Department of Mining Engineering

Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur

Mid-Semester Examination (Autumn 2016) Time: 2 Hours Full Mark: 30 No. of students: 70

s" Semester: B. Tech/ M Tech (Dual Degree) in Mining Engineering

Subject: Underground Coal Mining - MI31001

(Answer all questions)

In a powered support longwall panel, chock shield type powered support (4/460Te) is used at (6)
the face to extract 3 m coal seam. The shearer cuts a web of 60 cm/shear at the coal face. The
distance from the canopy tip to coal face is 0.25 cm when the support is fully advanced prior to
shearer takes a web. Length of canopy is 3.25 m and support spacing is 1.50 m, set skin to skin
at the face. Setting pressure of support is 80% of its yield value. Calculate the setting resistance
and yield resistance (in J"e/m2) at the minimum and maximum span of the coal face.

2 Write short notes (Any four) (2x4)

.(a) Setting pressure and yield pressure in a PSLW face operation

(b) Power pack in a longwall panel

(c) Chain pillars

(d) Minimum and maximum span of longwall face

(e) Subsidence factor in extraction of coal seam

3 Identify the correct statements. (1x6)

(a) Coal plough is best suited for hard coal and shearer is suitable only for soft coal.

{b) Gate roads in a caving longwall panel are supported by individual hydraulic props and
face by powered support.

{c) Percentage extraction of coal is higher in Bard & Pillar than longwall.

(d) The shield type powered supports have usually more number of legs than chock shields in
a similar mining condition.

(e) At greater depths longwall is best suited than Bord & Pillar.

(f) In shearing a moderately thick coal seam, the leading drum of shearer cuts the bottom
portion of the coal seam and rear drum the top portion i.e. 1st bottom portion cutting and
then subsequently followed by top portion.

4 (a) What is the difference between the mineable and extractable reserve? (2.5x4)

(b) Name four basic geological plans required for mine planning.

{c) What are the advantages of coal bed methane extraction prior to coal extraction?

(d) What are the advantages of opencast mining in comparison to underground mining?

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