Evaluation of Hydraulic Coal Transport System Concepts for Surface Mines

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Evaluation of Hydraulic Coal Transport System Concepts for Surface Mines

J. Roberge / M. Stoukidis / L. Rubin / M. Burnett

Coal haulage from the pit of United States surface mines is most often accomplished with truck haul transportation schemes. The demand for domestic production of coal is expected to increase greatly over the next decade. Efforts to restrain and curtail increasing power production costs will require optimum productivity within the coal producing industry. The objective of this program was to develop concepts for in-pit hydraulic transport systems for surface coal mines that will permit significant increases in coal extraction and pit haulage productivity as compared to truck haulage. Large particle coal transport was demonstrated to be the most desirable for central and western United States surface mines. Three conceptual hydrotransport systems, including a centrifugal pump, jet pump and ventilated inducer system, were developed for each of two currently active mining operations. General and site-specific design parameters were developed for each of the conceptual hydrotransport systems. A detailed economic comparison of capital and operating and maintenance costs for each of the hydrotransport systems was made with the existing truck haul operations. An increase in haulage productivity of approximately 19% was demonstrated for the central surface mine, while that of the western surface mine increased by more than 180%. Included in this report is a bibliography containing over 600 citations pertinent to hydraulic transport of coal. (ERA citation 07:049123)