Cryogenic Air Supply for Cooling Built-in-Place Refuge Alternatives in Hot Mines

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bauer E ; Bickson J ; Damiano, Nicholas W. ; Reyes M ; Srednicki J ; Whisner B ; Yan L ; Yantek D
• Description:
  Built-in-place (BIP) refuge alternatives (RAs) are designed to provide a secure space for miners who cannot escape during a mine emergency. Heat and humidity buildup within RAs may expose miners to physiological hazards such as heat stress. To minimize the risk of heat stress, Title 30 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), or 30 CFR, mandates a maximum allowable apparent temperature (AT) for an occupied RA of 35 degrees C (95 degrees F). The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has conducted extensive research on the thermal environment of occupied RAs intended for use in underground coal mines. NIOSH research has demonstrated that a fully occupied BIP RA can exceed the AT limit by more than 5.6 degrees C (10 degrees F) in mines with elevated mine strata and air temperatures. In this circumstance, an RA cooling system could provide a solution. This paper provides an overview of test methodology and findings as well as guidance on improving the performance of a cryogenic air system prototype by optimizing the flow rate, increasing the tank storage capacity, and improving the efficiency of the heat exchanger of the cryogenic system. This may enable BIP RAs to meet the 35 degrees C (95 degrees F) AT limit in mines with elevated temperatures. The information in this paper is useful for RA manufacturers and mines that may choose to implement a cryogenic air system as a heat mitigation strategy. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Air Movements Heat Stress Disorders Hot Temperature Humidity Mining Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Air Flow Apparent Temperature Author Keywords: Refuge Alternatives Emergency Shelters Heat Exposure Heat Stress Mine Disasters Mining Industry RAs Refuge Chambers Relative Humidity Underground Mines

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• Series:
  Mining Publications
• ISSN:
  0026-5187
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  Florida ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 4 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  PMRD - Pittsburgh Mining Research Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  53-55
• Volume:
  72
• Issue:
  6
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20060092
• Citation:
  Min Eng 2020 Jun; 72(6):53-55
• Contact Point Address:
  Lincan Yan, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Pittsburgh Mining Research Division (PMRD), Pittsburgh, PA, USA
• Email:
  lyan1@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2020
• NORA Priority Area:
  Mining
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Mining Engineering
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:d9cc3892abd2888391b8a28d9e811548813650b6d2adddc3f12e0d5a61cc56f7c9520bc0c01baa03591b5efe238c87f49ec5719c770f04740709b347ec8becfc
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/215304/cdc_215304_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 202.58 KB ]