LECTURE 7

THE CONTENTS OF THIS LECTURE ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1.0 COMPONENTS OF METHANE DRAINAGE SYSTEM

1.1 Pipe Ranges
1.2 Monitors
1.3 Control and Safety Devices
1.4 Extractor Pumps

REFERENCES

Page 1 of 7
1.0 COMPONENTS OF METHANE DRAINAGE SYSTEM

The methane drainage system consists of mainly four sets of components.

These are as follow:

a. Pipe ranges
b. Monitors
c. Controls
d. Safety devices
Besides these, set up of extractor pumps are also required in some cases.

1.1 Pipe Ranges

A simple layout of connection of different types of pipes set-up used in
methane drainage system can be represented as shown in Fig.1

Standpipes (the one

which is inside the Flexible hoses, a valve
Branch pipes (in
bore holes) and a water trap
districts or section)

Flexible
hoses, a
valve and
a water
trap

Surface connecting Flexible hoses and

pipes Main or trunk gas lines
valves

Fig. 1 Different types of pipe set-up used in methane drainage

system

Page 2 of 7
Pipes may be made of steel or high density polythene (HDP). Both have their
own advantages. Steel is preferred where there is a need of high mechanical
strength (like in underground where rock fall is a major problem). It is also
preferred as the main pipe. On the other hand, we use HDP pipes because
they are resistant to corrosion, light in weight, and easy to install. Steel pipes
must be galvanized before installations to avoid rusting.

Some of the safety measures that must be kept in mind during installation of
pipes are as follow:

o Pipes in the underground should be placed suspended to the roof. This

reduces the impact of falling materials.
o Pipes should be installed mostly in return to reduce load on ventilation.
o Installation of pipes should be done in places where there is no chance
of spark due to electrical supply, etc.
o Regular inspection of pipes for damage, corrosion, leaks, etc. should
be carried out.
o A uniform gradient should be maintained for laying of pipes on the
surface as well as in the underground.

1.2 Monitors

We know very well that methane drainage is the economical extraction of

methane from coal seams, gob areas etc. Since it involves flow of a fluid
material (methane), the parameters which are more likely to be considered
for monitoring are:-

a. Concentration
b. Pressure
c. Flow rate

All the above three parameters are interdependent. We need to apply

required suction pressure for a reasonable gas flow rate. Application of

Page 3 of 7
pressure is dependent on the concentration of methane in the seam/strata
and the permeability of the strata. Table 1 gives the list of instruments used
for the monitoring of different parameters.

Table 1 Instrument/methods for monitoring different parameters in

a methane drainage system

PARAMETERS INSTRUMENTS / METHOD MEASUREMENT

STATION/ LOCATION
Pressure Pressure differential indicators - Mouth of boreholes
(may be simple U-tube or
capsule/diaphragm gauges) - Across orifice plates

- Strategic locations
(like at junction of
pipes, etc)
Flow rate - Swinging vane/rotating vane
anemometers with pitot tubes - Strategic locations

- Pressure measuring across

orifice plate and relating the
pressure drop, quantity of air and
turbulent resistance of the orifice
plates

Concentration - Probes of high range - Spot measurements at

methanometers ports in gas line

- Transducers - Strategic locations

1.3 Control and Safety Devices

Various control and safety devices with their applications and installing
locations is given in Table 2.

Page 4 of 7
Table 2 Various control and safety devices used in methane drainage
system

Type of Name of device Location Application

device
Valves - Mouth of - To minimize pressure
/Diaphragm boreholes losses*
valve
- In all branch - To vary the gas pressure
and main lines near the mouth of each hole

- To join different pipes and

allow pressure measurement
in a specified part of the
Control system

Water traps - At the junction To trap the water from the

between the methane drained from the
borehole pipe and seam (as the methane
branch pipe drained is likely to be
saturated with water
- At all the low vapour/moisture)
points of the
methane drainage
system network

Control Electronic - Site specific Very fast detection and

and environmental points chosen so location of areas having
safety surveillance that testing at a problems due to blockage,
few points gives faulty components,
an overall view of fractured pipes, abnormal
the network flow, etc.
Flame trap Surface pipelines To avoid propagation of any
ignition from surface to
subsurface pipelines.
Lightening Close to surface To avoid ignition of methane
Safety conductor discharge point at the discharge due to
lightening/thunder
Flame Usually in It injects extinguishing
extinguisher combination with powder in the methane
flame trap drainage pipelines once the
temperature inside the pipe
line goes beyond a pre-set
limit.
*Some methane drainage boreholes need lesser suction pressure whereas
some require higher suction pressure based on the permeability of the coal.

Page 5 of 7
1.4 Extractor Pumps

These are generally applied in Gob Drainage, Cross-Measure and Superjacent

Heading method wherein we require controlled suction to achieve a proper
balance between the flow rate and concentrations. These are, in general,
installed on the surface of the mine.
Table 3 provides the details of the types of extractor pumps with their
working principle.

Table 3 Types of extractor pumps with their working principle

Type Working principle Advantages Disadvantages
Water seal It has the form of It maintains a gas - Faces problem
extractor centrifugal seal, thus of corrosion due
impeller. It has reducing the risk to water.
one inlet from of any ignition as
where water and there is no - Scaling is also a
gas pockets contact between problem.
enter. The water the stationary
is thrown out and moving Hence, needs to
radially because components. be maintained
of the centrifugal regularly.
action and
trapped methane
gas is discharged
through central
outlet port.

Dry extractor These are like - It is compact in - More noise

reciprocating nature.
machine, with - Subjected to
two dumb bell - It produces flow wear and tear
shaped cams, rate, independent
rotating against of the pressure
each other difference.
causing methane
to get
transported from
the inlet to the
discharge point.

REFERENCES

Page 6 of 7
Hartman, H. L., Mutmansky, J. M. & Wang, Y. J. (1982); Mine Ventilation
and Air Conditioning; John Wiley & Sons, New York.

McPherson, M. J. (1993); Subsurface Ventilation and Environmental

Engineering; Chapman & Hall, London.

Misra G.B. (1986); Mine Environment and Ventilation; Oxford University

Press, Calcutta, India.

Vutukuri, V. S. & Lama, R. D. (1986); Environmental Engineering in Mines;

Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Page 7 of 7