5 Important Pieces Of Equipment In A Coal Mine
Almost 40% of the electricity in the United States is generated by coal. In 2013, as many as 984.8 million short tons of coal were produced. Think about that for a second. When you consider the amount of coal it takes to provide that much electricity, you start realizing how important the coal mining industry is to the job market. It's not just the coal miners that benefit from coal mining. Employees of various manufacturers that supply equipment and parts to coal mining operations benefit as well. Here are a few important pieces of equipment used in the coal mining industry.
Mining Power Center
A mining power center operates all the equipment inside a mine, which includes the important monitor systems that keep the miners safe from exposure to coal dust and dangerous gases that could cause death. Mining power centers also provide necessary lighting so the miners can work in safe conditions. Many of the components of the mining power center are encased in extremely durable metal so they are not damaged in case of an explosion or collapse. That way, the gas monitor and lighting systems will still function in case of an emergency.
Continuous Mining Machine
A continuous mining machine is the machine that cuts the coal from the face of the seam. It breaks off large chunks of the coal and puts the coal onto a conveyor belt. It may have a coal crusher incorporated into the design to further break up the coal into manageable chunks for easier transport. The conveyor belt then transports the coal to a shuttle car that will take the coal up to the mine entrance in large mines. In small mines, the conveyor belt may take the coal all the way to the entrance.
Dust Control System
A dust control system is necessary for two main reasons. One, the amount of dust within a coal mine needs to be controlled so the workers do not acquire what is known in the industry as black lung. Two, coal dust is highly explosive. Dust control systems use water to weigh down the dust so it doesn't while coal is being mined so the dust doesn't hang in the air. Dust control systems also use ventilation units with powerful fans to pull dust out of the air and sealed ducts to contain the dust-filled air.
Centrifugal Pump
Water can be found in coal mines. The water can come from the dust control system as well as from natural underground springs and groundwater. A centrifugal pump is necessary to collect the water from the surface of the mine floor. This is important so the mine does not fill with water. Since the water that needs to be pumped out of mines is mixed with dirt and coal, a centrifugal pump is used to separate the water from the materials.
Vibratory Screeners
Vibratory screeners are large screens that separate materials depending on weight and size. Think about how you may have seen gold miners use small screens to shake mud from a river bed to separate out the gold pieces they are looking for. Vibratory screeners use the same principle. These screeners are used at the top of the mine where the conveyor belt (or shuttle) dumps the coal out. Vibratory screeners are also used for the solid materials that are separated from water by the centrifugal pump.
The coal mining industry is important to the electricity demands of the United States and to the employees who build, maintain and repair these types of equipment. Manufacturers who provide equipment to coal mines generally build the equipment to each customer's specifications.
Share
