US3870373A

US3870373A - Underground coal slurry concentrating sump

Info

Publication number: US3870373A
Application number: US461035A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard E Doerr; David L Mccain; Hilbert D Dahl
Original assignee: Continental Oil Co
Current assignee: Consolidation Coal Co; ConocoPhillips Co
Priority date: 1974-04-15
Filing date: 1974-04-15
Publication date: 1975-03-11
Anticipated expiration: 1992-03-11
Also published as: CA1016220A; DE2452696C3; FR2272713B1; GB1480605A; DE2452696B2; ZA747002B; SU665819A3; FR2272713A1; DE2452696A1; AU7534374A

Abstract

A sump for an underground mine is adapted to combine the output from a plurality of slurry lines, concentrate the product and separate the water for recycling. A pump room provides a lift pump for removing the slurry at a high concentration and also provides a pump for recirculating the water from the sump. The sump essentially comprises a first sloping trench and second and third sloping trenches which slope into the first trench. The slurry pump is connected to the lowest point in the first trench. A partition is built between the second and third trenches and the shallowest end of the first trench and a weir is placed between the partitioned portion and the rest of the sump so that excess water can flow from the sump into the partitioned portion of the sump. The water recirculation system is connected to the shallowest end of the first sump.

Description

United States Patent Doerr et al.

[451 Mar. 11, 1973 1 UNDERGROUND COAL SLURRY. Primary Examiner-Evon C. Blunk CONCENTRATING SUMP Assistant Examiner-W. Scott Carson [75] Inventors: Richard E. Doerr; David L. McCain; Attorney Agent or Flrm wmalm Mmer Hilbert D. Dahl, all of Ponca City, Okla- 57 ABSTRACT [73] Assignee: cfmfinental Company Ponca A sumpfor an underground mine is adapted to com- City, Oklabine the output from a plurality of slurry lines. con- [22] Fil d; A 15, 1974 centrate the product and separate the water for recycling. A pump room provides a lift pump for removing [21] Appl' 461035 the slurry at a high concentration and also provides a pump for recirculating the water from the sump. The 52 US. Cl 302/14, 299/18, 299/19 p essentially comprises a first sloping trench and 511 int. Cl. B65g 53/30 second and third p g trenches which slope into the [58] Field of Search 299/7-9, 17-19; first treneh- The slurry p is connected to the 302/14 16 est point in the first trench. A partition is built between the second and third trenches and the shallow- 5 References Ci d est end of the first trench and a weir is placed between UNITED STATES PATENTS the partitioned portion and the rest of the sump so 0 302 14 that excess water can flow from the sump into the par- 32:8: "g 1 titioned portion of the sump, The water recirculation l856836 5/1932 299/7 X system'is connected to the shallowest end of the first 3,260,548 7/1966 Reichl 299/18 Sump- 3,790,214 2/1974 Kilroy 299/19 X 4 Claims, 3' D awing Figu es A r 3R a 3 s s t e I2 30 a 56 6 e 9 25 2| R 23 \\l I4 I ll 3, 0 9

I Q/ o l w \l gjisllls 4) I 5 s 39 t9 42 1? 55 2 L I 5 1 4 $1- l 5 J Fi i QR PATENTED MARI 1 I975 sum 2 0? 2 UNDERGROUND COAL SLURRY CONCENTRATING SUMP BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It is extremely difficult to form a large sump in a mine which is being mined by the pillar method. Since the tunnels are fairly narrow, the sump herein described provides a unique apparatus for concentration of slurry in such a confined environment. A trench can be dug by a conventional mining machine in a configuration which slopes in two directions to form a first trench. At the deepest portion a partition is erected and a pump room built. Second and third trenches are then formed along a second tunnel which has been already formed at right angles to the first tunnel. A partition for water storage is erected between the second and third trenches and the shallowest end of the first trench. A water connection is placed between the partitioned off portion and the pump room where .a pump is maintained for recirculating of the water. The slurry lines from various coal faces are emptied into the second and third tunnels. A weir in the partition to the water storage area permits overflow water, as it accumulates, to pass into the water storage area. As the coal is added to the second and third trenches, it moves down the bottom of the trenches toward the lowest portion of the first trench where the slurry pump lifts the concentrated coal to the surface ofthe mine. Coal can be emptied into the trenches until sufficient coal is in the first trench to provide adequate concentration for efficient pumping.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART The patent to J. A. MacLellan titled Hydraulic Hoisting US. Pat. No. 3,269,777, shows a shallow sump formed in a mine for the purpose of water concentration. A storage tank is formed in the mine for concentrating the slurry wholly separate from the water storage sump.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a top view of the sump illustrating the general configuration of the various trenches and the location of the inlet lines and pump room;

FIG. 2 is a cross section of the sump shown in FIG. 1 taken through lines 2-2; and

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the sump illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

Similar numbers will be used throughout the specification for similar elements.

Referring to all of the drawings, a first mine tunnel has formed therein a first sump generally referred to by the arrow 11. The sump is formed by digging a trench by any usual means but would more probably be formed by a standard continuous mining machine. The rock and debris would be hauled out by conveyor or car. The sump or trench 11 will have vertical side walls 12, a shallow end 13, and a deep end 14. The bottom (see FIG. 3) is sloped gradually from end 13 to end 14. The angle of slope for the preferred embodiment should be greater than the angle of repose for the coal slurry mixture dumped into the trench. Walls 12 through 14 and bottom 15 can be lined with reinforced concrete in order to prevent sloughing of debris and rock from the side walls. I

A second tunnel 20 has a second sump or trench referred to by arrow 21 and a third sump or trench referred to by arrow 22, formed to gradually slope into trench 11. Each of the trenches Hand 22 has side walls 23 and shallow end 24 and a bottom 25 (see FIG.

3) which as previously mentioned slopes into trench 11. Bottom 25 likewise has an angle greater than the angle of repose of the coal slurry mixture. These trenches can be lined with reinforced concrete. If it is desired to cover the sump for the expedience of moving machines or personnel over the sump, braces 26'can be attached between walls 23 and in line with walls 12. Beams 27 can be laid across both sumps II and 21 and 22. In place of beam 27, a grate 28 could also be used.

A water reservoir 30 is formed by placing a partition, generally referred to by arrow 31, in line with wall 23. A weir 32 is placed at the desired water level by forming partition 31 to a desired height so that the water can flow over the top of same. It is possible, of course, that pipes could operate as a weir equally as well but may be more susceptible to plugging.

A pump room generally referred to by arrow 35 is formed at least as low as the maximum depth of trench 11 and has maintained therein a water pump 36 and a slurry pump 37. A pipe 38 passes through end 14 to the inlet of slurry pump 37 and a second pipe 39 is connected to the slurry output system which may be at the surface of the mine. Water pump 36 is connected to water reservoir or chamber 30 by means of a pipe 40 which passes through partition 31 and into chamber 30 at one end and through end 14 of sump 11 and into the inlet of pump 36 at its other end. A pipe 42 connects with pipe 43 which in turn is coupled to the water inlet for the slurry system at each of the respective coal faces being mined. Also from each of the coal faces being mined is a plurality of individual slurry lines 45 emptying into trench 21' and slurry lines 46 which empty into trench 22. A makeup water supply is provided through pipe 55 to outlet 56 which empties into water reservoir 30.

In order to provide access to pump room 35, a manway 47 is formed from the pump room 35 to the surface of tunnel 10 by means of an opening 48. Communication is also provided with a pump means through the roof 49 of the pump room.

Operation the large trench or sump 11. The product contained in the slurry will then proceed as indicated by arrows 62 and 63 to the slurry pump inlet pipe 38 where it is lifted by pump 37 up pipe 39 and out of the surface of the mine to a preparation plant or other treating facility. Likewise, slurry coming in pipe 46 will drop in the sump in the direction of arrow 64 to the bottom 25 of trench or sump 22 and along the bottom 15 of the large sump 11 in the direction of arrow 65 and proceed as previously discussed with material coming from pipe 45. The water which is also mixed with the coal to form the slurry will fill sumps ll, 21, and 22. As the water fills the sumps it will pass in the direction of arrow to the water reservoir 30 As needed, the water will be pumped from pipe 40 into water pump 36 up

pipes

42 and 43 to the various coal faces where the slurry mining is taking place. Since some water is continuously being pumped out through the slurry line 39, water will be lost to the system if additional water is not added. Therefore, additional water through pipe 55 from a source of water is dropped into water reservoir 30 through outlet 56.

Conclusions The sump has been illustrated for a mine using the pillar-type technique. Only a single pair of side sumps has been illustrated; however, it is obvious that sump or trench 11 can be elongated and additional side sumps added as necessary for either additional capacity of coal product or additional capacity for slurry lines.

Engineering details relating to the method of construction of the sump have not been included since the forming of concrete side walls is well known in the art and requires mere engineering skill.

In addition, wall-to-wall bracing has not been illustrated and where necessary would be included in the forming of the sumps. It is also obvious that a single sump feeding into the large sump could also be incorporated if only a few mine faces were being operated and the sump could efficiently operate with a smaller total capacity.

The preferred embodiment illustrates a pump room having the water pump and slurry pump mounted at the bottom. It is obvious, of course, that in lieu of a pumping room the water and slurry pumps could be placed on the floor of the mine and pipes extended to the bottom of the sump or a submersible pump could be placed at the bottom of the sump and material pumped out.

Other obvious changes can be made in the particular preferred embodiment described herein and still be within the teachings of this invention as set out in the specification and accompanying claims.

What we claim is:

1. An underground mine slurry sump for a plurality of slurry lines inside said mine;

said mine having at least a first tunnel and a second tunnel formed normal to said first tunnel, said sump comprising:

a trench formed in said first tunnel and having first and second ends, a bottom tapering downward toward said second end and substantially vertical side walls;

second and third trenches formed in said second mine tunnel, the bottom of each said second and third trenches sloping downwardly into said first trench, said second and third trenches each having vertical side walls;

partition means formed at the intersection of the side walls of said first trench and the side walls of said second and third trenches to form a water storage chamber;

weir means formed through the top of said partition to permit excess water to decant from the deeper end of said first trench and from said second and third trenches by permitting water to flow into said water storage chamber;

water pump means connected between said water storage chamber and a source of water for said slurry mine system;

slurry pump means connected through the bottom of said second end to the surface of said mine for removing concentrated slurry from said sump, slurry inlet means communicating with said second and' third trenches.

2. A sump as described in claim 1, wherein the sides and bottom are formed of concrete and wherein said bottom slopes at an angle greater than the angle of repose of coal and water admixed.

3. A slurry sump as described in claim 1 additionally including a pump room maintained adjacent said second end and at a depth equal to the bottom of said sump at said second end and a manway formed between said pump room and said first tunnel.

4. A slurry sump as described in claim 3 wherein said pump room additionally includes a water pump and a slurry pump.

Claims

1. An underground mine slurry sump for a plurality of slurry lines inside said mine; said mine having at least a first tunnel and a second tunnel formed normal to said first tunnel, said sump comprising: a trench formed in said first tunnel and having first and second ends, a bottom tapering downward toward said second end and substantially vertical side walls; second and third trenches formed in said second mine tunnel, the bottom of each said second and third trenches sloping downwardly into said first trench, said second and third trenches each having vertical side walls; partition means formed at the intersection of the side walls of said first trench and the side walls of said second and third trenches to form a water storage chamber; weir means formed through the top of said partition to permit excess water to decant from the deeper end of said first trench and from said second and third trenches by permitting water to flow into said water storage chamber; water pump means connected between said water storage chamber and a source of water for said slurry mine system; slurry pump means connected through the bottom of said second end to the surface of said mine for removing concentrated slurry from said sump, slurry inlet means communicating with said second and third trenches.