Weather measurement

Weather measurement by a weatherman in a uranium mine on a ventilator with anemometer to determine the weather speed (USA, 1960s)

In mining, weather measurement is the metrological recording of the weather in the mine. Depending on the measuring method, the weather measurement results in both a qualitative and a quantitative measurement of the weather. Certain characteristic values required for monitoring the ventilation are determined and evaluated.

Basics and history

In order for the ventilation of the individual mine workings to function properly, the condition of the weather must be checked regularly. From the 16th century onwards, miners relied on canaries to protect them from bad weather through their behavior . In the first half of the 19th century, the weather was still not measured. One limited oneself to observations of the introduction of the weather train into the mine building. These observations extended to regular checks of the weather doors for tightness and the air ducts for function and quality. In addition, efforts were made to make the weather routes as straight as possible and to create a weather plan for each pit in order to have a precise overview of the weather conditions. In the second half of the 19th century, simple measurements of the speed of the weather in the mines were carried out. After the Weather Police Ordinance came into force in 1888, regular examinations of the mine structures concerned were prescribed in the so-called firedamp pits. The Befahrung the fire damp areas by a weatherman was prescribed. However, there were no regulations for controlling weather temperatures or weather operating plans . This was at the discretion of the responsible mining authority . Over the following years were for certain mines of the mountain offices special rules concerning further security measures. So z. For example, weather analyzes can be carried out on the mines concerned and a weather controller can be appointed to supervise the weather management. With the entry into force of the Weather Police Ordinance of December 12, 1900, this became a regulation for all mines in the Rhenish Westphalian mountain area .

Simple measurement methods

Measurement of the weather speed

The weather speed was determined using two simple methods by indirect measurement. There were two ways of doing this, walking down a stretch of road with an open light or burning off powder or sponge. In the first method, a previously measured distance of 100 meters was walked several times with an open light in the direction of the weather flow. The pacing had to be done at walking pace so that the flame of the light was not bent, but remained vertical. The time it took to walk was measured with a stopwatch . The weather speed was then calculated from the values of length and time. To get a more accurate result, the measurement had to be repeated two or three times. The second method also required a previously measured distance. A special powder or sponge was burned off for the measurement. The smoke generated during the combustion is carried away by the weather train. The time that elapsed between the flashing of the flame and the arrival of the smoke at the observation point of the measuring section was measured with a stop watch. The weather speed was calculated from the values of distance and running time. The procedure could only be carried out in regular stretches in which the starting point could be seen from the observation point. Instead of burning off the powder or sponge, you can also sprinkle light flakes into the flue and observe accordingly.

Measurement using a weather lamp

The gasoline-powered weather lamp can be used to measure dull weather . To measure, the flame is screwed back to a height of one centimeter and then the lamp is held in the area to be measured. If the flame becomes smaller or even goes out completely, the oxygen content is 17.5 percent or below. In the past, weather lamps were also used to measure methane by observing the color of the flame tip. The size of the aureole during the measurement depends on the concentration of methane in the weather stream. The measurement was done optically and empirically and did not give any exact values.

Modern measurement methods

Weather measuring devices are used to measure the weather. In addition to the weather speed , the respective measuring devices measure the levels of harmful gases such as carbon monoxide or methane. Furthermore, the temperature of the mine weather and the moisture content of the weather are measured in order to determine the mine climate . In order to have a reference point for the measurements in the mine, the first measurement is made in the area of the hanging lawn bench . Further measurements then take place at certain points in the mine, the weather measuring points . A wide variety of measuring devices are used to enable precise monitoring of the weather. In addition to manual measurement of certain values, there is also continuous measurement. In order to monitor the operating points with special ventilation, specially developed evaluation devices are used. These devices are microprocessor-controlled and record the required values via an associated measuring sensor. This enables a largely error-free measurement of the weather flow in businesses with special weather conditions.

Measurement of the weather speed

Special weather speed measuring devices are used in mining to measure the speed of the weather . Measuring devices such as the vane anemometer , the cup cross anemometer or the Luga knife are suitable for this . In order for the measurement in a section to be relatively accurate, the measurement must be carried out over the entire section cross-section. In addition, the miner performing the measurement must stand close to the joint during the measurement . This is necessary so that the cross-section of the route is influenced as little as possible. In addition, the person measuring is not allowed to change his position during the measurement. There are two measuring methods for the measurement, the network measurement, also called grid measurement or point measurement, and the loop measurement. With both measurements one arrives at measurement results with approximately the same accuracy. When measuring the network, the cross-section of the route must be divided into a network of individual quadrants . A measurement is now carried out at each intersection of the fictitious grid lines. The measured values are noted. Finally, the arithmetic mean is calculated from all measured values . Loop measurement is much easier to use. With this method, the measuring instrument attached to a measuring stick is guided in approximately the same loops over the entire cross section. With the Luga measurement, the weather speed is measured instantaneously using a Luga knife. For this purpose, an appropriately matched nozzle must be placed on the air outlet opening of the measuring device. The amount of weather can be calculated from the measured weather speed and the known route cross-section .

Individual evidence

↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Walter Bischoff , Heinz Bramann, Westfälische Berggewerkschaftskasse Bochum: The small mining dictionary. 7th edition, Verlag Glückauf GmbH, Essen 1988, ISBN 3-7739-0501-7
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Horst Roschlau, Wolfram Heinze, SDAG Wismut (Hrsg.): Knowledge storage mining technology. 1st edition. German publishing house for basic industry, Leipzig 1974, pp. 115–121.
^ ^A ^b Association for Mining Interests in the Upper Mining District Dortmund (ed.): The development of the Lower Rhine-Westphalian hard coal mining in the second half of the 19th century . Part VI Weather Management, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg GmbH, Berlin Heidelberg 1903, pp. 584-585.
^ The History of Canaries (accessed November 11, 2016).
^ Aloys Wehrle: The pit weather. Verlag von Franz Tendler, Vienna 1835, pp. 45–46.
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Albert Serlo: Guide to mining science. First volume, third revised and up to the most recent edition supplemented, published by Julius Springer, Berlin 1878, pp. 250-251.
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d Gustav Köhler: Textbook of mining science. Sixth improved edition, published by Wilhelm Engelmann, Leipzig 1903, pp. 747-748.
^ ^A ^b ^c ^d ^e Carl Hellmut Fritzsche: Textbook of mining science. First volume, 10th edition, Springer Verlag, Berlin / Göttingen / Heidelberg 1961, pp. 639–649.
^ Carl Hellmut Fritzsche: Textbook of mining science. First volume, eighth edition, Springer Verlag, Berlin 1942, pp. 573-581.
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Ernst-Ulrich Reuther: Textbook of mining science. First volume, 12th edition, VGE Verlag GmbH, Essen 2010, ISBN 978-3-86797-076-1 , pp. 652-662.
↑ B. Litter: Increasing the safety and availability of special ventilation systems . In: Commission of the European Communities (Ed.): Technical research coal . Final report, Luxembourg 1997, ISBN 92-827-9264-1 , pp. 8-9.
^ ^A ^b ^c Carl Hellmut Fritzsche: Textbook of mining science. First volume, ninth completely revised edition, Springer Verlag, Berlin / Heidelberg 1959, pp. 609–615.

Remarks

↑ Mines were referred to as firedamp pits when bad weather occurred. Which mine was designated as a firedamp pit was the responsibility of the responsible mining authority. Every mine in the district of the Dortmund Oberbergamt was regarded as a firedamp pit. (Source: NA Herold: Worker Protection in the Prussian Mountain Police Regulations. )

[Quelle_1-1] ↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Walter Bischoff , Heinz Bramann, Westfälische Berggewerkschaftskasse Bochum: The small mining dictionary. 7th edition, Verlag Glückauf GmbH, Essen 1988, ISBN 3-7739-0501-7

[Quelle_7-2] ↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Horst Roschlau, Wolfram Heinze, SDAG Wismut (Hrsg.): Knowledge storage mining technology. 1st edition. German publishing house for basic industry, Leipzig 1974, pp. 115–121.

[Quelle_2-3] A ^b Association for Mining Interests in the Upper Mining District Dortmund (ed.): The development of the Lower Rhine-Westphalian hard coal mining in the second half of the 19th century . Part VI Weather Management, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg GmbH, Berlin Heidelberg 1903, pp. 584-585.

[Quelle_3-4] The History of Canaries (accessed November 11, 2016).

[Quelle_4-5] Aloys Wehrle: The pit weather. Verlag von Franz Tendler, Vienna 1835, pp. 45–46.

[Quelle_5-6] Albert Serlo: Guide to mining science. First volume, third revised and up to the most recent edition supplemented, published by Julius Springer, Berlin 1878, pp. 250-251.

[Quelle_6-8] Gustav Köhler: Textbook of mining science. Sixth improved edition, published by Wilhelm Engelmann, Leipzig 1903, pp. 747-748.

[Quelle_8-9] A ^b ^c ^d ^e Carl Hellmut Fritzsche: Textbook of mining science. First volume, 10th edition, Springer Verlag, Berlin / Göttingen / Heidelberg 1961, pp. 639–649.

[Quelle_9-10] Carl Hellmut Fritzsche: Textbook of mining science. First volume, eighth edition, Springer Verlag, Berlin 1942, pp. 573-581.

[Quelle_10-11] ↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Ernst-Ulrich Reuther: Textbook of mining science. First volume, 12th edition, VGE Verlag GmbH, Essen 2010, ISBN 978-3-86797-076-1 , pp. 652-662.

[Quelle_11-12] B. Litter: Increasing the safety and availability of special ventilation systems . In: Commission of the European Communities (Ed.): Technical research coal . Final report, Luxembourg 1997, ISBN 92-827-9264-1 , pp. 8-9.

[Quelle_12-13] A ^b ^c Carl Hellmut Fritzsche: Textbook of mining science. First volume, ninth completely revised edition, Springer Verlag, Berlin / Heidelberg 1959, pp. 609–615.

[Anm._AschuPr.-7] Mines were referred to as firedamp pits when bad weather occurred. Which mine was designated as a firedamp pit was the responsibility of the responsible mining authority. Every mine in the district of the Dortmund Oberbergamt was regarded as a firedamp pit. (Source: NA Herold: Worker Protection in the Prussian Mountain Police Regulations. )