Performance of a New Fan Silencer Prototype for Auxiliary Ventilation

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bhattacharya, S. ; Calizaya, Felipe
• Description:
  Mechanized underground mines suffer from noise overexposure. Noise levels are often above the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) where underground fans are used. Sound levels in active workings can reach up to 121 A-weighted decibels (dB(A)), especially when fans are not equipped with silencers. Use of silencers seldom ensures PEL. Overexposure of noise induces permanent hearing loss among mine workers. A NIOSH-funded research project and field studies at six coal and non-coal mines revalidated the findings. The University of Utah undertook laboratory studies to reduce fan noise at the source. A new silencer prototype with varying noise dampening material was designed and tested. The silencer and associated extension can be repacked with different dampening materials. The silencer and the extension were used in various configurations. Attempts were also made to simulate field conditions. The tests demonstrated a maximum sound level attenuation of about 14 dB(A) at the fan discharge. A properly designed silencer offers lesser resistance and thereby better fan performance and lower energy cost. The re-packable silencer is more likely to be maintained properly. Lowering of noise level happens in audible frequencies (4000 to 8000 Hz) which are important in A-weighting. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Engineering Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced Mining Noise Noise, Occupational Occupational Health Safety Ventilation
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Mining Auxiliary Fan Health Mine Shafts Mine Ventilation Mining Equipment NIHL Noise Exposure Noise Induced Hearing Loss Noise Levels Sound Attenuation Underground Mining Ventilation Equipment

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• ISSN:
  2524-3462
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Contract
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 8 ; Pennsylvania ; Utah
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  36
• Issue:
  3
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20056056
• Citation:
  Min Metall Explor 2019 Jun; 36(3):523-530
• Contact Point Address:
  Sekhar Bhattacharyya, The Pennsylvania State University, 126A Hosler Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA
• Email:
  sxb1029@psu.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2019
• Performing Organization:
  University of Utah
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20150901
• Source Full Name:
  Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration
• End Date:
  20171031
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:9b18a4b0e9274edc505eb5f8806c53c16221f2531e8768593b6c5ee7401c088099fb0cf987e2b73f4ccd50af0cced5904e6f1b4560c9e1088956904ff7a56da7
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/213753/cdc_213753_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.89 MB ]