Standards Issued for Low-Concentration CMM

The State Administration of Work Safety recently issued 10 standards for safe transport and utilization of low-concentration CMM, including safety specifications for non-metallic pipeline for coal mine methane transport, technical specifications for CMM transport with pipeline equipped with water-seal equipment for flame arresting and explosion venting, safe design specifications for low- concentration CMM transport systems with pipeline, technical specifications for low concentration CMM transport mixing with water mist, and so on. These standards come into force as of the July 1, 2010.

China is rich in coal mine methane with total geological reserves amounting to 36.8 trillion m³. And the volume of CMM drained out from coal mines increases year by year. Because most of the CMM is of low concentration (under 30%), it is commonly emitted into the atmosphere for its explosive and poor utilization quality, polluting the environment and at the same time wasting many resources. Take year 2008 for instance- 5.3 billion m³ CH₄ are drained from coal mines, but just 1.7 billion of this amount is used, at a ratio of only 32%.

The significance of the series of work safety standards for low concentration CMM transport can scale up the ratio of low concentration CMM utilization, promote energy saving and emission reduction, strengthen comprehensive utilization of these resources, and will bring about a positive impetus for work safety.

Source: National Development and Reform Commission (Translated by GZCMM)

Standards List of Work Safety