Coal Mine Safety Research Center, Kyushu

The Coal Mine Safety Research Center, Kyushu was established in May 1915 by the Japanese Goverment in conjunction with independent Mining Companies. The Center was initially known as the Safety Lamp Experimental Laboratory for preventing accidents in coal mines. The name has been changed several times ; the present title being taken since February 1977. In September 1953, a project was begun to establish the Experimental Coal Mine at Usui-cho, Kaho-gun and this was completed in April l957.

The Center has undertaken research and developed preventive technologies for mine accidents in the field of gas and coal dust explosions, gas and coal outbursts, spontaneous combustion of coal and mine fires. However, countermeasures against serious accidents and deterioration of the mining environment associated with deep mining remain important areas for further research.

The Experimental Coal Mine plays an important role in the activities of the Center as this is the only site belonging to the National research Institutes where full-scale experiments may be carried out. Additionally, the official certification tests of equipment for use in underground coal mines is conducted.

The Center locates near coal producing areas and research is carried out in conjunction with the supervisory administration, universities, other research institutes and coal mines. The importance of the center in research and testing is self evident. In addition, activities has been taken within the Institute for Transfer of Industrial Technology (ITIT) to China Program.

Guide map

Mechanism of Frictional Ignition Induced by Cutting Machine
The number of practical cases of frictional ignition induced by mechanical friction in coal mines is increasing, because cutting and excavating machines become larger and larger. Disasters due to frictional ignition have been reported in European countries and Australia, so that frictional ignition between rocks and metals becomes to have bigger share in all ignition sources. In Japanese coal mines, there have been some cases of methane ignition that might be induced by frictional sparks between picks and rocks. Thus, it has been pointed out that preventive measures against frictional ignition have to be developed. The ignitability of frictional sparks induced between rocks and metals has been examined in this research.
	This photograph shows a grinding friction testing apparatus. The ignitability of frictional sparks to methane gas has been examined by grinding metals on to some rotating rocks, such as bullion and silicified wood.
	This photograph shows a drop hammer impact testing apparatus. The ignitability of frictional sparks has been examined by dropping rocks and metals on to test samples. The weight of dropping materials is up to 60kg, and the height can be varied in the range between 1.0m and 4.0m.

Fire-proof Underground Communication System
It is important to maintain radio and/or cable communication system when fires occur in underground space, such as tunnel and mine roadway. If the communication system would not operate due to the damage of fire, the difficulty of urgent communication for evacuation may bring larger disaster. This research aims to clarify characteristics of communication in case of fire, and to develop the fire-proofing communication system.
Fire Experiment in 400m Test Gallery Fire experiment on characteristics of communication in case of cable fire has been carried out.
Fire-proof Underground Communication System If fires occur in confined space, it might be supposed that both radio and cable communication system break down due to the damage in underground roadways.

Research on measuring method for respirable dust in underground working environment
To evaluate respirable dust at an underground working space in such like mines or tunneling sites, it is necessary to extablish an exact and rapid measuring method. In the experimental study at test galleries, a measuring method for evaluating the source data of respirable dust based on the measurements along the gallery is being developed. The method is put into pilot measurements at practical coal mines as well.

A measuring set up in a gallery of a coal mine

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