Automated rock dusting controllers

Abstract

The development of a device to detect a hazardous coal dust layer and automatically start rock-dusting concentrations to render the coal layer nonflammable is discussed. The controller makes use of a float dust deposition meter (FDDM) for measuring the thickness of deposited dust. The research consisted of three phases. In the first phase, the process was modeled using Monte Carlo methods and previously obtained statistical values of the model parameters to demonstrate the feasibility of the concept and provide experimental design criteria for the subsequent experiments. In the second phase, laboratory-scale experiments were conducted using the FDDM to measure the optical reflectivity of multiple strata of alternate rock dust and coal dust float dust layers as a function of layer thickness. The results of these experiments confirmed the model and showed that a dusting machine controller can accurately and automatically control the concentration of rock dust within narrow limits.<>