Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Coal seam water infusion for dust control: a technical review

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Coal mine dust continues to be a health and safety issue in underground coal mines. Coal seam water infusion was developed and widely applied in European coal mines for dust control, and was also a common practice in most Chinese coal mines. This method typically involves the infusion of water into the coal seam to increase its moisture content, and therefore reduce dust generation during mining operations. With the availability of other dust control methods such as water spraying systems, the water infusion method has not been considered as a viable means for dust mitigation in modern mines. However, the increase in production output and the deployment of more powerful equipment for coal cutting and transport and intensive gas drainage practices mean that workers could be exposed to more dust contaminations. Whilst the mine operators are committed to suppress and dilute airborne dust particles using these passive measures, there is a need to critically examine and subsequently develop this proactive dust control technology for practical applications in Chinese coal mines. The paper provides a critical review of the water infusion technologies in view of its technological advances and practical application limitations. The methods of water infusion, mechanism of water flow in coal, the role of surfactants and the key parameters influencing the effect of water infusion on dust control are identified and discussed. Existing problems and prospects for water infusion are analysed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aguado MBD, Nicieza CG (2007) Control and prevention of gas outbursts in coal mines, Riosa–Olloniego coalfield, Spain. Int J Coal Geol 69(4):253–266

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barenblatt GI, Zheltov IP, Kochina IN (1960) Basic concepts in the theory of seepage of homogeneous liquids in fissured rocks. J Appl Math Mech 24(5):1286–1303

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cervik J, Sainato A, Deul M (1977) Water infusion of coalbeds for methane and dust control. Contraception 73(3):253–256

    Google Scholar 

  • Cervik J, Sainato A, Baker E (1983) Water infusion-an effective and economical longwall dust control. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 47(9):883–884

    Google Scholar 

  • Cetinbas A, Vinson RP, Cervik J, Zabetakis MG (1972) Methane and dust control by water infusion, Pittsburgh coalbed

  • Chen H (2008) Analysis on technics of water infusion of “three soft” coal seam. Coal Technol 27(8):158–159

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen X, Huo G (1999) Discussion on dustproof and sealing methods of water infusion in “three soft” coal seams. Coal Sci Technol 27(3):1–3

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng WM, Nie W, Zhou G, Yu Y, Ma Y, Xue J (2012) Research and practice on fluctuation water injection technology at low permeability coal seam. Saf Sci 50(4):851–856

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crawford RJ, Mainwaring DE (2001) The influence of surfactant adsorption on the surface characterisation of Australian coals. Fuel 80(3):313–320

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cybulski K, Malich B, Wieczorek A (2015) Evaluation of the effectiveness of coal and mine dust wetting. J Sustain Min 14(2):83–92

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frid V (2000) Electromagnetic radiation method water-infusion control in rockburst-prone strata. J Appl Geophys 43(1):5–13

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fu H, Chen G (2003) Test of coal seam water injection by gas drainage drilling. Jiangxi Coal Sci Technol 3:52–53

    Google Scholar 

  • Gao H (2007a) The study of deep hole coal seam water injection in coal mining faces., Anhui University of Science and Technology, Hefei, Master thesis

  • Gao J (2007b) Experimental study on shallow hole irrigating to coal seams in high gas synthesis mines working face. Anhui University of Science and Technology, Hefei, Master thesis

  • Gao S, Liu H (2010) Capillary mechanics. Science Press, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Glanville JO, Haley LH (1982) Studies of coal dust wetting by surfactant solutions. Colloids Surf 4(3):209–212

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gosiewska A, Drelich J, Laskowski JS, Pawlik M (2002) Mineral matter distribution on coal surface and its effect on coal wettability. J Colloid Interface Sci 247(1):107–116

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guo H, Wang H, Zhou J (2017) Study on coal seam water injection technology in fully mechanized mining face of Qipanjing mine. Min Saf Environ Prot 44(5):14–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Han J, Wang Y, Zhao S, Guan M (2010) Research status and influence factors of coal seam water injection. Sci Technol Innov Herald 3:73–74

    Google Scholar 

  • Hu G, Xu J, Ren T et al (2015) Field investigation of using water injection through inseam gas drainage boreholes to control coal dust from the longwall face during the influence of abutment pressure. Int J Surf Min Reclam Environ 30(1):48–63

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Imachi M (1998) Evaluation of Young’s equation and analysis of wetting. J High Temp Soc 24(4):318–321

    Google Scholar 

  • Jia Z (2012) Research on the dust control technology with dynamic pressure water injectionon fully mechanized caving face., Taiyuan University of Technology, Master thesis

  • Jia Z, Rong L, Zhou J, Wang F (2012) Dust control effect with water infusion on 23520 working face in Baijiazhuang mine. Shanxi Coal 32(11):59–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Jiang J, Cheng Y, Mou J et al (2015) Effect of water invasion on outburst predictive index of low rank coals in Dalong mine. PLoS One 10(7):e132355

    Google Scholar 

  • Jin L (1994) Development trend of water injection and dust prevention in coal seam in Germany. Min Saf Environ Prot 5:46–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Jin L (1997) Study and experiment on approach of dust suppression by sticking. J China Coal Soc 4:410–414

    Google Scholar 

  • Jin L, Li J, Sun Y (2010) Theory of mine dust control. Science Press, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Joseph DD (1966) Nonlinear stability of the Boussinesq equations by the method of energy. Arch Ration Mech Anal 22(3):163–184

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keller (1988) The contact angle of water on coal. Colloids Surf 22(1):21–35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kirwin RC (1986) Method for the control of dust using methacrylate containing emulsions and compositions.US

  • Kissell FN (2003) Handbook for dust control in mining. Niosh Inf Circ 54(9):969–976

    Google Scholar 

  • Kittle PA (1985) Method for suppressing coal dust.US

  • Kobashi M, Adachi A (1992) Effect of hepatic portal infusion of water on water intake by water-deprived rats. Physiol Behav 52(5):885–888

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li L (2006) Application of coal seam water injection in production of “three soft” unstable thick seam. Zhongzhou Coal 4:52–53

    Google Scholar 

  • Li J (2016) Situation analysis and the coal industry pneumoconiosis prevention countermeasures. Chem Eng Des Commun 46:11

    Google Scholar 

  • Li Y, Shao G (2004) Practice of water injection and precipitation by gas drainage borehole. Heilongjiang Sci Technol Inf 7:140

    Google Scholar 

  • Li Z, Qin SY, Sun GY (2003) Parameter reverse-solving of infiltrating character during water injection into coal seams. J Liaoning Tech Univ 22(6):728–731

    Google Scholar 

  • Li Q, Lin B, Zhao S, Dai H (2013) Surface physical properties and its effects on the wetting behaviors of respirable coal mine dust. Powder Technol 233(2):137–145

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li J, Zhou F, Liu H (2015) The selection and application of a compound wetting agent to the coal seam water infusion for dust control. Coal Prep 36(4):192–206

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lin Q (2013) Test on a new dust-removal additive and analysis on its application effect. Min Saf Environ Prot 3:62–64

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu J (2004) Test effect analysis of water injection technology with infiltration stick in Taoyuan coal mine. Saf Coal Mines 35(8):40–41

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu Z (2010) The research on water infusion parameters and construction technology for longwall top coal caving face used for Tang’an no.3 coal, Taiyuan University of Technology, Master thesis

  • Liu X (2014) Research of hole sealing technology for coal seam of mining face with high ground press. Energy Energy Conserv 5:190–192

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu X, Li Z, Zhang X, Yu H, Wang P (2011) Application of affusion in coal for dust control. Procedia Eng 26:902–908

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mcclelland JJ, Organiscak JA, Jankowski RA, Pothini BR (1987) Water infusion for coal-mine dust control: three case studies. RI 9096

  • Mo J, Wang L, Au W, Su M (2014) Prevalence of coal workers' pneumoconiosis in China: a systematic analysis of 2001-2011 studies. Int J Hyg Environ Health 217(1):46–51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murata, Zheng YX (1984) Influence of coal particle size on flotation—a study of coal flotation. Coal Prep Technol 5:49–54

    Google Scholar 

  • Oda M, Takemura T, Aoki T (2002) Damage growth and permeability change in triaxial compression tests of Inada granite. Mech Mater 34(6):313–331

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qin Y, Fu G (2000) Study on fractal characteristic of pore in coal and moisture absorbing property of coal. J China Coal Soc 25(1):55–59

    Google Scholar 

  • Qin S, Hai G (1992) Orthogonal experiment optimization method for injection parameters of coal seam. Min Saf Environ Prot 3:24–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Qin S, Qin W (2003) Engineering experiment research of the quantity theoretical orthogonal design optimal method for the coal-seam injection parameters. Eng Sci 5(10):38–52

    Google Scholar 

  • Radaelli F, Paggi S, Amato A, Terruzzi V (2010) Warm water infusion versus air insufflation for unsedated colonoscopy: a randomized, controlled trial. Gastrointest Endosc 72(4):701–709

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ren TX, Plush B, Aziz N (2011) Dust controls and monitoring practices on Australian longwalls. First Int Symp Mine Saf Sci Eng 26:1417–1429

    Google Scholar 

  • Roach SA (1968) The prevention and suppression of dust in mining, tunnelling and quarrying. Occupational & Environmental Medicine 25 (4): 332-b

  • Santhanam CJ, Lunt RR, Johnson SL et al (1979) Health and environmental impacts of increased generation of coal ash and FGD Sludges: report to the committee on health and ecological effects of increased coal utilization. Environ Health Perspect 33:131–157

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Seidle JP, Jeansonne MW, Erickson DJ (1992) Application of matchstick geometry to stress dependent permeability in coals. Spe Rocky Mountain Regional Meeting

  • Shi J (2012) Working face short hole infusion of practical technology research. J North China Inst Sci Technol 9(3):43–46

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh BP (1999) The role of surfactant adsorption in the improved dewatering of fine coal. Fuel 78(4):501–506

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sun Q, Cao X, Guo J (1993) Soft coal seam water injection dust reduction. Min Saf Environ Prot 4:25–35

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun Z, Wang Y, Li X (2014) Comprehensive dust control technology in mining thin coal seam. J Shandong Univ Sci Technol Nat Sci 33(2):67–74

    Google Scholar 

  • Thakur (1992) Study on the wettability of coal and its application. China Coal Industry Publishing House, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Tomb TF, Raymond LD (1975) Fifth International Labor Organization report on the prevention and suppression of dust in mining, tunneling, and quarrying in the United States

  • Vadlamudi R (1964) Darcy’s law. Encyclopedia Soils Environ 24(6):363–369

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker PL, Petersen EE, Wright CC (1952) Surface active agent phenomena in dust abatement. Ind Eng Chem 44(10):2389–2393

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang WH (2011a) Appliation present status and outlook of seam water injection dust control technology. Coal Sci Technol 39:57–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang Z (2011b) The research on seepage charaeteristie of water infusion for coal seam and Numerieal simulation analysis., Anhui University of Science & Technology, Hefei, Master thesis

  • Wang L (2012) Study of Qi’nan mine 10114 working face coal seam water injection effect. Jiangxi Coal Sci Technol 4:67–69

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Yuan G (2013) Study on using gas drainage hole water injection dust suppression technology. Sci Technol Eng 27(13):8111–8114

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang Q, Jin L, Sun J (2004) A research on coal seam water infusion course and coal body wetness mechanis. J Saf Environ 4(1):70–73

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang K, Zang J, Wang G, Zhou A (2014) Anisotropic permeability evolution of coal with effective stress variation and gas sorption: model development and analysis. Int J Coal Geol 130(4):53–65

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang K, Ma X, Jiang S, Wu Z, Shao H, Pei X (2016) Application study on complex wetting agent for dust-proof after gas drainage by outburst seams in coal mines. Int J Min Sci Technol 26(4):669–675

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Q, Wang D, Wang H, Shen Y, Zhu X (2018) Experimental investigations of a new surfactant adding device used for mine dust control. Powder Technol 327:303–309

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu C (2003) Chemical dust suppression. The Central South University Press, Changsha

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu C, Zuo Z, Ou J et al (2005) Different experimental devices for the determination of dust wetting agent. Chin J Nonferrous Metals 15(10):1612–1617

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu J, Guo J, Li S (2013) Study on boreholes layout and effect of dustproof with water injection in complicated coal seam. Coal Sci Technol 41(8):65–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Xie H, Wang K (2015) Research on status and development about technology of dust control by injecting water in coal seam. J North China Inst Sci Technol 12(6):10–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Xing S, Li Y, Yang D (2012) Application and exploration of short wall water injection in thin coal seam in tian Zhuang coal mine. Shandong Coal Sci Technol 4:159

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu S, Xu P, Lv Y (1984a) Experimental research on long drilling hole injection in thin coal seam. Jiangsu Coal Sci Technol 4:19–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu S, Xu Y, Lv Y (1984b) Test of adding wetting agent in coal seam water injection. Coal Sci Technol 8:23–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang J, Xiu K, Jian G et al (2010) Surface characteristics and wetting mechanism of respirable coal dust. Int J Min Sci Technol 20(3):365–371

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang SB, Nie W, Liu ZQ et al (2019) Effects of spraying pressure and installation angle of nozzle on atomization characteristics of external spraying system at a fully-mechanized mining face. Powder Technol 343:754–764

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yao Q, Xu C, Zhang Y, Zhou G, Zhang S, Wang D (2017) Micromechanism of coal dust wettability and its effect on the selection and development of dust suppressants. Process Saf Environ Prot 111:726–732

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yin SH, Xun C, Jiang LC (2015) Effect of ore particle size on solution capillary seepage in ore heaps. Chin J Eng 37(5):561–567

    Google Scholar 

  • Yin L, Ren T, Wynne et al (2016) A comparative study of dust control practices in Chinese and Australian longwall coal mines. Int J Min Sci Technol 26(2):199–208

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yuan ZG, Wang HT, Hu GZ et al (2011) Fisher discriminant analysis model and application of classifying difficulty degree of water infusion for coal seam. J China Coal Soc 36(4):638–642

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y (1994) The study of adding wetting agent to coal water injection. J Saf Sci Technol 1:47–53

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y (1995) Study on mechanism of wetting agent to improve water injection effect in coal seam. Mech Eng 17(3):54–57

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y (2001a) Coal seam water injection technology. China Coal Industry Publishing House, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y (2001b) Research on fully-mechanized caving coal seam affusion technology. Coal Sci Technol 29(1):33–35

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang M (2008) Application of shallow hole dynamic pressure water injection and dust prevention technology in mining face of three soft coal seams. Coal Eng 6:54–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang W (2015) Experimental study on compound wetting agent of dust prevention and water injection for coal seam. Anhui University Of Science and Technology, Hefei, Master thesis

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Z, Chen X (2000) Study on technology for water injection by long bore hole in three soft seam. China Saf Sci J 10(3):54

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang D, Liu B (2017) Statistics and prospect of occupational diseases of mine in China. China Energy Environ Prot 39(9):173–178

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang X, Song W (2006) Theoretical study on the seepage of water flooding in dual media of coal rock. J China Coal Soc 31(2):187–190

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang YK, Wang WY, Zhou JJ (2010) The influence of water injection pressure on percolation of low permeability reservoirs. Lithologic Reservoirs 22(2):120–124

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang S, Yu SJ, Song L, Shi X (2017) Reliability analysis of coal seam water injection system based on multilevel flow models. Saf Coal Mines 48(4):172–175

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang HH, Nie W, Wang HK, Bao Q, Jin H, Liu Y (2018) Preparation and experimental dust suppression performance characterization of a novel guar gum-modification-based environmentally-friendly degradable dust suppressant. Powder Technol 339:314–325

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao ZB (2008) Study of technology of variable-frequency pulse water infusion into coal seam. J Min Saf Eng 25(4):486–789

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao H (2016) Application technology of coal seam water injection in three soft coal seams. Mech Eng 3:206–207

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao Y, Hu Y, Duan K (1990). Consolidation mathematical model and numerical method for seepage of coal and rock strata. The National Symposium on numerical computation and model experiments of rock mechanics

  • Zheng L, Wang X (2015) Fault tree analysis of coal dust explosion. China Mine Eng 44:69–72

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng B, Jin X, Wei C (2014) Analysis of effect of water injection test on thin seam face and summary of dust proofing. Manag Technol SME 3:137–139

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou G, Ma Y, Fan T, Wang G (2018) Preparation and characteristics of a multifunctional dust suppressant with agglomeration and wettability performance used in coal mine. Chem Eng Res Des 132:729–742

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu R, Jin D (2004) Reasonable choice of infusion parameter in coal seam and the analysis of dust-proof effect. J Huainan Vocat Tech Coll 4(4):93–95

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu J, Liu H (2009) Analysis on the dustproof effect of water injection in coal Seam305 working face. Coal mine modernization (z1): 39–40

  • Zhu X, Lu Z (2017) Analysis on the characteristics of pneumoconiosis in coal mines in China and its control countermeasures. J Sci Eng Res 4(10):477–482

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base for Gas Geology and Gas Control (Henan Polytechnic University) Open Funding (WS2017A01) is acknowledged. The study is also supported by Key Projects of Science and Technology Research of The Ministry of Education (Grant No. 213022A) and PhD Funding of Henan Polytechnic University (Grant No. B2018-57). The authors also acknowledge the support by National Nature Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51804101, 51574112) and Youth Funding of Henan Polytechnic University (Grant No. Q2017-01).

Author information

Author notes

  1. Kaixuan Zhang and Jian Zhang contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base for Gas Geology and Gas Control, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, 454000, China

    Kaixuan Zhang, Jian Zhang & Xiangyu Xu

  2. College of Safety Science and Engineering, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, 454000, China

    Kaixuan Zhang, Jian Zhang, Jianping Wei & Xiangyu Xu

  3. The Collaborative Innovation Center of Coal Safety Production of Henan Province, Jiaozuo, 454000, China

    Jianping Wei

  4. School of Civil, Mining & Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia

    Ting Ren

Authors
  1. Kaixuan Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jian Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jianping Wei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ting Ren
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Xiangyu Xu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jian Zhang.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zhang, K., Zhang, J., Wei, J. et al. Coal seam water infusion for dust control: a technical review. Environ Sci Pollut Res 26, 4537–4554 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-04086-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-04086-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation