A Study of Heat Stress Parameters at Kozlu Coalmine, Turkey

As mining operations go deeper, working conditions become more severe because of high temperature and moisture. The major heat source in deep mines is geothermal heat from the strata. Apart from the rise in rock temperature occurring as working depths increase, the air in mines is also affected by other heat sources. In modern face workings, for example, outputs of between 1,000 and 2,000 kWh may be installed for face conveyors, ploughs and shearers. This involves not only the heat given off by electrical units but also the heat released when stone and coal are being broken away. The mine climate is also affected by the high moisture content of the air, especially as water is required for dust control and large quantities of water collect in the workings owing to geological conditions 1, 2) .