Trends toward reduction of mine methane emission in atmosphere

Currently, much attention is paid to reducing harmful emissions by industrial enterprises into the surrounding atmosphere. This also applies to coal mine methane, whose emissions are increasing every year. To date, there are two directions for reducing mine methane emissions: flaring and useful use. Very often, the methane-air mixture captured from coal mines becomes unsuitable for useful use due to the low methane content in it, although mixtures with a sufficiently high methane content suitable for use without additional enrichment with natural gas come out of degassing wells. The problem is that it is often impossible to deliver the extracted methane-air mixture to the surface with minimal concentration losses. To do this, it is necessary to know what concentration losses are minimal in these operating conditions of an underground vacuum gas pipeline, taking into account its design parameters and the technical characteristics of the material from which the pipeline is made. Losses in the concentration of methane in the gas mixture occur due to insufficient sealing of the mouth of the degassing wells, as well as large air intake through the non-density of the flange connections of the pipe links. In order to ensure a stable concentration of methane in the mixture and its amount, it is necessary to monitor the above parameters in the “on-line” mode and promptly eliminate the causes of emerging air suction. These measures will help to stabilize the work of coal mine methane consumers and increase their quantity.

Malashkina V. A. Trends toward reduction of mine methane emission in atmosphere. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2021;(10-1):137—145. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2021_10 1_0_137.

Malashkina V. A., Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Professor of the Department of «Safety and ecology mining production» of the Moscow Мining Institute of the NUST “MISIS”, ORCID ID 0000-0001-9270-4790.

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