In-Mine Experimental Investigation of Temperature Rise and Development of a Validated Thermal Simulation Model of a Mobile Refuge Alternative

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bissert P ; Klein, Matthew K. ; Yan L ; Yantek D
• Description:
  Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) regulations require underground coal mines to use refuge alternatives (RAs) to provide a breathable air environment for 96 hrs. One of the main concerns with the use of mobile RAs is the heat and humidity buildup inside the RA. The accumulation of heat and humidity can result in miners suffering heat stress or even death. To investigate this issue, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducted testing on a training ten-person, tent-type, RA in its Safety Research Coal Mine (SRCM) in a test area that was isolated from the mine ventilation system. The test results using sensible and latent heat showed that the average measured air temperature within the RA increased by 20.6 degrees F (11.4 degrees C) and the relative humidity approached 90 %RH. The test results were used to benchmark a thermal simulation model of the tested RA. The validated thermal simulation model predicted the average air temperature inside the RA, at the end of 96 hours, to within 1 degree F (0.6 degrees C) of the measured average air temperature. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Coal Coal Mining Heat Stress Disorders Hot Temperature Humidity Mining Occupational Health Safety Temperature
• Keywords:
  Air Temperature Breathing Atmospheres Coal Mining Equipment Testing Heat Heat Exposure Heat Stress Mine Safety And Health Administration Mining-industry MSHA Refuge Chambers Regulations Simulation Methods Temperature Regulation Thermal Effects Underground Mining

  More +
• Series:
  Mining Publications
• ISBN:
  9780791857465
• Publisher:
  American Society of Mechanical Engineers
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Proceedings
• Place as Subject:
  Michigan ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 6 ; Pennsylvania ; Texas
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  PMRD - Pittsburgh Mining Research Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20048284
• Citation:
  Proceedings of the ASME 2015 International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition, November 13-19, 2015, Houston, Texas. New York: American Society of MechanicaI Engineers, 2015 Nov; 7A:IMECE2015-50531
• Contact Point Address:
  Lincan Yan, The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), 626 Cochrans Mill Road, Pittsburgh, PA, 15236
• Email:
  jjy9@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2016
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  Proceedings of the ASME 2015 International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition, November 13-19, 2015, Houston, Texas
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:74cd917a6a494b19122ee278b5e0d232ba8b9ff8b7d215d3340f9ed18e710c8e93ccabf48929cc3e040f0929ce8ff1362301886b79abec6524fd5057cefabe05
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/228280/cdc_228280_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 2.34 MB ]