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By R. W. Raymond

The immense commercial value of the Gayley dry-blast process has been established beyond controversy. The testimony of practical blast-furnace managers, on both sides of the Atlantic, agrees that it reduces the cost of pig-iron about $1 per ton; but from the same testimony it appears that this direct economy does not by any means cover its commercial advantages—in fact, that under conditions frequently encountered in practice, it presents other benefits of even greater immediate financial importance. To this point I shall recur in a later part of the present paper. The history of the reception given to this invention, especially on the other side of the Atlantic, has repeated an experience familiar to American engineers. First, the reports of our practice were rejected as theoretically impossible, according to generally accepted notions and formulas; then the figures were reluctantly accepted; and finally the attempt has been made to explain how they could have been obtained. As to the Gayley dry blast, me Americans have been for several years in the last stage of the discussion, and the rest of the professional world is rapidly coming to it. Meanwhile, the remark has been repeatedly made that, whatever Mr. Gayley's process may turn out to be worth, it was not an invention on his part, but simply the energetic and persevering execution of a procedure already proposed by others. This question I wish to discuss first in the present paper. I. What Did Mr. Gayley Invent? Realizing that this is not the place for detailed argument on an issue of patent law, I shall not undertake to quote and criticise the publications prior to Mr. Gayley'a first patents. It may be admitted, without such critical analysis, that the possible advantages of removing moisture from the air forced into an iron blast-furnace were recognized and talked about a hun-

Jan 1, 1909

By Wilson Pascheto

This paper presents results of investigations performed as part of a Root-Cause-Failure-Analysis (RCFA) of a DC smelting furnace that was brick lined with MgO-based refractories. An unusual continuous contraction of the furnace hearth was identified during operation. Cracks in the refractories were envisaged after a major shutdown of the furnace. To determine the mechanism and causes of the unusual contraction behaviour of the furnace hearth, refractory samples were taken from the furnace at different locations and subjected to different analysis including Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), QEMSCAN and Electron Probe Micro Analysis (EPMA). Creep testing of refractories under different loads (ASTM C832) was also employed to evaluate the mechanical integrity of the used bricks in comparison with the new ones. Results of the various characterisation analyses revealed that there was an interaction between refractory bricks and molten material during furnace operation, which resulted in reduced creep resistance of the MgO-based refractories. This was verified by comparing creep performance of the used brick samples and new brick samples at different temperatures and applied stresses.

By C. C. CONCANNON

POTASH is an essential. It is necessary as an ingredient in fertilizers or as a plant food, and certainly one of the great problems, and one of increasing gravity, is the maintenance of agricultural fertility that we may have adequate food supplies. When one thinks of potash one thinks of Germany. The first and most important deposits of soluble potash salts were found in Germany, and it was through Ger- man research and the application of a highly developed knowledge of chemistry that the value of these deposits was recognized and appreciated in the field of agricultural fertilization. The Germans knew that they had something of great value in their potash resources, not only because of the advantage derived from the extensive use of it in their own intensive farming operations at home, but also because of the pressing need for it on the part of other countries. Appreciating the economic value of this in international trade, they fostered the industry to the fullest extent and devoted much attention to well organized propaganda designed to bring out the essential need for potash of German origin throughout the world. Thus every one came to believe that potash was an essential commodity of only German origin and as such it held an extraordinary position in world trade prior to 1914.

Jan 1, 1926

By B. W. Stunkard

Hibbing Taconite Company is located by the cities of Hibbing and chisholm near the center of the Mesabi Range, approximately 169 km (105 miles) from the Canadian Border. The plant site is equidistant from these two communities, about 6.4 km (4 miles) from each. A 169 km (105 mile) railroad connects us with the port of Superior, Wisconsin, where the pellet production is loaded into lake carriers for lower lakes destinations. Immediately to the south of the mine area is the world famous Hull- Rust-Mahoning Mine which produced more than 700 000 000 million tons of red ore between the years 1893 and 1973.

Jan 1, 1979

By Christopher J. Bise

Introduction In August 1977, the federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act was signed into law. It stated that: "The Congress finds and declares that because of the diversity in terrain . . . and other physical conditions in areas subject to mining operations, the primary governmental responsibility for developing. authorizing, issuing, and enforcing regulations for surface mining and reclamation operations subject to the Act should rest with the States." Section 516 of Title V (Control of the Environmental Impacts of Surface Coal Mining) of the Act deals with the surface effects of underground coal mining operations. "Each permit issued under any approved State or Federal program pursuant to this Act and relating to underground coal mining shall require the operator to adopt measures consistent with known technology in order to prevent subsidence. causing material damage, to the extent technologically and economically feasible, maximize mine stability, and maintain the value and reasonable foreseeable use of such surface lands, except in those instances where the mining technology used requires planned subsidence in a predictable and controlled manner: Provided, that nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit the standard method of room and pillar mining." This section raises many questions. Precisely what is the "reasonably foreseeable" future as far as land use is concerned? And what is the "standard method of room and pillar mining"? The first part of the paragraph seems to rule out longwall mining, but isn't longwalling a "predictable" manner of "planned subsidence"? Does the Act take into account variations among mining methods in differing regions or coal seams? With these questions and the need to comply with the Act's provisions in mind, many states may turn to the Pennsylvania Bituminous Mine Subsidence Act of 1966- the only comprehensive subsidence act passed by any state-as a model for their own programs. Thus, it is very important to evaluate Pennsylvania's Act to see whether its basic assumptions can accommodate national application. This paper will note the Subsidence Act's provisions and guidelines, briefly analyze the current state-of-the-art in subsidence damage prevention and control, and list several recommendations for altering the Act's application guidelines for different mining areas.

Jan 1, 1982

By M. Zanini, D. Wong

ABSTRACT: Metals market improvements in 2005 drove the desire to increase nickel throughput and the production of nickel oxide sinter at the Vale Ltd. Copper Cliff smelter. Significant difficulties were encountered due to the unreliable quality of Bessemer matte being produced. Concentrate feed changes and the loss of technical and operational expertise during the previous market downturn contributed to the challenge of making the required improvements. Significant progress has been made in the converter aisle by focusing on employee engagement and standardizing best operating practices for a new generation of skimmers. This paper documents these initiatives and seeks to balance the art and science of converting.

Jan 1, 2012

In the UK during the 1990s the energy companies had developed a policy of æDash for GasÆ, building large natural gas power stations to produce more than 30 per cent of the UKÆs electricity demand. The price of imported thermal coal was dropping and the electricity generators were putting pressure on the UK coal producers to produce coal at a reduced cost. Imported coal from Columbia, South Africa, America and Australasia had increased their market share in thermal coal sales to over 50 per cent of a 55 Mtpa market. The pressure on the UK coal industry to reduce costs and improve productivity levels from an ever decreasing resource was high. Companies were benchmarking their operations on the imported coal producers and had to realign their organisations, productivity levels and costs to world best practice, not just technically, but in world class organisational management techniques.

Jan 1, 2005

By P. K. Kaiser

3-D virtual reality (VR) visualization has opened new opportunities for complex 3D (x, y, z), 4D (x, y, z, t) or even nD data interpretation. The integration of common earth models (3D geologic data), mine models (3D excavations and stress), extraction models (1D time sequencing or mine sequencing) and nD monitoring data (e.g., seismic event parameters) into a common mining process model provides a platform for experts in various fields to better design, evaluate, monitor and modify mine plans throughout a mine?s life; from feasibility, through operation, to closure. Viewing seismic data in a stereoscopic VR environment within a mining process model offers data interpretation processes previously unavailable at lower dimensionality. MIRARCO has developed data analysis and viewing processes specifically designed to enhance microseismic and seismic data interpretation in a collaborative, immersive VR environment; bringing mine personnel and expert consultants together to evaluate data and make strategic decisions for cost effective and safe mining. Seismic events cause immediate hazards (rockbursts) and microseismicity causes gradual hazards through its cumulative effect in rockmass degradation. The focus of this paper is on understanding seismicity from a mine safety and mine planning perspective; in particular, how seismic migration patterns relate to the rockmass response to mining. The benefits of innovation in seismic data interpretation are significant, e.g., for hazardous work area identification, allowing better formulation of re-entry policies and workforce allocation planning, as well as allocation of effective support systems to strategic areas of elevated risk. Better understanding of the overall response of a mine to extraction also facilitates mine planning and design, assisting in reducing production costs and thus in enhancing profitability.

Apr 1, 2005

By R. E. Peterson

Scrap iron is partially oxidized at elevated temperatures in the selective oxidation process to produce iron oxide and a dense residual metal of high purity. Investigation of the process was confined to converting automobile hulks into useful products. In one test series, compressed, sheared automobile scrap was processed at 1,000° C in a 36-foot-long rotary kiln at feed rates ranging from 300 to 1,200 lb/hr. Less fuel was required to maintain the temperature at the higher feed rates because of the heat generated from the burning of the combustibles and the oxidation of the iron. The bulk density of the residual metal exceeded 75 pounds per cubic foot. In an attempt to lower the quantity of contaminants in the residual metal, another test was designed using automobile hulks which had been prepared by ripping, a low-cost method of scrap fragmentation. Before oxidizing the ripped scrap approximately 62 percent of the total copper was removed in a tumbling, screening, magnetic separation and hand-sorting system. Cast iron made from the residual metal obtained by selective oxidation contained 0.15 percent copper; iron oxide scale obtained from the kiln averaged 0.13 percent copper. Pellets made from the scale demonstrated compressive strengths necessary for blast furnace reduction; lead and zinc were removed by volatilization when the induration was performed in a reducing atmosphere.

Jan 1, 1972

By Margaret R. Egan

This Bureau of Mines report presents results from experimental studies on wood crib fires in an intermediate-scale fire tunnel. Gas concentrations, smoke particle characteristics, heat release rates, and ventilation rates were determined. These measurements form a data base for wood, which can be used with previous analyses for coal and future studies of other mine combustibles, to comprehend the potential hazards of these materials in underground mine fires. A knowledge of the combustion products emitted from these materials will benefit fire detection and control. Results show the changes in burning rate and heat release rate produced by different crib configurations and ventilation rates. Also included are the effects that the burning rate has on smoke characteristics and gas production.

Jan 1, 1986

By L. Morgan, M. Le Roux, Q. P. Campbell

Dry coal processing is becoming increasingly favoured as a fine coal beneficiation technique. The decline in suitable good-quality coal, as well as the ongoing decrease in usable process water, makes dry beneficiation of the fine coal fraction even more crucial. Dry fine coal beneficiation is a relatively young process with most of the methods still in the developmental phase. Additionally, many of the dry processing options available are better suited for coarser (+6 mm) and easy-to-beneficiate coal. Air winnowing for fine particles has been established in both agricultural and pharmaceutical industries, which indicates that the method can be used to separate smaller particles on a density basis and therefore, may prove effective in the coal industry as well. A proof of concept study was conducted using both computer-based simulations (which do not form part of this paper) and physical experiments. The initial winnowing unit consisted of a closed box with a horizontal air stream flowing through the top section. Coal particles were injected into the air stream and displaced horizontally across a distance (x), depending on the particle size and density, thus actuating a separation based on these two parameters. For this study particle sizes of 6, 4 and 2 mm were used all with a density ranging from 1200 kg·m-3 to 2000 kg·m-3. The simulation in Star CCM+ confirmed the findings of the mathematic behavioural model and provided a virtual representation of the separation using streamlines and particle tracks. The coal tests prove that size separation can be achieved at an airflow velocity of 21 m·s-1 and the density cut-point can also be predicted by using the prediction matrices constructed as part of this study. The results show efficiency values (EPM) of 0.11 and 0.09 at density cut-points of 1400 kg·m-3 and 1500 kg·m-3 respectively. The data obtained from the study indicates that air winnowing can be used to separate fine coal particles based on both size and density. However, in order to achieve an efficient density separation, a narrow size range is required. With some improvements to the model, simulation, method and design, the separation efficiency can also be improved. The next phase of testing will include the upscaling of the process to a demonstration plant, optimising the separation unit and testing the method on different qualities of coal. Keywords: Dry processing, fine coal, winnowing, simulation, tracers, demonstration plant

Jan 1, 2020

By Francis Collins, E. R. Brownscombe

A study has been made of the material balance-fluid flow method of estimating reserves and degree of water drive from pressure and production history data. By considering the effect of random pressure errors it is shown that in a particular example a standard deviation of three and one-half pounds in each of ten pressure survey? permits the determination of the reserves with a standard deviation of 8 per cent and the water drive with a standard deviation of 15 per cent, assuming that certain basic geologic data are correct. It is believed that this method of estimating reserves and water drive is useful and reliable in a number of cases. The method is particularly valuable when reservoir pressure data are accurate within a very few pounds, but may also be applied with less accurate pressure data if a relatively large reservoir pressure decline occurs early in the life of the field, as for example in an under-saturated oil field. INTRODUCTION A knowledge of the magnitude of reserves and degree of water drive present in any newly discovered petroleum reservoir is necessary to early application of proper production practices. A number of investigators have contributed to methods of relating reserves, degree of water drive, and production and pressure history. 1-8 Three types of problems of increasing complexity may be mentioned. If a reservoir is known to have no water drive. and if the ratio of the volume of the reservoir occupied by gas to the volume of the reservoir occupied by oil (which ratio permits fixing the overall compressibility of the reservoir) is known, then only one further extensive reservoir property remains to be determined, namely the magnitude of the reserves. A straightforward application of material balance considerations will permit this determination. The problem becomes very much more difficult if we wish to determine not only the magnitude of the reserves but also the magnitude of water drive, if any, which is present. In principle, a combination of material balance and fluid flow considerations will permit this evaluation. Finally, if neither the magnitude of reserves, the degree of water drive, nor the ratio of oil to gas present in the reservoir is known and it is desired to determine all three of these variables, the problem could in principle be solved by a fluid flow-material balance analysis which determines the overall compressibility of the reservoir at various points in its history. The change in compressibility with pressure would provide a means of determining the ratio of gas to liquid present, since the compressibilities of gas and liquid vary differently with pressure variation. However, in practice this problem is probably so difficult as to defy solution in terms of basic data precision apt to be available.' It is the purpose of this discussion to illustrate the second case, which involves the determination of two unknown variables, single phase reserves and degree of water drive, from pressure and production history and fluid property data, and to study the precision with which these unknowns can be determined in this manner in a particular case. Although an electric analyzer developed by Bruce as used in making the calculations to be described, numerical methods necessary in carrying out the process have been devised and have been applied for this purpose. Schilthuis,' for example, developed a comprehensive equation for the material balance in a reservoir. He combined this with a simplified water drive equation, assuming that the ratio of free gas to oil was fixed by geological data and that a period of constant pressure operation at constant rate of production was available to determine the constant for his water drive equation. On this basis he was able to compute the reserves and predict the future pressure history of the reservoir. Hurst developed a generalized equation permitting the calculation of the water drive by unsteady state expansion from a finite aquifer. He showed in a specific case how the water influx calculated by his equation, using basic geologic and reservoir data to fix the constants, matched the water influx required by material balance considerations. Old3 illustrated the simultaneous use of Schilthuis' material balance equation and Hurst's fluid flow equation for the determination of the magnitude of reserves and a water drive parameter from pressure and production history. He used this method to calculate the future pressure history of the reservoir under assumed operating conditions. As a basis for determining reserves, Old assumed a value for his water drive parameter and calculated a set of values for the reserves, using the initial reservoir pressure and each successive measured pressure. The sum of the absolute values of the deviations of the resulting reserve numbers from their mean value was taken as a criterion of the closeness of fit to the experimental data possible with the water drive parameter assumed. New values of the water drive parameter were then assumed and new sets of the reserves calculated until a set of reserves numbers having a minimum deviation from the average was established. The average value of- the re-

Jan 1, 1949

By E. R. Brownscombe, Francis Collins

A study has been made of the material balance-fluid flow method of estimating reserves and degree of water drive from pressure and production history data. By considering the effect of random pressure errors it is shown that in a particular example a standard deviation of three and one-half pounds in each of ten pressure survey? permits the determination of the reserves with a standard deviation of 8 per cent and the water drive with a standard deviation of 15 per cent, assuming that certain basic geologic data are correct. It is believed that this method of estimating reserves and water drive is useful and reliable in a number of cases. The method is particularly valuable when reservoir pressure data are accurate within a very few pounds, but may also be applied with less accurate pressure data if a relatively large reservoir pressure decline occurs early in the life of the field, as for example in an under-saturated oil field. INTRODUCTION A knowledge of the magnitude of reserves and degree of water drive present in any newly discovered petroleum reservoir is necessary to early application of proper production practices. A number of investigators have contributed to methods of relating reserves, degree of water drive, and production and pressure history. 1-8 Three types of problems of increasing complexity may be mentioned. If a reservoir is known to have no water drive. and if the ratio of the volume of the reservoir occupied by gas to the volume of the reservoir occupied by oil (which ratio permits fixing the overall compressibility of the reservoir) is known, then only one further extensive reservoir property remains to be determined, namely the magnitude of the reserves. A straightforward application of material balance considerations will permit this determination. The problem becomes very much more difficult if we wish to determine not only the magnitude of the reserves but also the magnitude of water drive, if any, which is present. In principle, a combination of material balance and fluid flow considerations will permit this evaluation. Finally, if neither the magnitude of reserves, the degree of water drive, nor the ratio of oil to gas present in the reservoir is known and it is desired to determine all three of these variables, the problem could in principle be solved by a fluid flow-material balance analysis which determines the overall compressibility of the reservoir at various points in its history. The change in compressibility with pressure would provide a means of determining the ratio of gas to liquid present, since the compressibilities of gas and liquid vary differently with pressure variation. However, in practice this problem is probably so difficult as to defy solution in terms of basic data precision apt to be available.' It is the purpose of this discussion to illustrate the second case, which involves the determination of two unknown variables, single phase reserves and degree of water drive, from pressure and production history and fluid property data, and to study the precision with which these unknowns can be determined in this manner in a particular case. Although an electric analyzer developed by Bruce as used in making the calculations to be described, numerical methods necessary in carrying out the process have been devised and have been applied for this purpose. Schilthuis,' for example, developed a comprehensive equation for the material balance in a reservoir. He combined this with a simplified water drive equation, assuming that the ratio of free gas to oil was fixed by geological data and that a period of constant pressure operation at constant rate of production was available to determine the constant for his water drive equation. On this basis he was able to compute the reserves and predict the future pressure history of the reservoir. Hurst developed a generalized equation permitting the calculation of the water drive by unsteady state expansion from a finite aquifer. He showed in a specific case how the water influx calculated by his equation, using basic geologic and reservoir data to fix the constants, matched the water influx required by material balance considerations. Old3 illustrated the simultaneous use of Schilthuis' material balance equation and Hurst's fluid flow equation for the determination of the magnitude of reserves and a water drive parameter from pressure and production history. He used this method to calculate the future pressure history of the reservoir under assumed operating conditions. As a basis for determining reserves, Old assumed a value for his water drive parameter and calculated a set of values for the reserves, using the initial reservoir pressure and each successive measured pressure. The sum of the absolute values of the deviations of the resulting reserve numbers from their mean value was taken as a criterion of the closeness of fit to the experimental data possible with the water drive parameter assumed. New values of the water drive parameter were then assumed and new sets of the reserves calculated until a set of reserves numbers having a minimum deviation from the average was established. The average value of- the re-

Jan 1, 1949

By Z. Xingrong, L. Jiongtian, Z. Yangge, C. Yijun, L. Liang, H. Yangjia, H. Long

In this present research, a polymer poly (acrylamide-allyl thiourea) (PAM-ATU) with an average molecular weight 1.66 × 104 g/mol was used as a depressant in the flotation separation of molybdenite from chalcopyrite and galena. The micro-flotation experimental results showed that PAM-ATU exhibited a strong influence on the flotation performances of chalcopyrite and galena, but had little effect on that of molybdenite within a pH range of 9.0~11.0 at a dosage of lower than 6.0 mg/L. The flotation results of bulk flotation tests illustrated that PAM-ATU showed a stronger depression power than sodium thioglycollate (TGA) and sodium sulfide. The comparison results demonstrated that PAM-ATU and TGA had an advantage in reducing galena and chalcopyrite impurities in the molybdenum concentrate, respectively. With the combination of PAM-ATU and TGA, a good flotation separation result was achieved through one roughing operation where the recovery of molybdenum in the froth product was over 75.0%, while the recovery of copper and lead were less than 22.0% and 15.0%, individually. It was also found that a molybdenum concentrate with Mo grade of 46.32%, Cu grade of 0.16%, Pb grade of 0.06%, was obtained by a closed circuit flotation flowsheet of one roughing-three scavenging-five cleaning with a Mo recovery of 77.67%. Keywords: PAM-ATU, molybdenite, depressant, chalcopyrite, galena

Jan 1, 2020

By S. K. Mitra

A refinement of the Seeger model for intersection process is investigated which is in better agreement with experimental observations than the original. It is shown that, in single crystals, the strain hardening in Stage II is mainly due to the short-mnge interactions when intersection is the rate-controlling process. It is also demonstrated that the creep curves, as predicted by this theory, are in good agreement with the experimental observations. MOTT: Cottrell? and Seeger have developed an approximate theory for plastic deformation of single crystals over the range of variables where the strain rate is controlled by the rate of intersection of dislocations. Although it is now generally agreed that the low temperature deformation of many pure metals is controlled by the intersection mechanism, various dictates of the over-simplified Seeger model are not in good agreement with all the experimental facts. It is the purpose of this paper to reveal that by appropriate extensions of the Seeger model, particularly those suggested by Basinski: a much more reliable theory results. The refined model to be presented here will be shown to account, in a satisfactory way, for the effect of stress, temperature, and strain on the creep rate under constant stress and for the effect of temperature and strain on the flow stress in constant strain-rate tests. EXPERIMENTAL METHOD To Check the theoretical deductions, both creep and tension tests were conducted on single crystals of high-purity Al (99.994 pct Al) so oriented that both the active slip plane and the Burger's vector of the operative dislocations on that plane made angles of about 45 deg to the tension axis. Single crystals of aluminum (5/8 in. by 1/10 in. by 8 in.) were grown in a graphite mold under an inert atmosphere using the Bridgman method. The chemical composition of the aluminum is given in Table I. A common seed was used for all crystals and their orientation is shown in Fig 3. The extensometry consisted of two differential transformers with matched outputs mounted so as to measure the extension in a 2 in. gage length. The amplified difference in output of the two transformers was recorded by a potentiometer. The amplification was calibrated before each run so that one chart division of the recording potentiometer indicated a 105 shear strain on the specimen. Stresses were measured to the nearest 1 x l04 dynes per sq cm. ACTIVATION VOLUME The concept of Basinski that the activation volume is not constant but is a function of the force that aids thermal fluctuation in effecting the cutting of dislocations will be adopted in this section. The force acting due to an applied shear stress on the dislocation being intersected is where L is the mean spacing between the forest dislocations, is the Burger's vector and T is the back stress. A detailed discussion about the origin of back stress will be taken up later in this report. As shown by Basinski, the activation energy, U, that must be supplied by a thermal fluctuation in order to effect intersection, is equal to where x is the distance through which the dislocation must be translated for complete intersection, and Fm is the maximum force encountered in intersection. When the applied stress is decreased abrupt ly F also decreases and the activation energy increases correspondingly as documented in Eqs. [ 1 ] and [2]. The Seeger equation for the strain rate when the deformation is controlled by rate of intersection of where the shear strain rate (per sec) N = the number of points per unit vol at which intersection can take place

Jan 1, 1962

By C J. Greet

Oil can enter a flotation circuit from a number of sources (for example, from mining equipment, oil leaks from the grinding equipment and coatings on the grinding media, but to name a few). Folklore generally states that any oil that contaminates the ore entering the flotation circuit is considered to have a negative impact on flotation. That is, a loss in concentrate grade and recovery.This represents a dilemma for some grinding media suppliers, who use a variety of quenching medium (air, polymer, oil or water) to achieve the desired physical properties of the ball. In the case of high chrome grinding media it is necessary, in some instances, to quench in oil to give the ball the right degree of toughness, which invariably leads to these balls having a thin film of oil on their surface. Once the grinding media arrives on site and site personnel recognise that the balls are “covered” in oil, they generally insist that the oil will have a deleterious impact on flotation performance.Obviously, any supplier “worth their salt” would take remedial action at the point of manufacture to minimise this problem. However, does quenching oil actually present a significant “threat” to the flotation process? This paper provides both laboratory and plant data describing the effect quenching oil has on the flotation of copper sulphide ore, with surprising results!

Aug 8, 2011

By John W. Thatcher

A demountable X-ray tube vacuum spectrograph was designed by the Bureau of Mines for the determination of long-wavelength X-ray spectra from the light elements. This instrument was operated for both secondary and combined primary-secondary excitation of the aluminum K-series. There was an increased analytical sensitivity for elements in period 3, and an indication that with improved X-ray tubes or direct election excitation of the sample, X-ray determination of elements in period 2 is also possible.

Jan 1, 1965

By David W. Tongue

This report describes the engineering work leading to the design of an underground coal mine piping system to transport approximately 2,000,000 cubic feet per day of methane gas to the surface from degasification holes drilled horizontally into the coalbed in existing coal mines. Safety instrumentation for detection of gas leaks and provisions for automatic emergency shutdown are included in the design. It also includes specifications for a safe system of handling gas, water, and drill cuttings during drilling of the horizontal holes and recommendations for compressor and metering facilities at the surface. The main pipeline is recommended to be constructed of polyethylene plastic pipe joined by a butt fusion method while lateral lines and separator and meter piping at the horizontal holes are recommended to be screwed steel piping. The materials used are to be resistant to the forces of impact exerted by falling rock. The pipelines are to be suspended from the ceiling with pipe hangers. All steel components are protected from chemical corrosion by applying protective coatings and the vertical casing to the surface is protected from electrolytic corrosion by a rectifier station. Methane gas detectors monitor the mine atmosphere to detect the presence of gas leaks and a pneumatic plastic tubing line provides for control of the safety shutdown system. Both the recommended design and the required construction procedures are in compliance with the applicable Federal codes for coal mine safety.

Jan 1, 2012

By S. Chander

A series of nonionic and anionic surfactants were tested to enhance the flotation response of a low rank coal. An ethoxylated octyl phenol and several polypropylene polyethylene block copolymers were tested as nonionic surfactants. The anionic surfactant was a dioctyl sulfosuccinate. All the surfactants employed improved the yield significantly but the influence on grade was complex. Separate studies were conducted to determine the emulsification behavior of the surfactants. For the nonionic water soluble reagents tested, a correlation between emulsifying power of the surfactant and flotation was observed. An increase in the number of droplets produced in surfactant containing systems was considered to be the main reason for increase in the yield. Since it increased the number of collisions between dodecane droplets and coal particles. When a surfactant was introduced into the flotation pulp prior to addition of dodecane, it decreased the benefits of the surfactant significantly. The decrease was attributed to an increase in the wettability of coal and a decrease in the surfactant available for emulsification. When a suitable surfactant was added as a solution dissolved in the oily collector, a considerable increase in yield was observed.

Jan 1, 1993

By K. C. Dean

Changes in the types of materials used for the construction of recent automobile models have occasioned a review of the continued applicability of current recycling techniques. Plastics are being used increasingly in late model cars. To evaluate the changes occurring, a 1972 Mercury Montego, furnished by the Ford Motor Co., was completely dismantled and analyzed, and the composition was compared with that of a composite automobile from 15 vehicles ranging in date of manufacture from 1954 to 1965 and designated as a circa 1960 model. The composite vehicle contained about 26 pounds of plastics, while the 1972 model contained over four times that quantity. The increasing use of plastics in automobiles suggests that research to improve the economic potentiality of plastics recycling is warranted.

Jan 1, 1974