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The Magic of Coal: Do You Know How Coal is Refined?
Coal mining is the process of extracting coal from underground or in mines. Coal's value lies in its energy content, and it has been widely used to generate electricity since the 1880s. In addition, the steel and cement industries also use coal as fuel to extract iron and produce cement. Around the world, methods of extracting coal have evolved as technology has advanced, from early days when workers dug mines by hand to today's large open-pit and longwall mining methods. These advances have made coal mining more efficient, but they have also brought about a series of environmental problems.
Since the 1880s, coal has been widely used to generate electricity and plays an important role in the steel and cement industries.
Historical background
The use of coal has a long history. However, coal mining technology has made significant progress in recent years. In the past, workers mined coal by digging and manually moving it, but now coal mining has become a project using large machinery. This includes the use of large excavation equipment such as towed excavators, trucks, conveyor belts, etc. for transport and loading. With the advancement of mining technology, the working efficiency and productivity of coal mines have been greatly improved. While improving the production process, it has also had a profound impact on the environment.
Extraction method
There are two main methods of coal extraction: underground mines and open-pit mines. Different mining methods depend on the depth, thickness and geological conditions of the coal seam. If the coal seam is located near the surface, open-pit mining may be the most economical option; if the coal seam is buried deep underground, underground mining will be required.
Open-pit mining methods can recover more coal, while underground mining relies heavily on support structures to avoid accidents.
Open-pit mining
When coal seams are close to the surface, surface mining is often considered the most economical method. This method involves open coal mines and direct access to the coal seams through blasting and removal of top soil. This process first requires the use of explosives to destroy the surface layer, and then the use of large machinery for excavation and transportation. In the United States and Australia, surface mining accounts for a major share of coal production.
Underground Mining
For deeply buried coal seams, underground mining technology is mostly used. This method helps improve coal recovery and can be extracted deeper beneath the surface. Today's underground mining methods often include longwall mining techniques and room-and-pillar methods, which allow for more efficient mining and more efficient production while keeping workers safe.
Modern underground coal mining processes utilize advanced monitoring technology to significantly reduce risks to workers.
Production and Economic Impact
According to the latest data, more than 50 countries around the world are engaged in commercial coal mining. In 2019, global coal production reached 7,921 million metric tons, demonstrating the importance of coal in global energy supply. However, the coal industry faces shrinking trends in some countries as demand for renewable energy increases. This has made people think about how to effectively transform and support workers in this industry, which has become an important issue currently facing.
Safety and Disaster
Coal mine safety has always been a major issue. Many coal mine disasters in history have resulted in the loss of many workers' lives. Although modern technology has greatly improved the safety of coal mines, in some areas, especially in developing countries, miners still work in extremely dangerous environments. Therefore, how to ensure worker safety while maintaining production efficiency is one of the issues to be solved in the future.
In coal mines in some developing countries, workers still face life-threatening dangers every year, and safety hazards still exist.
The technology and processes involved in refining coal are undoubtedly fascinating. However, as the world attaches increasing importance to environmental protection and sustainable development, what will the future of coal look like?
