Mining Publication: Impact of Unbalanced Intake and Scrubber Flows on Face Methane Concentrations

Research was conducted to investigate how ventilation of a mining face is affected when scrubber flow is greater or less than intake flow. Tests were conducted in a full-scale surface test gallery built to simulate a mining entry with a continuous mining machine at the face. Methane gas was released at constant flow at the mining face. Gas measurements taken a six locations near the face were used to evaluate how well the face was being ventilated. Increasing scrubber flow resulted in lower methane levels even when scrubber flow was much greater than intake flow.