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By M. E. Austin

Many numerical models for the tubular solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) exist, with various degrees of sophistication. However, the question of what physics must be modelled, and what can be neglected has not been resolved. A parametric model is proposed and analyzed to quantify the influence of thermal phenomena such as reaction heat generation, cathode channel convective cooling, and thermal radiation with participating media. Currently, a three-dimensional model is used to simulate the conditions of an anode supported cell in the centre of a tube bundle. The interconnect and nickel foam spacers that bridge adjacent cells in series and parallel, respectively, are neglected thus enabling a domain consisting of a 45o azimuthal section of the tube. The conservation equations for mass, energy, and species transport are solved using commercial computational fluid dynamics software, and radiation heat transfer is also modelled using a Discrete Ordinates method. Finally, temperature-dependent material properties and reaction rates are used. The model predicts lower overall temperatures than models that do not include radiative heat exchange and more moderate temperature gradients than those that ignore participating media radiation. Further, different regimes are identified, from convection dominated heat transfer to radiation dominated heat transfer. The results can be used to aid in the selection of appropriate models for a given fuel cell operating regime.

Jan 1, 2005

"Geometallurgy is a discipline that seeks to improve the sustainability of the extraction of metals and minerals by promoting the smarter use of non-renewable resources, better energy efficiency and greater use of renewable energy. To achieve these goals, development of innovative technologies and approaches are being developed along the entire commodity value chain, starting with exploration and extraction and extending to reuse and recycling. This paper discusses the geometallurgy of industrial minerals with special emphasis on kaolin, a versatile industrial mineral applied in ceramics, paper, paint, plastics, rubber, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, ink, sealants, adhesives, sanitary ware, glass fibre, toothpaste, animal feed etc. Aspects of kaolin extraction in south-west UK are analysed from a geometallurgical perspective. While geometallurgy already features in kaolin extraction, its role can be significantly expanded by combining advanced in-pit characterisation and orebody modelling with integrated planning and control of the refining and calcination process. This paper highlights the importance of innovation in realising the full potential of geometallurgy.CITATION:Glass, H J, 2016. Geometallurgy – Driving Innovation in the Mining Value Chain, in Proceedings The Third AusIMM International Geometallurgy Conference (GeoMet) 2016, pp 21–28 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Jun 15, 2016

By P. D. Lindahl

[A cost/benefit analysis was conducted by comparing the industry cost to protective structures on low-coal face equipment with the benefits paid for injuries/fatalities considered preventable by the use of these structures. Th industry costs were based on estimates by OEM's and rebuild shops for install protective structures on new and rebuilt face equipment. The accident benefit was based on evaluations performed by the USBM Accident Cost Indicator Model. Industry wide population data were developed on low-coal face equipment and injuries/ fatalities preventable with protective structures. The results of the analysis are to be used as a tool by USBM in determining the feasibility of continuing development of cab and canopy technology for low-coal equipment.]

Jan 1, 1983

By Peter Zhang, Daniel Su, Bo Hyun Kim

Shale gas wells drilled in longwall chain pillars are influenced by longwall mining. Longwall mining on each side of the chain pillars can create overburden movements and induce deformations in gas well casings. If the deformations result in a casing breach, intrusive shale gas could leak into the longwall mine with serious safety consequences. This study concerns five shale gas wells in the chain pillars between two adjacent longwall panels in the Pittsburgh coal seam under a cover depth of 670 ft and a mining height of 7 ft. The gas wells were constructed with typical casing design, but a casing cementing alternative with uncemented production casings was practiced. Four production casings were uncemented, and one production casing was unintentionally cemented with good quality cement to a 535-ft depth and low-quality cement stringers from a 444- to 535-ft depth. The longwall faces passed by the shale gas wells as each adjacent longwall panel retreated. Production casings were surveyed by a multi-finger caliper after each panel was mined. No deformation was detected in the four uncemented production casings, but small deformations were detected in the partially cemented production casing. The maximum measured deformation in the cemented production casing was 0.05 in. after first panel mining and 0.06 in. after second panel mining. The casing deformations were also predicted by the FLAC3D model set up on site-specific overburden geology. The predicted deformations were in good agreement with the measurements in terms of deformation locations and magnitudes. All five shale gas wells resumed normal production after being temporarily plugged during the period of mine-by. This study provides a successful demonstration of the effectiveness of a casing cementing alternative for decoupling production and intermediate casing, and thus minimizing the influence of longwall mining in the shale gas wells drilled through longwall chain pillars.

Jul 1, 2023

By J. Kretschmann, T. Rudolph, L. Michael, P. Goerke-Mallet

The mining value chain plays an important role in our societal development. Even in a circular economy, mining and raw materials are in great demand, and so are skilled engineers. In Germany, many students decide to pursue STEM studies in the tertiary degree. Nevertheless, the OECD reports low completion rates in obtaining the degree of studies [1]. Generally, the dropout rates in STEM education are high [2]. Many students have difficulties with basic subjects such as science and mathematics, in which they lack knowledge they should have acquired in school [2]. With the German STE(A)M project PepperMINT (https://peppermint.thga.de/), the Technische Hochschule Georg Agricola (THGA) offers a digital and open educational platform, as a dynamic, massive open, online course (MOOC) for students and prospective engineers. The project is funded by the RAG-Stiftung (RAG-Foundation; No. 20-0004). Using adaptable MOOC classes and applied examples from the wide-ranging cycle of mining activities, we motivate students to engage in STEM studies. Our adaptive and application-oriented content demonstrates the diversity of jobs and career paths in the mining industry. The integrations of applied examples and research activities of the Technische Hochschule Georg Agricola can increase the curiosity and motivation of learners. In mathematics, mine-surveiying technologies and geomonitoring methods (see figure 1) can be used to teach trigonometry. Additionally the concept of the free open online classes enables students in high school to get insights into the field of engineering before they decide the subject of their studies. For freshmen who already decided to pursue a STEM degree, the PepperMINT courses can help to identify and close knowledge gaps and to align different levels of knowledge within a heterogeneous student body. Empowering students in STEM education and integrating examples from mining research can help us train the mining engineers of the future.

Mar 2, 2022

By C. R. Austin

THE investigation described in this paper deals with the development of high-temperature alloys of the Konel series over a considerable period of time at the Research Laboratories of the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Co. The word "Konel" has been coined to designate a class of alloys which are essentially nickel-cobalt-iron with other elements added, usually in small quantities. Most of these alloys contain titanium, usually about 2.5 percent. The main consideration related to strength at high temperatures but the thermionic characteristics of the alloys was also of considerable importance. It is, however, with the mechanical properties at elevated temperatures that we are herein concerned. Much attention has also been devoted to their age-hardening characteristics. There is little need to stress the utilitarian aspect of this subject, as it has been discussed frequently. Alloys exhibiting superior properties at normal or elevated temperatures rapidly find many suitable applications. There may be some question, however, as to what constitutes a "superior alloy, " or an alloy that may have good service possibilities at high temperatures. The problem is complex and various means have been employed to predict the useful life that may be expected of a material. In recent years the "creep limit" has been used as the best means of evaluation. Such tests necessarily are prolonged and hence collection of data is very slow. In a general survey of many alloys therefore the creep test is not desirable and recourse must be had to much shorter time tests in order more rapidly to select alloys which appear to show promise. For this reason the present survey has been made using the high-temperature tensile test and a bend' test developed by Howard Scott.1 In the tensile test the conditions have been standardized for all tests, so that values obtained are at least comparable, one alloy with another, although the absolute values recorded merely indicate the mechanical properties at the given temperature under a definite rate of loading.

Jan 1, 1931

By H. U. Ross

ROASTING is usually thought of as a process in which finely crushed or ground ore is heated with air in a suitable furnace in which the ore is rabbled or agitated in such a way as to insure complete reaction between the oxygen of the air and the oxidisable constituents of the ore. Roasting in this sense is used only to a very limited extent in the iron and steel industry. This is because, in most iron ore deposits mined today, the ore is of a type that does not require roasting. Where this process is used, it is usually because of some special circumstance, such as a peculiar economic condition, that warrants it. If roasting is looked upon in the broader sense as a gas-solid chemical reaction carried out at an elevated temperature in which both gaseous and solid products are formed, then the process is used in the iron and steel industry to a greater extent

Jan 1, 1961

By W. D. Keller

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) accompanied by X-ray energy dispersive analysis (XES) is a useful tool in process clay mineralogy. The texture of kaolin, illustrated by SEM, gives a clue to its mode of genesis and probable industrial application. One type of kaolin, originating dominantly by weathering, has an open texture, slakes readily, and is used for filling and coating paper. Another type, in contrast, originates by diagenesis of Al-silicate sediments, and spectacularly resists slaking, thereby enabling it to maintain its bulk density and controlled size and shape of particles after crushing and moistening; this meets an important requirement for the manufacture of refractories. Ratios of elemental Al:Si that may be rapidly determined by SEM and XES yield information on the origin and purity of bauxite and bauxitic clays, and aid in quality control and processing of them. SEM of dissimilar textures of quartz, as in chert and novaculite, are evidence for geothermometry on a stratigraphic scale that is potentially useful in delimiting thermally favorable or unfavorable areas for hydrocarbon exploration, and possibly for unexposed metallic ore deposits.

Jan 1, 1982

By Jorge A. S. Tenório, Pedro F. A. Prado, Denise C. R. Espinosa

There has been an increasing push to develop environmentally sound recycling processes of electronic waste (WEEE), including end-of-life photovoltaic modules, to reclaim materials such as silver which is both valuable and pollutant to human health and wildlife. However, process sustainability and economic feasibility of PV panels recycling is strongly tied to the materials separation step, which currently presents challenges due to use of high temperature treatments and strongly acidic solutions. A method using an easily accessible solvent — isopropanol— dissolved the silicone-based encapsulant of crystalline silicon PV modules in 2 days at room temperature, separating the module into semiconductor wafer, glass, ribbon and backsheet.

Mar 1, 2017

By Wong KY, Woodcock JT

Previous results have shown how con- trolled-potential sulphidization (CPS) can give improved metallurgy during rougher flo- tation of mixed oxide-sulphide copper ores. Results in this paper, using different samples and different equipment, confirm the previous results and extend the application of CPS to cleaner flotation. By using CPS, faster flotation of copper minerals (chalcocite and malachite) from clay was obtained in roughing and cleaning, and improved concentrate grades and recoveries were achieved over those by conventional manual control. The optimum sulphidizing potential (i.e. the potential of a sulphide ion-selective electrode versus a saturated calomel electrode) was -500 mV, and could be controlled to ¦5 mV, during four rougher- scavenger and three cleaner-re cleaner stages. This optimum gives the best balance between copper recovery, concentrate grade, and sodium sulphide consumption. Five cleaning circuits and five ore com- posites of different composition (0.55-1.50 per cent Cu) were examined as well as the effect of feed size and pulp density. Better results were obtained at 20 per cent solids in a Denver cell than at 33 per cent solids in an Agitair cell; this may have been related to the high clay content of the ore. Commercial equipment for pilot plant or full-scale plant application of CPS is cur- rently being developed.

Jan 1, 1986

By Kazusuke Sato, Takahiro Uno, Koji Hoshino

"A novel Ni coating technique of Ni(OH)2 powders was developed to improve the positive-electrode performance· of the Ni-MH batteries. It was found out that Ni(OH)2 powder was reduced by N2H4 without any catalysts in an alkaline - solution at high temperatures. In result of observation of pH and potential changes in the solution during the reaction, it was found that the reduced species was HNio2- ion dissociated from Ni(OH)2 in the alkaline solution. The molar fraction of reduced Ni of the Ni(OH)2 was increased in proportion to the amount of added N2H4. At the small Ni fraction, a porous Ni layer was formed on the surface of Ni(OH)2 powder. Open cell tests were carried out with the paste type electrodes made of either the Ni coated Ni(OH)2 powder or non-coat powder, and cell performances were compared. In result, it was found that the Ni coating technique is effective on improvement in the utilization of Ni(OH); as a positive-electrode active material under high current densities.IntroductionNi-MH rechargeable battery is generally used for the power source of portable machines and electric vehicles because of its good performance at high energy density and. long term cyclical life as well as cleanness and good safety. Cell component materials have been improved respectively, and as concerns ·the positive-electrode reducing 'the internal resistance is a principal problem to improve the discharging performance at higher current densities.In recent years, improved Ni(OH)2 powders coated with conductive materials as NI. or CoOOH have been developed for the· positive-electrode active materials in order to· reduce the internal resistance of the electrode1)· 2) The Ni coated Ni(OH)2, however, is costly because it is fabricated by .the -non-electrode plate technique which needs a expensive precious ·metal catalyst as PdC12We found that Ni(OH)2 powder was reduced by N2H4 without any cryatalysts in an alkaline solution at high temperatures. After the treatment, Ni(OH)2 powder become gray color like Ni powder from light-green color; and. turned into a magnetic. In this study, the mechanism of the -reducing reaction was investigated to apply the reactions .to a novel Ni coating technique of Ni(OH)2 powders, · and the performance of the Ni coated Ni(OH)2 powder obtained by the reducing process was evaluated as an -positive-electrode active material of Ni-MH batteries."

Jan 1, 2000

By Greg Nutson, Jeremy Butkovich, Bill Perkins, Hollie Ellis, Paul Bott

"Dynamic soil-structure interaction (DSSI) analyses are becoming more common in bridge designs, especially in seismically active areas. Because of its proximity to two active fault zones, the Evergreen Point west approach bridge replacement will be base isolated, and will be designed using DSSI. The project team completed two independent bridge designs to satisfy peer review requirements. The designs required substantial characterization of the soil dynamic behavior using both laboratory and in-situ testing. The analyses made use of earthquake time histories spectrally matched to conditional mean spectra. This led to reduced, and more realistic seismic demands on the structure, compared to conventional uniform hazard spectrum matching. The bridge analyses suggest that the preliminary bridge design is relatively conservative. This will allow the design team to potentially reduce shaft/column diameters and reinforcement. The design team estimates that the dynamic analysis design could represent a net savings of around $60 to $90 million compared to a conventional design.INTRODUCTIONThe Evergreen Point Bridge conveys State Route (SR) 520 2.6 miles (4.2 kilometers [km]) from Seattle to Medina across Lake Washington. The bridge is located in a seismically active area, and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has determined that the western half of the 1960s-era bridge (the “west approach”) is vulnerable to earthquake damage. WSDOT has begun preliminary design to replace the west approach bridge.The west approach extends about 6,100 feet (1,900 meters [m]) east from Seattle’s Montlake neighborhood, over Union Bay and Foster Island, then into Lake Washington proper (Figure 1). Approximately 5,600 feet (1,700 m) of the replacement bridge would be constructed over water. Subsurface conditions along the bridge alignment consist of 5 to 80 feet (2 to 24 m) of very soft peat and clay, over very dense/hard sand and clay. Multiple pile supported columns support the existing bridge. The new bridge would be supported by 8- to 10- foot-diameter (2.4 to 3.0 m) drilled shafts that extend about 50 feet (15 m) into the underlying very dense/hard soil. To reduce seismic demands on the bridge superstructure, WSDOT has decided to incorporate a base-isolation system into the bridge design."

Jan 1, 2017

By D. F. Malan, J. C. Esterhuyse

In this study we explore the use of a novel numerical modelling approach to study the effect of pillar reinforcement on pillar stability. Case studies in the literature indicate that tendons, strapping of the pillars, and shotcrete or thin spray-on liners are commonly used to reinforce pillars. No clear methodology exists to select the type of support or to design the capacity of the support required, however. This has led to ongoing collapses in some mines in spite of heavy support being used to reinforce unstable pillars. A limit equilibrium model with confinement on the edge of the pillar was used to simulate the interaction of the support with the failing pillar. The model correctly predicts that an increase in confinement will lead to a decrease in the extent of pillar failure. As the displacement discontinuity boundary element method allows for the efficient solution of largescale bord-and-pillar layouts, the effect of pillar confinement can now be studied on a mine-wide scale. Accurate calibration of the limit equilibrium model is, however, required before this method can be used for the design of effective pillar support.

May 3, 2023

By E. O. Reinbold, J. H. Johnson, D. E. Keski-Hynnila

A field laboratory for use in monitoring underground mine air quality has been developed and proven in underground service. The laboratory includes two separate monitoring systems and data analysis computer programs. One is the Mine Air Monitoring Laboratory (MAML). This is an enclosed trailer-mounted laboratory capable of monitoring CO2, CO, NO, NO2 particulate matter, S02, NH3, temperature and air velocity in the mine drift. The MAML can be up to 1000 feet away from the area being monitored. The second system is the vehicle data system, mounted on the load-haul-dump (LHD) vehicle, which monitors engine speed, engine fuel rack position, exhaust gas temperature, ambient temperature, vehicle speed, CO2 concentration near the operators' breathing zone and the mode of operation of the vehicle. The two computer data analysis programs and the two field instrument systems comprise a complete Mine Air Quality Laboratory (MAQL) for underground pollutant studies. Data from the systems have been used for studying vehicle duty cycles, ventilation systems, exhaust after-treatment devices, vehicle exhaust system design and portable instrumentation. Descriptions of the laboratory are presented along with a summary of some of the experiments performed. The capabilities of the lab are discussed, along with future potential uses.

Jan 1, 1981

By O. Tshifungat, A. Luzanga, N. Goel, S. Sandoval

"Tenke Fungurume Mining Company (TFM), located in Katanga Province, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), began production of copper cathode and cobalt hydroxide in March 2009. Copper production capacity was 115 000 t/a utilizing a semi-autogenous grinding, agitated leach, countercurrent decantation process followed by solvent extraction and electrowinning (SX-EW). Cobalt production capacity (as cobalt hydroxide) was 8000 t/a utilizing a three-stage purification/precipitation process treating raffinate from the copper SX-EW process. Recently a phase II expansion was completed, in which copper electrowinning capacity was doubled and four stages were added to the SX plant. Corresponding enhancements were made to mining, milling, and processing to bring production to 195 kt/a copper and 15 kt/a cobalt. An additional sulphuric acid plant is currently being constructed, adding 1400 t/d sulphuric acid to bring total acid production to 2250 t/d for use in leaching at TFM.Initial copper electrowinning results were satisfactory, but cathode quality and current efficiency decreased as copper production increased. The Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) Technology Centre and TFM personnel began operation of two bench-scale copper electrowinning cells in the tankhouse to diagnose chemistry effects on the cathode and anode. The results indicated an excellent electrolyte chemistry, producing finely crystalline copper at 430 A/m2 current density with 98% current efficiency. Attention next turned to the physical factors of the electrowinning cells, including electrode insulator geometry and performance. A demonstration cell was selected in the tankhouse and was operated with varying cathode and anode insulator geometries. Operation of the demonstration cell with a three-side cathode edge strip, A-style anode insulators, and an improved cell furniture design increased current efficiency from 77% to 89% at 400 A/m2 current density. Cathode quality improved correspondingly. TFM is now operating at 92% current efficiency."

Jan 1, 2016

By R. A. Burton, J. T. Hansford, D. A. T. Donohue

Substantial evidence indicates that many petroleum producing horizons contain naturally occurring, ordered fracture systems and that within a particular geologic zone, vertical fractures induced in wellbores often will be directed along a particular compass direction. Both conditions will seriously alter the fluid displacement behavior within reservoirs. In this study the effect of induced fracture orientation and length on sweep efficiency is determined for a five-spot pattern. In general, it is assumed that all wells are fractured and directed along the same compass direction. Using the electrical analog to steady state, two-dimensional fluid flow in porous media, boundary conditions are obtained from which flood fronts are tracked numerically. The numerical computations require a particle tracking routine for approximating flood front histories. It is shown that recovery is sensitive to the length and orientation of fractures for the pattern studied. with the proper design of fracture-pattern systems, recovery can be enhanced considerably. INTRODUCTION Hydraulic fracturing introduced in 1949l gave the industry a rather inexpensive means of increasing the fluid injection or production capacity of wells. It has been used with particular success to increase the production rate of wells completed in tight formations, such as in western pennsylvania2 where producers have fractured in depleted or near-depleted fields and observed economic responses. Once the natural energy declines in such a reservoir where all wells have been fractured, waterflooding is generally suggested as means of further increasing recovery. Of the dual objective sought in waterflooding — high injectivity and high breakthrough sweep efficiency — the former condition can be obtained if all wells in the flood pattern are fractured; the latter condition should depend on the nature of the fracture system. Considerable theoretical work has been published on the nature of fractures induced in boreholes.3-5 Although discussion persists concerning the possibility of forming a horizontal fracture at a given point within the wellbore, it is generally conceded that only vertical fractures will develop below a given depth, i.e., where the fracturing Pressure is less than the overburden load. Given the fact that fractures will be vertical in most cases of interest, it is also important to know whether there is order to fracture orientations within a given geological region. Kehle has suggested that in tectonically relaxed areas of uncomplicated geology, the stresses are fairly uniform and all fractures in the region should be parallel.5 Dunlap arrived at a similar conclusion in a theoretical investigation of localized stress conditions surrounding the borehole.6 He concluded that most vertical fractures are propagated in a preferred azimuthal direction. Fraser and Pettitt, in extending these theoretical suggestions to a specific field case, used an impression packer to record both a vertical fracture and the orientation of this fracture in the wellbore of a well in the Howard Glasscock field, Tex.7 Use of this information enhanced the waterflood recovery of the field. Anderson and Stahl also used impression packers on three fractured wells in the Allegheny field. N. Y.. and found that the fractures were oriented more or less along the same compass direction.8 Orientation of the fractures in this manner depends on the stress condition within the formation during fracturing. Elkins and Skov have demonstrated that a natural, oriented, vertical fracture system exists within the Spraberry field? Heck suggests

Jan 1, 1969

By B. M. Burchfiel

CALIFORNIA possesses such an abundance of ceramic materials other than clays, that she is quite independent of other states and foreign countries so far as these materials are concerned. Certain users import some feldspar, silica, and allied minerals, but they do so from choice and not necessity. Production is largely for home consumption, so the total volume of ceramic materials produced is comparatively small. Many small deposits of the materials here under discussion are worked by individuals, and their output sold to individual grinding companies or users. The data given here shall be confined to the larger deposits and developments because they give a truer picture of typical deposits, operations, and materials.

Jan 1, 1936

By Robert J. Hundhausen

This paper describes the methods and costs of sinking a 2-compartment shaft at the Hope mine, Clark Fork, Idaho. The Hope mine is owned by the Hope Silver-Lead Mines, Inc. Albert E. Nash, of Clark Fork, is president and manager.

Jan 1, 1948

By J. T. Winkelmann

The Mineral Park Mine is an open pit copper-molybdenum mine located in northwestern Arizona, approximately twenty miles northwest of Kingman, Arizona. The concentrating facility has been regarded, with the expansion in 2011, as a plant capable of treating fifty thousand short tons of feed per day for the mixture of supergene and hypogene ores available. The grinding circuit consists of two 32? x 14? SAG mills and four 20? x 28? ball mills. As ores became harder with greater depth in the adjacent pit areas, however, the SAG mills became severely throughput limited. The traditional treatment for similar properties is the installation of a recycle pebble crushing circuit. Because the cost of such an installation is quite elevated, and preliminary testing and research was inconclusive regarding the predicted throughput increases, management and technical personnel set out to find another solution to the problem. The result entailed a redesign of SAG lifters/liners and a nearly unique circuit change which was, at best, a difficult step that defied current grinding logic. This paper describes these changes, events leading up to them, and the results.

Feb 23, 2014

By L. A. Beckett

Load-Haul-Dump machines (LHDs) have contributed significantly to high productivity in hard-rock mining in recent years and are now being introduced into the coal mining industry (Rao, Haycocks and Lucas, 1975; Mining Magazine, 1975). The superiority of the LHD when compared to loader-plus- shuttle-cars has been demonstrated for several operations (Rao et al., 1975), and the number of manufacturers now in the coal mining LHD market (Mining Magazine, 1975) indicates that the concept will be of considerable future importance in the U.S. coal industry. Currently more than 90 percent of U.S. underground coal production is obtained by room-and-pillar methods (Coal Age, 1976). This system presents certain complexities with regard to haulage analysis; among these are constriction of travel routes, variation of haulage distances as different faces are worked, and change in the overall physical layout as mining progresses. Furthermore, current experiments in the use of more than one continuous miner in a section (Mining Magazine, 1975; Coal Age, 1976) suggest the possibility of highly intensive mining operations, with loading proceeding from more than one point simultaneously, in which the overall patterns for machine movements must be carefully arranged to minimize delays.

Jan 1, 1979