One of the basic tasks of powered roof support is to protect the longwall excavation against deformation of the rock mass during the underground exploitation of hard coal. The behavior of the rock mass during mining is difficult to predict. Therefore, the loads acting on the support are diverse in terms of nature, direction and force. The dynamic load resulting from rock bursts, relaxation and tremors may lead to particularly dangerous consequences involving the functionality of the workings and the safety of the crew. The powered roof support will function properly only if the elements dynamically loaded are under control at the moment of impact. The article presents the results of tests of the basic powered roof support’s element − a hydraulic leg impacted by dynamic load. The source of the load was a free falling impact mass dropped from a certain height. The tests covered the actual hydraulic leg with all hydraulic equipment used in the powered roof support. During the tests, the original measurement-recording system developed by the authors was used, in which, among others, a high-speed dynamic camera was used to record movements of the leg’s elements. The original research methodology developed together with the measurement system enabled the registration of many parameters of the leg’s work under dynamic load. In particular, this applies to time series of pressure in the leg and the value of its withdrawal depending on the energy of the impact. The individual phases of the leg’s work were also registered, including the opening and closing of the safety valve protecting the leg against overloading. The obtained results broaden knowledge in the field of hydraulic legs used in the mining support under dynamic load. At the same time, they are a valuable source of information for mine maintenance services and should be applied to the design process, selection and operation of a powered roof support in dynamic conditions. The subject of the article fits in with the philosophy of sustainable development, especially in the field of full use of options of the support and ensuring safe and environmentally friendly mining processes.

Various types of natural hazards are inextricably linked to the process of underground hard coal mining. Ventilation hazards—methane and spontaneous combustion of coal—are the most dangerous; they pose a major threat to the safety of the workers and decrease the effectiveness of the whole coal production process. One of the methods designed to limit the consequences of such hazards is based on the selection of a ventilation system that will be suitable for the given mining area. The article presents a case study of an active longwall area, where—due to increasing ventilation hazard (methane and spontaneous combusting of coal)—the whole system was rebuilt. The U-type ventilation system was used in the initial stage of the extraction process, however, it often generated methane in amounts that exceeded the allowable values. Consequently, such conditions forced the change of the ventilation system from a U–type to Y–type system. The new system was installed during the ongoing mining process, unlike the usual practice. The article presents the results of tests on mine gas concentrations and descriptive statistics for both types of ventilation system. The results clearly demonstrate that the U-type longwall ventilation system, in the case of high methane release hazard, prevents safe and effective operation. At the same time, the use of this system limits the carbon oxidation reactions in the goaf, leading to spontaneous heating and combustion, which is confirmed by the low concentrations of gases—by-products of these reactions. In turn, the use of the Y-type longwall ventilation system ensures safe and effective operation in areas with high methane release hazard, but at the same time deteriorates the safety associated with the spontaneous combusting of coal. The presented case—both from a scientific and practical perspective—is quite interesting and greatly broadens the knowledge in the scope of an efficient ventilation system for underground workings.

A powered roof support is one of the most important machines of a longwall system. Its basic task is to ensure the safety and continuity of the mining process. The conditions of coal mining process are constantly changing and have significantly deteriorated in recent years, which in turn has also resulted in a significant increase in the requirements for mining support. As a result, it is necessary to develop an appropriate methodology that will facilitate the design and testing process of a power roof support as well as will help to select a roof support adjusted to given conditions. The article presents such a methodology. It is based on forecasted load impacting on a roof support, tests covering selected systems and elements of the section as well as legal conditions regarding the admission of the roof support to operation. This idea was developed in the form of a procedure that, by combining the three areas, should support the decision-making process in the case of different underground conditions. In terms of the expected load impacting on the support, the research team identified the most dangerous phenomena occurring in the rock mass that can generate these loads. Stand tests included impact load and permanent clamping of an excavation. The element that significantly impacts the safety of the support operation is a hydraulic leg, and therefore it was tested together with the safety system and the control system. Model tests were also carried out for the system with a safety valve. The developed concept takes into account legal conditions, which should include test results and different support operating conditions in a more flexible way. The main purpose of the work was to develop a comprehensive methodology for testing and assessing the possibility of using a powered roof support for given mining and geological conditions based on an analysis of safety and control systems. The presented approach is undoubtedly new and original, and can be widely used. It enables better adaptation of the support to given conditions. It also fits the research and activities designed to minimize the presence of miners or service workers in hazardous underground exploitation zones and to improve efficiency and boost sustainable development of the mining industry.

One of the major natural hazards occurring during the process of mining exploitation are endogenous fires. They cause very large material losses and constitute a threat to the health and life of the workers. Such fires usually start and develop in the goafs. The remaining coal and the oxygen-containing air flowing at a certain rate may lead to endogenous fires. The basic element of the assessment of the occurrence of an endogenous fire and the degree of its development is the chemical composition of the air flowing out of the longwall and the goafs. The monitoring of this composition also makes it possible to assess the severity of such a fire. The damage that can be caused by the endogenous fire requires scientific and experimental research being carried out on a wide scale in order to limit its occurrence and development. All papers and research mentioned in the paper aim to find a tool that will help to control the fires. The paper discusses the development of a new and original method of combating the threat of endogenous fires. It is based on the installation designed to feed an ash and water mixture or an ash and water mixture with carbon dioxide to goafs. The foundation of the paper is a method based on a vast depth of expertise and knowledge gained by the authors in the field of combating endogenous fires. The developed installation prepares and transports ash and water mixtures together with carbon dioxide to the zones with high probability of endogenous fires. The mixture is a preparation of the surface of a mine, and later, it is transported underground by pipelines to the goafs where a high level of the fire hazard was identified. The construction of the system and the composition of the mixture used are both original solutions; their practical application limited the process of spontaneous heating of coal. Monitoring the chemical composition of gases in the air of the goafs made it possible to control the effects of applied measures; it proved that carbon dioxide used as an inert gas disturbs the process of carbon oxidation, and the water and ash mixture limits the inflow of the air with oxygen. The advantage of the method is particularly evident in the case of the exploitation of deposits where coal has a short incubation time. This original approach allows for a better and more effective response to endogenous fires.

The paper discusses the results of a study carried out to determine the thermal condition of a conveyor power unit using a thermal imaging camera. The tests covered conveyors in the main haulage system carrying coal from a longwall. The measurements were taken with a thermal imaging diagnostic method which measures infrared radiation emitted by an object. This technology provides a means of assessing the imminence and severity of a possible failure or damage. The method is a non-contact measuring technique and offers great advantages in an underground mine. The thermograms were analysed by comparing the temperature distribution. An analysis of the operating time of the conveyors was also carried out and the causes of the thermal condition were determined. The main purpose of the research was to detect changes in thermal state during the operation of a belt conveyor that could indicate failure and permit early maintenance and eliminate the chance of a fire. The article also discusses the construction and principle of operation of a thermal imaging camera. The findings obtained from the research analysis on determining the thermal condition of the conveyor drive unit are a valuable source of information for the mine’s maintenance service.