Bezpieczeństwo Pracy i Ochrona Środowiska w Górnictwie Number 10/2023

The article presents gas-metric systems that are currently used in Polish underground mines. An analysis of the number of racks of gasometric central units operated in hard coal mines was carried out and detailed lists of sensors and control units installed in underground workings were presented for several selected mines. Despite the many different gasometric sensors available in Poland, mines mainly use: methane meters, carbon monoxide sensors, differential pressure sensors, anemometers and oxygen sensors. They currently account for over 95% of all sensors installed in hard coal mines. Attention was drawn to the increasing importance of underground stations in the gasometric systems of modern mines. Comparing the period of the last 12 years, it should be noted that despite the closure of several mines and a significant reduction in the number of longwalls, the number of gasometric central has not changed significantly, remaining at the same level (about 180 pieces). At the same time, with a constant number of racks in control rooms, they are modernized, consisting primarily in increasing the number of underground lines (subscriber modules) in the existing racks. Currently, about 3,200 methane meters are installed in Polish mines. Compared to data obtained from surveys collected from all mines in 2012, despite a significant reduction in the number of longwalls and the number of mines, there was only a slight decrease. Attention was also paid to the progressing process of unification in the field of sensor production by individual companies.

In recent years, new technologies related to battery drive have begun to reach transport with suspended tractors. Battery railways are intended for operation in underground mines in non-methane and methane fields as well as in excavations classified to all class of coal dust and methane explosion hazards. They can move on tracks with a longitudinal inclination of up to ±30° and work with or without operator's cabins, as shunting tractors using control from the desktop (with an electric cable or radio). Batteries can be charged in any excavation through the transformer unit - charger. The development in battery technology allows the use of cells without the "cell memory effect". This allows the tractor to be recharged without losing battery capacity. These tractors can be equipped with an innovative technology of mobile lighting of passenger and material stations as well as wireless radio control. They can cooperate with a transport set equipped with winches, and additionally installed 3 x 230 V sockets allow for cooperation with electric winches. The manufactured tractors have undergone appropriate certifications, tests and obtained decisions of the President of the State Mining Authority, allowing them to be used in underground mines. The operation of battery tractors in underground excavations, based on the experience gained, has shown a number of their advantages contributing to the improvement of work safety and efficiency. However, it must be remembered that the operation of battery tractors is limited due to the battery charging time, and the weight of the batteries limits their range.

The final stage of mining activity, which undoubtedly changes (sometimes irreversibly) the character of the project area, is the remediation of post-mining areas. The mining company's obligation to perform it arises not only from the provisions of the applicable law, but also from the principles of rational management of environmental resources. In the case of areas transformed after peat extraction, one way of restoring the land's use value is to use natural renaturisation processes, i.e. the spontaneous encroachment of plant and animal communities. The success of the method under discussion depends on a number of factors and must be preceded by a series of treatments to allow peat-forming vegetation to develop. As a result, post-mining areas cease to be associated with mining activities over time and become attractive in terms of landscape and nature.