DGMS Circular 02/2025: Minimum Air Quantity Guidelines for Continuous Miner & Longwall Panels


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πŸ“˜ DGMS (Tech.)(S&T) Circular No. 02/2025 Issued from: Dhanbad, April 2025
Subject: Guidelines on Minimum Air Quantity required at Continuous Miner (CM) and Longwall (PSLW) Panels


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  πŸ”Ή 1. Legal Basis

  • CMR 2017, Regulation 153(1):
    Mine management must provide adequate ventilation to:
    • Clear smoke, steam & dust
    • Dilute inflammable/noxious gases
    • Supply sufficient oxygen
    • Control temperature & humidity for health and safety
  • Existing Norms (Reg. 153(2)(a), CMR 2017):
    Ventilation district must have:
    • β‰₯ 6 mΒ³/min air per person employed in largest shift OR
    • β‰₯ 2.5 mΒ³/min air per tonne of daily output
    • Whichever is higher, measured at Last Ventilation Connection (LVC)
⚠️ Problem:
In Mass Production Panels (MPP), high daily output requires very large air quantity β†’ causes:
  • Excessive dust
  • High ventilator water gauge (pressure)
  • Risk of spontaneous heating

πŸ”Ή 2. R&D Study (CMPDIL Ranchi)
  • Project: Requirement of Air in Mass Production Technology
  • Data from:
    • 1 development & 2 depillaring Continuous Miner (CM) panels
    • 2 Longwall (PSLW) panels
  • Parameters analyzed: humidity, dust, gases, temperature rise
  • Recommended new ventilation criteria

πŸ”Ή 3. Recommendations A. Continuous Miner (CM) Panels
  1. Minimum Air Quantity at LVC (Qmin):
    • Degree I & II gassy coal mines:
      Qmin = 3 Γ— Amax Γ— 0.5 m/s
    • Degree III gassy coal mines:
      Qmin = 3 Γ— Amax Γ— 0.75 m/s
    • Where Amax = cross-sectional area (mΒ²) of largest gallery in panel
  2. Humidity & Temperature Control:
    • Relative Humidity ≀ 80%
    • Maintain β‰₯ 2Β°C difference between DBT & WBT
    • To limit temperature rise by machines:
      ➝ At least 25 m³/s air at LVC

B. Powered Support Longwall (PSLW) Panels
  1. Minimum Air Quantity at Face (Qmin):
    • Qmin = Area of max span (mΒ²) Γ— 3 m/s air velocity
  2. Temperature Control:
    • Maintain β‰₯ 2Β°C difference between DBT & WBT
    • To limit machine heat:
      ➝ At least 60 m³/s air

C. General Rule for MPP (Mass Production Panel)
  • Calculate air requirement using all above criteria
  • Deliver the highest value in LVC of CM or PSLW panel

πŸ”Ή 4. Implementation
  • While planning ventilation for CM & PSLW panels, use above formulae.
  • After panel starts, prepare ventilation scheme based on factual mine conditions as per Reg. 153(2), CMR 2017.

πŸ“ Key Points for Competitive Exams
  • Circular No.: DGMS (Tech.)(S&T) 02/2025
  • Issued to: Owners, Agents, Managers of Coal Mines
  • Focus: Minimum air quantity in CM & Longwall panels
  • Formula (CM panels):
    • Degree I & II β†’ Qmin = 3 Γ— Amax Γ— 0.5 m/s
    • Degree III β†’ Qmin = 3 Γ— Amax Γ— 0.75 m/s
  • Formula (PSLW panels):
    • Qmin = Area Γ— 3 m/s velocity
  • Min. delivery:
    • CM panels β†’ 25 mΒ³/s
    • PSLW panels β†’ 60 mΒ³/s
  • Humidity Control: RH ≀ 80%, DBT–WBT β‰₯ 2Β°C
  • Final Rule: Highest of all criteria must be provided


✨ MCQs – DGMS Circular 02/2025 (Ventilation at CM & Longwall Panels)

πŸ”΄ Q1. As per DGMS Circular 02/2025, which regulation of CMR 2017 primarily governs adequate ventilation in belowground mines?
A) Reg. 142
B) Reg. 153
C) Reg. 160
D) Reg. 170
E) Reg. 183
βœ… Answer: B) Reg. 153
πŸ‘‰ Explanation: Circular is based on Reg. 153(1) & 153(2) of CMR 2017 regarding ventilation requirements.

πŸ”΄ Q2. Minimum air quantity at LVC of ventilation district must be:
A) 4 mΒ³/min/person or 2.0 mΒ³/min/tonne output
B) 6 mΒ³/min/person or 2.5 mΒ³/min/tonne output
C) 5 mΒ³/min/person or 3.0 mΒ³/min/tonne output
D) 8 mΒ³/min/person or 2.5 mΒ³/min/tonne output
E) 6 mΒ³/min/person only
βœ… Answer: B) 6 mΒ³/min/person or 2.5 mΒ³/min/tonne output
πŸ‘‰ Explanation: Regulation 153(2)(a), CMR 2017.

πŸ”΄ Q3. Excessive air requirement in Mass Production Panels (MPP) may lead to:
A) Reduced dust concentration
B) Higher ventilation pressure and risk of spontaneous heating
C) Decrease in water gauge
D) Elimination of humidity issues
E) Reduced machine heat generation
βœ… Answer: B) Higher ventilation pressure and risk of spontaneous heating

πŸ”΄ Q4. Which organization conducted the R&D project β€œRequirement of Air in Mass Production Technology”?
A) NIRM KGF
B) IIT-ISM Dhanbad
C) CMPDIL Ranchi
D) CIMFR Dhanbad
E) DGMS Dhanbad
βœ… Answer: C) CMPDIL Ranchi

πŸ”΄ Q5. In Degree I & II gassy mines, Qmin at LVC of CM panel is given by:
A) Qmin = 3 Γ— Amax Γ— 0.25 m/s
B) Qmin = 3 Γ— Amax Γ— 0.5 m/s
C) Qmin = 3 Γ— Amax Γ— 0.75 m/s
D) Qmin = 2 Γ— Amax Γ— 0.5 m/s
E) Qmin = Amax Γ— 1.0 m/s
βœ… Answer: B) 3 Γ— Amax Γ— 0.5 m/s

πŸ”΄ Q6. In Degree III gassy mines, Qmin at LVC of CM panel is:
A) 3 Γ— Amax Γ— 0.25 m/s
B) 3 Γ— Amax Γ— 0.5 m/s
C) 3 Γ— Amax Γ— 0.75 m/s
D) 2 Γ— Amax Γ— 0.75 m/s
E) 2.5 Γ— Amax Γ— 1.0 m/s
βœ… Answer: C) 3 Γ— Amax Γ— 0.75 m/s

πŸ”΄ Q7. In formula for air quantity, Amax refers to:
A) Maximum production capacity
B) Gallery cross-sectional area (mΒ²)
C) Longwall face length (m)
D) Height of coal seam
E) Quantity of coal produced per shift
βœ… Answer: B) Gallery cross-sectional area (mΒ²)

πŸ”΄ Q8. For CM panels, relative humidity should not exceed:
A) 60%
B) 65%
C) 75%
D) 80%
E) 85%
βœ… Answer: D) 80%

πŸ”΄ Q9. To maintain comfortable working conditions in CM panels, temperature difference between DBT & WBT should be at least:
A) 1Β°C
B) 1.5Β°C
C) 2Β°C
D) 3Β°C
E) 5Β°C
βœ… Answer: C) 2Β°C

πŸ”΄ Q10. Minimum air required at LVC of CM panels to restrict machine-induced temperature rise:
A) 10 mΒ³/s
B) 15 mΒ³/s
C) 20 mΒ³/s
D) 25 mΒ³/s
E) 30 mΒ³/s
βœ… Answer: D) 25 mΒ³/s

πŸ”΄ Q11. For Powered Support Longwall (PSLW) panels, minimum velocity required at face:
A) 1.5 m/s
B) 2.0 m/s
C) 2.5 m/s
D) 3.0 m/s
E) 3.5 m/s
βœ… Answer: D) 3.0 m/s

πŸ”΄ Q12. Formula for minimum air quantity in PSLW face:
A) Qmin = Area Γ— 2.0 m/s
B) Qmin = Area Γ— 2.5 m/s
C) Qmin = Area Γ— 3.0 m/s
D) Qmin = Area Γ— 3.5 m/s
E) Qmin = Area Γ— 4.0 m/s
βœ… Answer: C) Area Γ— 3.0 m/s

πŸ”΄ Q13. Minimum air required in PSLW panels to control heat rise due to machines:
A) 30 mΒ³/s
B) 40 mΒ³/s
C) 50 mΒ³/s
D) 60 mΒ³/s
E) 70 mΒ³/s
βœ… Answer: D) 60 mΒ³/s

πŸ”΄ Q14. In MPP, how should the minimum air requirement be determined?
A) By average of CM & PSLW values
B) By considering CM panel only
C) By considering PSLW panel only
D) By selecting the highest among all criteria
E) By DGMS standard fixed value
βœ… Answer: D) By selecting the highest among all criteria

πŸ”΄ Q15. Ventilation scheme after commencement of MPP must be prepared as per:
A) Reg. 144 of CMR 2017
B) Reg. 153(2) of CMR 2017
C) Reg. 160 of CMR 2017
D) Reg. 170 of CMR 2017
E) Reg. 175 of CMR 2017
βœ… Answer: B) Reg. 153(2) of CMR 2017

πŸ”΄ Q16. Excessive rise in water gauge at ventilator is a direct result of:
A) Low air delivery
B) High air quantity supply in LVC
C) Short circuiting of air
D) Blower failure
E) Dust suppression system
βœ… Answer: B) High air quantity supply in LVC

πŸ”΄ Q17. DBT stands for:
A) Dry Bulb Thermometer
B) Dry Base Temperature
C) Dust Bulb Test
D) Dry Barometer Temperature
E) Direct Base Temperature
βœ… Answer: A) Dry Bulb Thermometer

πŸ”΄ Q18. WBT stands for:
A) Wet Bulb Thermometer
B) Wet Base Temperature
C) Water Base Thermostat
D) Warm Bulb Test
E) Wet Barometer Temperature
βœ… Answer: A) Wet Bulb Thermometer

πŸ”΄ Q19. The workshop on ventilation requirements was organized at:
A) CMPDIL Ranchi HQ
B) IIT ISM Dhanbad
C) Jhanjra Project, ECL
D) NCL Singrauli
E) SECL Korba
βœ… Answer: C) Jhanjra Project, ECL

πŸ”΄ Q20. The Circular 02/2025 is applicable to:
A) Only Degree III coal mines
B) Only metalliferous mines
C) All coal mines using CM and PSLW panels
D) Only opencast coal mines
E) Only fire-area blasting panels
βœ… Answer: C) All coal mines using CM and PSLW panels

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