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Technology for the Early Detection and Warning of Impending Underground Mine Roof Fall



Details

  • Personal Author:
    Meiksin ZH
  • Description:
    This project addresses safety of miners in underground mines. Roof and rib falls are the primary cause of deaths and injuries in underground mines. An inexpensive module was developed that monitors continuously the state of integrity of these infrastructures. When a roof or rib structure weakens to a critical point beyond which it is certain to collapse unless intervention is exercised, the module sets off an alarm in time to alert the maintenance crew to take proactive action to prevent structure collapse. The crew provides temporary roof support followed by re-enforcement of the structure. To implement the technology, modules are attached to existing roof and rib bolt plates or straps. Typically the sensors are set eight feet apart in a two-dimensional grid network across the roof and ribs. (In present ground support practice, roof bolts are routinely installed four or three feet apart in mine roofs as mine sections are being developed for mining.) Module attachment does not interfere in any way with coal production. When a structure has weakened to a critical level, the effected modules communicate an alarm through a wireless mesh network to the mining maintenance office displaying the weakened structure location on a video monitor in time for the maintenance crew to take proactive action to prevent roof or rib fall. To develop the technology, Alertek had access to a University structure-testing laboratory. The technology was then tested successfully in active coalmines under induced roof collapse conditions. To implement the technology into a commercial, viable product, Alertek miniatured the needed electronics by developing an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) 5 mm X 5 mm in size. The ASIC contains all the hardware and software that evaluates the signals coming from the infrastructure and determines the critical instant when an alarm is activated. The ASIC, battery, and micro-transceiver are assembled in an encapsulated container 1 inch in diameter and less than an inch long. Beta-sites inside active mines have been designated in order to further evaluate the performance of the devices before releasing them to the market. From a financial viewpoint the new technology is also very attractive. Monetary savings resulting from the prevention of the production loss, and rebuilding and clean-up costs after a roof or rib fall by far exceed the investment in the sensing and alarm system. [Description provided by NIOSH]
  • Subjects:
  • Keywords:
  • Series:
    Grant Final Reports
  • Publisher:
    National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
  • Document Type:
    Text
  • Funding:
    Grant
  • Genre:
    Final Grant Report
  • Place as Subject:
  • CIO:
    National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
  • Division:
    OEP - Office of Extramural Programs
  • Topic:
    Workplace Safety & Health
  • Location:
    North America
  • Pages in Document:
    1-16
  • NIOSHTIC Number:
    nn:20057067
  • Citation:
    Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, R43-OH-009679, 2013 Oct; :1-16
  • Contact Point Address:
    Alertek LLC, 2008 Murray Avenue, Suite D, Pittsburgh, PA 15217-2171
  • Email:
    steve.Alertek@verizon.net
  • Federal Fiscal Year:
    2014
  • NORA Priority Area:
    Mining
  • Performing Organization:
    Alertek, LLC, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • Peer Reviewed:
    False
  • Start Date:
    20090801
  • Source Full Name:
    National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
  • End Date:
    20130813
  • Collection(s):
  • Main Document Checksum:
    urn:sha-512:4d731e04a8507cd93f3b701847772bce8697fdb0044acda2d46370e4f6b913d26000ce7d5a22106d10d96dfa1d913adf423a02c2bbe157602c5d3abddd6ada95
  • Download URL:
  • File Type:
    Filetype[PDF - 616.17 KB ]
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