Methane watchdog system, a cost effective approach to longwall methane monitoring and control
Inventors
Johnson, Derek • Clark, Nigel • Barr, Amber • Cappellini, Brian
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Assignees
Member
West Virginia UniversityWest Virginia University is a public R1 research institution offering diverse undergraduate and graduate programs across science, engineering, business, creative arts, and media. The university emphasizes experiential learning, research, and innovation, with notable strengths in academic program development, research excellence, community engagement, and a commitment to affordability, career readiness, and student success. WVU supports a vibrant campus environment, industry partnerships, and impactful scholarship, preparing students for careers through hands-on education, research, and applied learning.
West Virginia University is a public R1 research institution offering diverse undergraduate and graduate programs across science, engineering, business, creative arts, and media. The university emphasizes experiential learning, research, and innovation, with notable strengths in academic program development, research excellence, community engagement, and a commitment to affordability, career readiness, and student success. WVU supports a vibrant campus environment, industry partnerships, and impactful scholarship, preparing students for careers through hands-on education, research, and applied learning.
Publication Number
US-12031888-B2
Publication Date
2024-07-09
Expiration Date
Abstract
Various examples are provided related to methane detection in harsh environments. In one example, a method includes drawing a sample of air from at least one first location; delivering the sample to a volume within a sensor block at a second location, where the sensor block includes a gas concentration sensor in communication with the volume; and where a vacuum is applied to the volume within the sensor block to facilitate delivery of the sample to the second location. In another example, a system includes a sampling unit that houses a sensor block, where a sample tube is coupled to an inlet of the sensor block, which includes a gas concentration sensor; an ejector that facilitates delivery of a sample of air from the first location via the sample tube; and a control unit that can receive a gas concentration sensor output from the sampling unit for processing.
Core Innovation
The described invention is a low-cost, multi-nodal methane watchdog system for longwall mines. Air is sampled at multiple discrete locations along the longwall and delivered to remote sampling units that contain sensor blocks. The system uses gas concentration sensors and environmental sensors to quantify methane-related conditions at the sampling units.
The sampling architecture includes a three-way valve that enables air samples to be drawn from different sides when the three-way valve is energized and when the three-way valve is deenergized. Vacuum is applied to a volume within the sensor block to facilitate delivery of the sample, and vacuum generation is implemented using ejector or eductor systems enabled by pressurized fluid. The disclosed sampling design supports transporting air samples from a first location to a second location for sensor measurement.
A central control unit receives and calibrates sensor outputs, logs and visualizes methane profiles, and can issue alerts and automated control actions based on concentration thresholds. The disclosed control can incorporate predictive algorithms that compensate for sample transit delay and diffusion delay. The document further describes modular deployment and testing in a mock-mine wind tunnel environment to characterize response time, alarm/relay control performance, and sampling performance.
Claims Coverage
The partial claim set provided includes three independent claims (a method for quantifying a gas concentration, a method for quantifying a combustible gas concentration level, and a system for longwall mining). Across these independent claims, the main inventive features relate to three-way valve sampling from different sides, delivering samples to a sensor block under applied vacuum or pumped flow, ejector-based vacuum or flow facilitation, and communicating sensor outputs to a control unit for threshold-based and longwall system actions.
Three-way valve sampling with vacuum-assisted delivery to a sensor block
drawing, via a three-way valve, a sample of air from at least one first location, thereby allowing the sample of air to be obtained from different sides; delivering the sample to a volume within a sensor block at a second location; and applying a vacuum to the volume within the sensor block to facilitate delivery of the sample to the second location.
Signal communication of combustible gas concentration to a control unit
drawing, via three-way valve, a sample of air from at least one first location via at least one sample tube; delivering the sample to a volume within a sensor block at a second location via the at least one sample tube, wherein the sensor block incorporates at least one combustible gas concentration sensor; wherein at least one pump establishes at least one sample flow from the first location to the second location; and communicating a signal from the at least one combustible gas concentration sensor to a control unit at a third location, the signal corresponding to a combustible gas concentration level.
Longwall system with ejector-facilitated three-way valve sampling and sensor-output control
a longwall mining machine; at least one sample tube extending from a first location to a second location; a sampling unit at the second location with a sensor block incorporating at least one gas concentration sensor; an ejector enabled by a supply of pressurized water or air, wherein the ejector facilitates delivery of a sample of air using a three-way valve that allows the sample of air to be drawn from a first side when energized and a second side when deenergized; and a control unit configured to receive a gas concentration sensor output from the sampling unit and output the gas concentration sensor output.
The independent claims collectively cover three-way valve-controlled sampling from different sides, delivery of the sample into a sensor block with vacuum applied or sample flow established by a pump, and communicating gas sensor outputs to a control unit in a longwall mining system that includes an ejector enabled by pressurized water or air.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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