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Recommendations for the prevention and suppression of coal dust explosions at underground coal mines in the United States
Goertz, Benjamin
Goertz, Benjamin
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2017
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The underground coal industry has recognized the need for better regulations and practices to prevent coal dust explosions in the United States. The catastrophe that occurred at the Upper Big Branch (UBB) Mine in 2010 exposed America to the destructive and violent nature of coal dust explosions. This research examines rock dusting, mine dust sampling and analysis, rock dust inspection procedures and various types of explosion barriers. The regulatory standards and industry practices in the United States are compared with those in other leading mining countries to outline their effectiveness at preventing or extinguishing a coal dust explosion. This thesis identifies the development of active barrier technology for continuous miners, along with longwalls, the implementation of hygroscopic salts, and other strategic recommendations of best practices and needed research, will lead to the prevention and suppression of coal dust explosions at underground coal mines in the United States.ates.
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