Minieiev S., Usov O., Zairov Sh., Gaibnazarov B. The method to calculate water consumption for anti-spark spraying of a mining combine
- Details
- Parent Category: Geo-Technical Mechanics, 2025
- Category: Geo-Technical Mechanics, 2025, Issue 175
Geotech. meh. 2025, 175, 141-151
https://doi.org/10.15407/geotm2025.175.141
THE METHOD TO CALCULATE WATER CONSUMPTION FOR ANTI-SPARK SPRAYING OF A MINING COMBINE
1M.S. Poliakov Institute of Geotechnical Mechanics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
2Navoi State University of Mining and Technologies, Republic of Uzbekistan
3Almalyk state technical institute, Republic of Uzbekistan
UDC 622.82: 622.454.2
Language: English
Abstract. The article presents the results of theoretical studies on water consumption by the internal spraying system of coal mining combines, which provides protection against ignition (explosion) of dust-methane-air environment during the coal extraction.
The evaluation of water consumption for preventing explosion due to heating of the mining combine cutter and cutting trace is based on the assumption that all the drive energy is spent solely on heating the cutter and cutting trace. This method is applicable only when the cutter and the spraying nozzle are located coaxially. This evaluation method, proposed herein for the first time, was previously published by the authors.
The evaluation of water consumption required to prevent explosion caused by incandescent sparks during the mining combine operation is based on the safe concentration of water vapor per cubic meter of air, which phlegmatizes the explosion from heated sparks. This value was determined in previous publications by standard regulatory methods of fire protection. The transition from a safe concentration of water vapor to a safe concentration of water droplets in a cubic meter of air was also described in previous publications. It is based on theoretical studies of the mass evaporation rate of a droplet during the induction period of the ignition delay. The resulting baseline value of the explosion-safe concentration of water droplets is applicable for any mutual location of the nozzle and the cutter. Its main determining parameter is the temperature of the heated medium surrounding the spark. In practice, the temperature of the heated medium cannot be determined theoretically with sufficient accuracy. Therefore, it is determined empirically. At this stage of the research, a widely used estimate of the limits of methane combustion in open space within the range of 850–900 °С was used. These limits may be refined in further studies.
The minute air flow rate for washing the longwall face in zone of operation of the combine drums is determined for the first time by the rate of methane release from the coal seam. This value is included in every project for comprehensive gas removal from the excavation zone, which is developed individually for each longwall. It is assumed that all methane is released only in zone of the drum operation. That is, the minute air flow rate in the zone of drum operation is calculated with a certain safety margin.
The results of this study, which for the first time make it possible to calculate the parameters of explosion-preventing spraying, are relevant for determining the water consumption for spraying layers with relatively low dust-generation capacity, but with essential wet softening of floors and roofs (as in Pavlohrad mines, Ukraine). For them, the nominal water consumption used by spraying systems of imported combine is too high and can cause great complications in moving the roof support sections and the face conveyor.
Keywords: explosion safety, dust-methane-air mixture, frictional sparking.
REFERENCES
1. Ministry of Coal Industry (1990), 1.1.30-6.03-90. Rucovodstvo po bor’be s pyl’yu v ugol’nykh shakhtakh:Normativnyy document Minuhleprova SU. Standart [1.1.30-6.03-90, Guide to Coal Mine Dust Control: Regulatory document of SU Ministry of Coal Industry. Standart], Ministry of Coal Industry, Moscow, SU.
2. Kissell, F.N. (2003), Mining Publication: Handbook for Dust Control in Mining,National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), U.S., available at:https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/mining/works/coversheet1041.html(accessed 01 August 2025.)
3. Chunmiao, Y., Chang, L. and Gang, L. (2011), “Coal dust explosion prevention and protection based on inherent safety”, Journal Procedia Engineering, vol. 26, pp.1517–1525, available at:http://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2011.11.2333 (accessed 20 November 2025).
4. Ukraine Ministry of Coal Industry (2003), KND t.1. Zbіrnik іnstruktsіy do pravil bezpeki u vugіl'nikh shakhtakh. Іnstruktsіya po kompleksnomu znepilyuvannyu povіtrya. NormatyvnyydokumentMinvuhlepromuUkraïny. Standart [KND t.1. Collection of instructions on safety rules in coal mines. Instructions for comprehensive air dust removal. Regulatory Document of Ukraine Ministry of Coal. Standard], Ukraine Ministry of Coal Industry, Kiev, Ukraine.
5. Ukraine Ministry of Coal Industry (2005), NPAOP 10.0-5.07-04. Instruktsiya z kompleksnoho znepylennya povitrya. Normatyvnyy dokument Minvuhlepromu Ukraïny. Standart [NPAOP 10.0-5.07-04 Instructions for integrated dust removal air. Regulatory Document of Ministry of Coal Industry of Ukraine. Standart], Ukraine Ministry of Coal Industry, Kiev, Ukraine.
6. Mineev, S.P. and Usov, O.А. (2023), “Criterion for assessment of compliance of water consumption by the spraying system of imported roadheaders with the requirements of Ukrainian regulations”, Geo-Technical Mechanics, no. 165, pp. 27–36, http://doi.org/10.15407/geotm2023.165.027
7.Ukraine Ministry of Coal Industry (2023), Pravyla bezpeky u vuhilnykh shakhtakh. Normatyvnyy dokument Minvuhlepromu Ukraïny. Standart [Safety rules in coal mines. Regulatory Document of Ukraine Ministry of Coal], Ukraine Ministry of Coal Industry, Kharkiv, Ukraine.
8. Briukhanov, A.M., Berezhinskiy, V.I., Busygin, K.K., Kolosyuk, V.P. and Koptikov, V.P. (2004), Rassledovaniye i predotvrashcheniye avariy na ugol'nykh shakhtakh [Investigation and prevention of accidents in coal mines], vol. 2, Nord-Press, Donetsk, Ukraine.
9. Shevtsov, N.R. (2002), Metodicheskiye ukazaniya k vypolneniyu raschetno-graficheskikh rabot po vzryvozashchite gornykh vyrabotok.Posobiye dlya studentov [Guidelines for the implementation of calculation and graphic work on explosion protection of mine workings. Handbook for students], DonNTU, Donetsk, Ukraine, available at: https://ea.donntu.edu.ua/jspui/handle/123456789/17798 (accessed 20 November 2025).
10. Golin'ko, V.I., Lebedev, Ya.Ya., Litvinenko, A.A. and Mukha, O.A. (2015), Aerologiyagornykhpredpriyatiy: uchebnoyeposobiye [Aerology of Mining Enterprises: A Textbook], Dnіpro, Ukraine.
11. Botvenko, D.V. (2020), Methodological foundations for forecasting and localizing explosive combustion of firedamp during rock destruction in coal mines, Abstract of D.Sc. Thesis, Fire and industrial safety, AO «NTS VostNII», Kemerovo, Russian Federation.
12. Minieiev, S.P., Usov, О.O., Yanjula, A.S. and Horodkov, Ye.V. (2023), “Estimation of water consumption for explosion-proof irrigation of underground excavation machines' cutting track”,Scientific Bulletin of DonNTU, no 1(29), pp.76–82, https://doi.org/10.31474/2073-9575-2023-1(29)-76-82
13. Mineyev, S., Usov O. (2023), Mechanisms of methane-air mixture capture from a friction spark and methods for calculating its phlegmization, Proc. of the International scientific conference "Safe, comfortable, capable territorial community", Dnipro, Ukraine, 11–13 October 2023, pp. 115–118.
14. Korolchenko, A.Ya. (2002), “Calculation of the main fire and explosion safety indicators of substances and materials”, Pozharovzryvoopasnost' [Fire and explosion safety], vol.11, no 6, pp. 29–31.
15. Minieiev, S.P., Usov, О.O., Yanjula, A.S. and Miroshnichenko, V.V. (2024), “Assessment of the concentration of water drops near the point for anti-spark falling of underground victory machines”, Scientific Bulletin of DonNTU, no 1–2(31–32), pp.63– 69, https://doi.org/10.31474/2073-9575-2024-1(31)-2(32)-63-69
16. Sreznevskiy, B. (1882), Zhurnal Russkogo fiziko-khimicheskogo obshchestva [Journal of the Russian Physical-Chemical Society], no 14, p. 420.
17. Volkov, R.S., Kuznetsov, G.V. and Strizhak, P.A. (2012), “Numerical evaluation of optimal water droplet sizes under conditions of gas spraying by fire extinguishing agents in premises”, Pozharovzryvoopasnost' [Fire and explosion safety], vol. 21, no 5, pp.74–78. https://doi.org/10.18322/PVB.2012.21.05.74-78
18. Minieiev, S.P., Usov, О.O., Yanjula, A.S., Bodnar, A.А. and Chaban, O.V. (2024), “Method of calculating water consumption for anti-spark spraying road header”, Physical and technical problems of mining production, no (26), pp.106–116, https://doi.org/10.37101/ftpgv26.01.008 (accessed 20 november 2025)
19. Minieiev, S.P. (2018), “On the prevention of accidents related to methane explosions in coal mines”, Geo-Technical Mechanics, no 138, pp.115–136. https://doi.org/10.15407/geotm2018.01.115
20. Sofiyskiy, K.K., Stasevich, B.V., Bokiy, B.V., Sheyko, A.V., Gavrilov, V.I., Moskovskiy, O.V. and Dudlya, Ye.Ye. (2017), BezopasnostIefektivnostmetanougolnykhshakht [Safety and Efficacy of Methane-Coal Mines], FLP Khalikov, Kyiv, Ukraine.
21. Minieiev, S.P. (2009), Svoystva gazonasyshchennogo uglyа [Properties of Gas-saturated Coal], NGU, Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine.
22.Ukraine Ministry of Energy (2023), NAOP Proektuvannya degazatsii vuhilnykh shakht I expluatatsii degazatsiinykh system. Pravyla [NAOP Design of degassing of coal mines and operation of degassing systems. Rules],Ukraine Ministry of Energy, Dnipro, Ukraine.
About the authors
Minieiev Sergy, Doctor of Technical Sciences (D.Sc.), Head of Department management of dynamic manifestations of rock pressure, M.S. Poliakov Institute of Geotechnical Mechanics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (IGTM of the NAS of Ukraine), Dnipro, Ukraine, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , ORCID 0009-0000-4594-0915
Usov Oleg, Ph.D. (Tech.), Senior Researcher of Department management of dynamic manifestations of rock pressure, M.S. Poliakov Institute of Geotechnical Mechanics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (IGTM of the NAS of Ukraine), Dnipro, Ukraine, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (Corresponding author),ORCID 0000-0002-5481-2296
Zairov Sherzod, Doctor of Technical Sciences (D.Sc.), Professor of the Department of “Mining,” Navoi State University of Mining and Technologies, Navoi, Republic of Uzbekistan, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , ORCID 0000-0002-1513-5683
Gaibnazarov Bakhrom, Doctor of philosophy technical sciences (PhD), Docent of the Department of ”Mining” Almalyk State Technical Institute, Tashkent region, Almalyk, Republic of Uzbekistan, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , ORCID 0009-0004-3390-0520