Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon Graduate Center, 1985.

Thesis (Ph.D.)(Chemistry)--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Includes summary. Includes bibliographical references. Available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.

Este estudo apresenta a comparação e discussão entre registros de perfilagem geofísica obtidos por três sondas elétricas que medem resistividades de litologias. Uma análise detalhada foi feita para detectar qual destas sondas utilizadas proporciona a melhor opção em termos de identificação das camadas de carvão e resolução vertical. As sondas elétricas utilizadas foram: guard log (GLOG), single point resistance (SPR) e induction log (IND). Para auxiliar na comparação entre esses diferentes perfis, outros dois registros geofísicos importantes foram incluídos: radiação gama natural (GN) e optical televiewer (OPTV), os quais ajudaram a identificar os estratos de carvão. No caso específico do OPTV, quando a situação é favorável, ele permite identificar os estratos de carvão e verificar a resolução vertical dos demais registros, em função da excelente resolução vertical. As imagens produzidas pelo OPTV podem, nas circunstâncias adequadas, servir como testemunho digital, para complementar ou mesmo substituir as amostras de sondagem com recuperação de testemunhos. Neste estudo, foram analisados dados obtidos em 4 depósitos de carvão diferentes: Área B3, Calombo, Cerro e Seival. Todos os depósitos de carvão acima citados situam-se no estado do Rio Grande do Sul (RS) - Brasil. Ao todo, 15 furos foram apresentados e discutidos. Destes, 13 são furos de sondagem com recuperação de testemunhos, enquanto que os dois restantes são furos de desmonte. As descrições geológicas dos 13 furos de sondagens são as informações principais utilizadas como parâmetro de controle nas comparações entre os perfis geofísicos, enquanto que as imagens OPTV serviram como uma alternativa para verificar a resolução vertical dos perfis elétricos. Ao final das análises, verificou-se que o dispositivo guard-log (GLOG) tende a ter o melhor desempenho no aspecto de identificação litológica, demonstrando uma capacidade superior em relação aos demais arranjos em termos de resolução vertical. Estatisticamente, ele apresentou as estimativas de espessuras mais próximas em valor, em relação às espessuras proporcionadas pelas descrições geológicas de testemunhos de sondagem. / This study presents a comparison and discussion between the geophysical logs obtained by three electrical probes that measure resistivity of lithologies. A detailed analysis was carried out to detect which of these probes, provides the best option in terms of identification of coal seams and vertical resolution. The electrical probes used were guard log (GLOG), single point resistance (SPR) and induction log (IND). To aid the comparison between the different logs, two other important geophysical logs were included: natural gamma radiation (GN) and optical televiewer (OPTV), which helped to identify the coal seams. In the specific case of OPTV, when the situation is favorable, it identifies the coal seams and check the vertical resolution of the other logs, in function of its excellent vertical resolution. The images produced by OPTV can serve, in appropriate circumstances, as digital core sample to complement or even replace the diamond drill core samples recovery. In this study, analyzed data were obtained from four different coal deposits, which are: B3 Area, Calombo, Cerro and Seival. All the coal deposits mentioned above are located in the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) - Brazil. In all, 15 boreholes were presented and discussed. Out of these, 13 are boreholes with recovered core samples, while the remaining two are blastholes. The geological descriptions of the 13 boreholes are the main information used as a control parameter in comparisons against the geophysical logs, while OPTV images served as an alternative to verify the vertical resolution of the electric logs. At the end of the analysis, it was found that the guard-log probe (GLOG) tends to have better performance in the aspect of lithological identification, demonstrating a greater capacity in comparison with the other in terms of vertical resolution. Statistically, it presented the closest estimated value in relation to the coal seams thickness provided by geological description of the recovered core samples.

Background: The support of intersections in coal mines is an important safety issue in the U.S., as intersections are by far the most common area for unplanned falls of ground. A relatively comprehensive, nation-wide study of falls of ground is coupled with a national survey to mines about their support methods to determine common characteristics of failure and recommend changes to improve stability, and recommendations for future research. Methods: Over 600 fall of ground reports were collected from nine of the 11 Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) District offices, and data was compiled to determine common characteristics of these unplanned falls. Statistical analysis was conducted on the data to examine which variables affected fall dimensions. To obtain data on current support usage, mail and phone surveys were collected with responses from 70 underground coal mines, representing approximately 235 million tons of annual production, or 66% of the U.S. total. These surveys provided a national snapshot of what support mines are using as well as typical extraction height, intersection width, and other details. Rocscience's Phase2 software was used to model a typical coal mine intersection and examine possible stability changes with different support options. Results: Surveys from underground mines revealed that the current industry average for intersection width is 20ft, average bolt length is 6ft, average distance from pillars to the first row of bolts is 3 to 4 ft, and a great majority of mines do not angle bolts over pillars. The fall of ground study confirmed that most falls are thicker than the average bolt length of 6 ft. and tend to be massive, extending past the intersection width of 20ft. The study also showed that falls with longer roof bolts installed typically had thicker falls which broke above the anchorage zone. Statistical analysis found a few questionably significant interactions, with the most prominent being the effect of roof type on fall height. Immediate roof geologies of dark shale and thinly laminated shale resulted in higher roof falls than other types. 2D modeling was unsuccessful at replicating the type of massive shear failures that have been commented on by MSHA personnel and that the study data suggests. It is the author's opinion that Phase2 and 2-D modeling in general may not be powerful or comprehensive enough to capture the true shear behavior of the rock strata in the roof beam because it cannot effectively model failure and dilation. Conclusions: Increasing bolt length may not be the most effective solution to reducing massive intersection failures. Rather, installing angled bolts over pillars may increase the strength of the system at the crucial roof-pillar edge. Weathering of bolts and/or rock are likely contributing to the significant number of cutter failures happening months or years after excavation. Recommendations for future action include 3D modeling of cutter failure and benefits of angled bolts over pillars. More consistent and thorough MSHA 7000 50a forms will enable more accurate statistical analysis and a better understanding of massive failure characteristics.

This thesis examines the development of UK oil policy since 1964. The methodology of neo-classical economic theory is applied to the government policy process and various distortions and inconsistencies in the process are found. The economic theories of politics and of bureaucracies highlight the intrinsic deficiencies of the oil policy process and provide the analytical framework in which a positive assessment of government oil policy is undertaken. Tactical behaviour and strategic bargaining on the basis of the characteristics of oil policy are methods by which groups and individuals attempt to influence the development of policy. It is possible to predict the direction and degree of influence various groups have on the oil policy process over time and to estimate the economic consequences of government action in the North Sea. The thesis emphasises the inevitability of distorting pressures on the government policy process in the system of democratic government in the UK. Recommendations of ways to reduce the distorting impact of government policies in the domestic oil sector include providing greater access to information than already exists and promoting competition between government bureaucracies for the provision of goods and services provided by government.

This thesis is concerned with the implementation of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) to monitor and control chain grate stoker-fired coal boilers with a view to improving the combustion efficiency whilst minimising pollutant emissions. A novel Neural Network Based Controller (NNBC) was developed following a comprehensive set of experiments carried out on a stoker test facility at the Coal Research Establishment (CRE) Ltd., before being evaluated on an industrial chain grate stoker at Her Majesty's Prison Garth, Leyland. The NNBC mimicked the actions of an expert boiler operator, by providing 'near optimum' settings of coal feed and air flow, as well as taking into account the correct 'staging' sequence of these parameters during load following conditions, before subsequently fine tuning the combustion air under quasi steady- state conditions. Test results from the on-line implementation of the NNBC on both chain grate stoker plants have demonstrated that improved transient and steady state combustion conditions were attained without having any adverse effect on the pollutant emissions nor the integrity of the appliances. A novel combustion monitoring system was also developed during the course of the work that can be used to infer the stability of combustion on the fire bed, following a pilot study of the 'flame front' movement during boiler load changes on the stoker test facility at CRE. This novel low-cost flame front monitor was rigorously tested on the industrial stoker plant, and long hours of successful on-line operation were achieved. It was also demonstrated with the use of ANNs, that the data gathered from the novel flame front monitor can be processed to yield evidence concerning movement of the ignition plane over a short period of time (several minutes). The prototype controller and flame front monitor would thus provide both stoker manufacturers and users with a means of meeting future legislative limits on pollutant emissions as indicated by the European Commission, as well as improving the combustion efficiency of this type of coal firing equipment Finally, ANNs were also used as a simplistic means to represent the complex coal combustion process on the bed of the stoker test facility whilst burning a particular type of coal. The resultant 'black-box' models of the combustion derivatives were able to represent the dynamics of the process and delivered accurate one-step ahead predictions over a wide range of unseen data. The work demonstrated the complex functional mapping capability of ANNs and also addressed the deficiencies in mathematical modelling of the coal combustion process on fixed grate, as indicated in the literature.

This study has involved the investigation of the flows in a high efficiency cyclone separator and the performance characteristics of the cyclone when operating under the influence of base suction. It has long been accepted that a bleed taken from the base region of a cyclone could, generally, enhance the overall collection efficiency. However, detail analyses and investigations have been limited. This investigation has involved flow visualisation, laser Doppler anemometry, computational fluid Dynamics, as well as both model particle tests and full scale prototype tests to quantify the effect of base suction and cyclone performance. Flow visualisation has highlighted the extension of the vortices into the solid receiver at the base of the cyclone. The flow patterns in this region have been investigated and quantified using laser Doppler anemometry and this result compared to the predictions from computational fluid dynamics. Agreement between these results tends to be good in the inner vortex but less good in the outer vortex region. Model particle tests have shown that the extension of the vortices into the solid receiver results in the complete destruction of the dust layer in the receiver with the subsequent re-entrainment and carry over of particulate to the vortex finder. These particle tests have shown that this re-entrainment can be suppressed by the application of a suction in the base region and the overall collection efficiency improved. A bleed flow of 10% by volume is shown to give the maximum overall efficiency. Above this percentage the efficiency reduces. This trend in the results was also confirmed by full scale prototype tests.

Espirais concentradoras têm sido largamente empregadas no beneficiamento de finos de carvão no Brasil. O objetivo geral deste trabalho foi estudar do beneficiamento de carvão em uma espiral, avaliando a eficiência do beneficiamento do carvão da Camada Barro Branco e caracterizando seus produtos. Ênfase foi dada ao rejeito, avaliando as possibilidades de aproveitamento do material e o seu potencial de geração de acidez. A metodologia do trabalho incluiu a caracterização da alimentação e dos produtos de uma espiral em termos de análise imediata e enxofre; estudo da lavabilidade do carvão de alimentação; avaliação da eficiência do beneficiamento e a caracterização do rejeito em termos ambientais. Em valores médios, a alimentação das espirais apresenta um teor de cinzas de 67,5%, um teor de enxofre de 5,2% e um poder calorífico superior de 2377 cal/g. O concentrado apresentou um teor de cinzas de 50,5%, um teor de enxofre de 1,7% e um poder calorífico superior de 3978 cal/g; enquanto que o rejeito um teor de cinzas 78,2%, um teor de enxofre de 7,5% e um poder calorífico superior de 1364 cal/g. A recuperação mássica de concentrado é de aproximadamente 40%. O concentrado atende as especificações da termoelétrica em relação ao teor de enxofre e matéria volátil, mas não atende as especificações de cinzas e poder calorífico. O concentrado das espirais consegue destinação uma vez que é misturado a carvões de melhor qualidade produzidos pela mesma ou outras mineradoras. Quanto a lavabilidade, na densidade de corte de 2,0, o valor do NGM foi de 15%, caracterizando o material como moderadamente difícil ou de difícil separação. A eficiência do beneficiamento na espiral é baixa. O valor do Desvio Provável Médio (EPM), Imperfeição (I) e a Área de Erro foram, respectivamente, de 0,30, 0,30 e 178,13 cm2. Esses parâmetros apontam que o equipamento não apresenta uma boa precisão de separação. O rejeito de carvão descartado da espiral apresenta um NNP de – 209 kg CaCO3/t, indicando um alto potencial de geração de drenagem ácida. Deve-se somar a isso a baixa granulometria (entre 0,1 e 2,0 mm) e a alta área superficial (41 m2/g) do material, que propiciará taxas mais altas de geração de acidez que o rejeito grosso. Analisando os dados, as espirais, mesmo com a baixa precisão, estão exercendo sua função de forma satisfatória para a empresa no sentido de produção de um carvão energético com teor de S aceitável. / Spiral concentrators have been widely used to process coal fines in Brazil. The aim of this work was to study coal beneficiation in a spiral, evaluating its performance for the “Barro Branco” seam. Emphasis was given to the waste material, evaluating a potential use and the acid generation. The methodology of this project included the characterization of the feed and the products of the spiral in terms of immediate analysis, washability curve of coal, and the equipment efficiency in terms of Tromp Curve. The feed material has an ash content of 67.5%, a sulfur content of 5.2%, and a gross calorific value of 2377 cal/g. The concentrate showed an ash content of 50.5%, a sulfur content of 1.7% and gross calorific value of 3978 cal/g; while the reject one had an ash content of 78.2%, a sulfur content of 7.5%, and a gross calorific value of 1364 cal/g. The recovery of the concentrated weight is approximately 40%. The concentrated meets the thermal specifications related to sulfur content and volatile matter, but it does not meet the specifications of ashes and calorific values. So, it is mixed with coals of better quality to attend the thermoelectric standards. Concerning the wash ability, in the cut density of 2.0, the NGM was 15%, characterizing the material as moderately difficult or difficult to separate. Analyzing the Tromp Curve, the value of the deviation probable medium (EPM), Imperfection (I) and the Error Area were, respectively, 0.30, 0.30 and 178.13 cm2. These parameters indicate that the equipment does not show a good precision of separation. The rejected material on the spiral showed a NNP of - 209 kg CaCO3/t, indicating a high potential for acid drainage generation. It should be considered that the material presented a fine particle size (0.1 to 2.0 mm) and a high surface area (41 m2/g), which certainly will provide high pyrite oxidations rates. Analyzing the data as a whole, spirals, even with the low precision, is exercising their function to provide an energetic coal with an acceptable sulphur content, leaving no doubt about its applicability.

High oil prices and nationalist desires to reduce foreign dependency create opportunities for Illinois bituminous coal to be involved in the transportation market. Using Illinois coal for transportation will have varied environmental effects depending on the method of involvement. To determine these effects, this study calculated CO2 emission for gasoline and eight other vehicle propulsion methods involving Illinois coal for 100,000 miles traveled. The vehicle propulsion methods considered were electricity from Pulverized coal in a Sub-Critical power cycle (PSC), electricity from Integrated Gasification Combined power Cycle (IGCC), electricity from an Ultra Super Critical power cycle (USC), ethanol, butanol, Fischer-Tropsch (FT) diesel, hydrogen, and a combination IGCC/ethanol system to propel vehicles that use their respective fuels. Results show USC, IGCC, PSC, and hydrogen emitted the lowest CO2 with a net of 69,494, 72,866, 75,752, and 81,587 lb CO2/100,000 miles respectively. The base-line gasoline method emitted 99,170 lb CO2, while ethanol, butanol, and IGCC/ethanol methods emitted 97,078, 106,338, and 92,449lb CO2, respectively. The highest CO2 emission came from Fischer-Tropsch diesel with 180,560 lb CO2. It was concluded that life cycle energy efficiency and CO2 offset were the most influential factors for CO2 emissions per 100,000 miles.

Research and experience using various types of mine backfill - hydraulic, rock, paste, and blended - has indicated several benefits to the mining industry. Backfill is a general term that refers to any waste material that is placed into underground mine workings. Paste backfill in particular has shown environmental and economic benefits. Paste fill is generally produced from total mine tailings, meaning that it can include waste rock, sands, and clay-sized particles. It also contains no free water, meaning that water will not flow freely through it after placement causing post filling shrinkage. These characteristics make it the most environmentally "friendly" backfill option currently available. In addition, paste backfill is non-segregating and stackable, containing about 80% solids by weight, and having the consistency of medium-slump concrete, containing a cementitious content. These characteristics make paste backfill the best option for post-mining ground control in room and pillar coal mines. There are two main bodies of research regarding paste backfill. The first studies its composition, application, and performance in past and present mining environments; the second studies its theoretical application for both mine support and waste disposal. While this research has provided much for the burgeoning technology of paste backfill, little has been done to investigate its economic application to the industry in room and pillar coal mines. At present, surface disposal of waste is generally cheaper than underground disposal. The goal of this thesis is to initiate discourse investigating the hypothesis that paste backfill may be used in such a way as to allow for increased coal extraction, which may then not only cover the additional costs of underground waste disposal, but potentially increase overall mine profitability. Inherent to this discourse will be a consideration of the following issues: * The potential for increased extraction. * The preservation of long-term pillar stability. * Improved floor stability. * Diminished environmental impact at surface. * The cost benefits associated with all of the above. Data from three Illinois Basin room and pillar coal mines were collected and used for this thesis. Theoretical computer modeling using LaModel and Phase2, empirical analysis of mine stability, physical testing using simulated paste backfill models, and comparative cost analyses considering current and hypothetical mining scenarios were conducted to identify these potential benefits and their consequences, both theoretical and practical.