Causes of methane inflammation in frictional rock–cutting tool contact

In most cases, the cause of explosions of hazardous methane–air–dust concentrations in coal mines is the frictional contact of rocks and rock cutting tools. Many researchers analyze the explosion hazard in operation of cutting tools in mines but have unachieved a common perception of the methane inflammation mechanism in rock cutting so far. Many researchers think the main cause of methane inflammation is the hot rock–cutting tool contact spot composed of fused rock particles and worn cutter tipping material. Methane inflammability depends on operating conditions, geometry of cutting tools and on the properties of materials they are made of. The higher cutting speed and the thicker reinforcement layer enhance probability of methane inflammation while the increased tool back clearance reduces explosion hazard of cutting tools. There is yet no uniform knowledge of the effect exerted by the cutter shape and type on the cutting explosion hazard: some scientists believe rotary picks with conical cutters reduce the likelihood of methane inflammation as compared with the radial prismatic cutting tools, others think the explosion hazard of the radial cutters is comparable with the explosion safety of the conical cutters. The highest controversy lies in the influence of the cutter material and reinforcement on cutting explosion hazard in the dust–methane–air environment, although some researchers trust the diamond-coated carbide and tungsten carbide–cobalt reinforcement can substantially reduce methane inflammability.

Keywords: methane, cutter, rock, explosion, inflammation, contact spot, operating conditions and geometry, material.
For citation:

Linnik Yu. N., Linnik V. Yu., Zhabin A. B., Poljakov A. V. Causes of methane inflammation in frictional rock–cutting tool contact. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2023;(4):67–76. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2023_4_0_67.

 

Acknowledgements:
Issue number: 4
Year: 2023
Page number: 67-76
ISBN: 0236-1493
UDK: 622-1/-9, 622.02
DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2023_4_0_67
Article receipt date: 23.12.2022
Date of review receipt: 03.03.2023
Date of the editorial board′s decision on the article′s publishing: 10.03.2023
About authors:

Yu.N. Linnik1, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Professor, e-mail: yn_linnik@guu.ru,
V.Yu. Linnik1, Dr. Sci. (Econ.), Assistant Professor, Professor, e-mail: vy_linnik@guu.ru,
A.B. Zhabin, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Professor, Full Member of Academy of Mining Sciences, Professor, Tula State University, 300012, Tula, Russia, e-mail: zhabin.tula@mail.ru,
A.V. Poljakov, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Assistant Professor, Expert, Tula Branch of Academy of Mining Sciences, 300028, Tula, Russia, e-mail: polyakoff-an@mail.ru,
1 State University of Management, 109542, Moscow, Russia.

 

For contacts:

V.Yu. Linnik, e-mail: vy_linnik@guu.ru.

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