ACARP has backed 62 new projects since December, with 18 for the underground sector.

The new projects add to 67 existing underground projects that have ACARP funding of $17.07 million.

While almost $7 million went to new underground projects in commitments from the previous year, the latest round of ACARP funding has shrunk to $5.12 million.

One of the biggest winners of research dollars was CSIRO with a project to develop a mining navigation and control system for continuous miner automation.

The CSIRO received $1.31 million in funding for the research, which is part of its larger industry-recognised roadway development project, while an ACARP spokesperson told International Longwall News there could be an extra $1.5 million of funding commitment on the cards.

Several funding approvals were for projects focused on underground atmosphere and dust management.

CSIRO received funding for various initiatives, including one to produce an ultrasonic agglomeration filter to reduce diesel particulate emissions to below 5% of the present value, in a manner superior to ceramic or other filter material.

The Australian national science agency also won funding for a follow-up project to fabricate and install its previously developed shearer scrubber system on a longwall shearer.

A separate project from CSIRO’s offerings will study the use of a new ultra-fine water mist Venturi system for dust suppression.

ACARP has also funded a Gillies Wu Mining Technology project to test a coal dust explosibility meter developed in the United States by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

The meter will be tested in 10 underground mines, half in Queensland, and half in New South Wales, to determine its suitability for Australian conditions.

Given the danger from highly explosive coal dust in the atmosphere, the meter has sparked considerable interest.

“If you can get instantaneous dust readings then you know exactly how unsafe you are as opposed to a day or three days later,” an ACARP spokesperson said.

These projects, along with other standout areas of ACARP-sponsored research for this year, will be detailed in upcoming ILN and Australian Longwall Magazine stories.