Innovative hydromechanical cleaning of mine water sedimentation tanks in underground headings

Abstract

In mines, water from natural inflows as well as process water from fire protection systems is usually stored in sedimentation tanks, located primarily at the lowest level of the mine. Such water usually contains mechanical contaminants, undergoing the process of sedimentation. The article presents a method enabling the cleaning of mine water sedimentation tanks. The method involves jet mining, hydrotransport and segregation into sediment (i.e. the solid fraction) and water. The consistence of sediment obtained after segregation makes the former transportable (e.g. using an appropriate conveyor/feeder), whereas water can be reused subsequently in the jet mining of sediment. One of the solutions enabling the performance of the above-named process is a ZEKO series system.