suction pressure whereas
some require higher suction pressure based on the permeability of the coal.

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Electronic
environmental
surveillance

- Site specific
points chosen so
that testing at a
few points gives
an overall view of
the network
Surface pipelines

To trap the water from the


methane drained from the
seam (as the methane
drained is likely to be
saturated with water
vapour/moisture)

1.4 Extractor Pumps


These are generally applied in Gob Drainage, Cross-Measure and Superjacent
Heading method wherein we require controlled suction to achieve a proper
balance between the flow rate and concentrations. These are, in general,
installed on the surface of the mine.
Table 3 provides the details of the types of extractor pumps with their
working principle.
Table 3 Types of extractor pumps with their working principle
Type
Water seal
extractor

Dry extractor

REFERENCES

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Working principle
It has the form of
centrifugal
impeller. It has
one inlet from
where water and
gas pockets
enter. The water
is thrown out
radially because
of the centrifugal
action and
trapped methane
gas is discharged
through central
outlet port.

Advantages
It maintains a gas
seal, thus
reducing the risk
of any ignition as
there is no
contact between
the stationary
and moving
components.

Disadvantages
- Faces problem
of corrosion due
to water.

These are like


reciprocating
machine, with
two dumb bell
shaped cams,
rotating against
each other
causing methane
to get
transported from
the inlet to the
discharge point.

- It is compact in
nature.

- More noise

- It produces flow
rate, independent
of the pressure
difference.

- Scaling is also a
problem.
Hence, needs to
be maintained
regularly.

- Subjected to
wear and tear

Hartman, H. L., Mutmansky, J. M. & Wang, Y. J. (1982); Mine Ventilation


and Air Conditioning; John Wiley & Sons, New York.
McPherson, M. J. (1993); Subsurface
Engineering; Chapman & Hall, London.

Ventilation

and

Environmental

Misra G.B. (1986); Mine Environment and Ventilation; Oxford University


Press, Calcutta, India.
Vutukuri, V. S. & Lama, R. D. (1986); Environmental Engineering in Mines;
Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

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