Details:

Personal Author:
Dubaniewicz, Thomas H., Jr. ; Cashdollar, Kenneth L. ; Green, Gregory M. ; Cucci, Gerald R.
Dubaniewicz, Thomas H., Jr. ; Cashdollar, Kenneth L. ; Green, Gregory M. ; Cucci, Gerald R. Less -
Corporate Authors:
Spokane Research Laboratory (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health)
Conference Authors:
Instrument Society of America. Analysis Division. Annual Symposium (41st : Framingham, Massacusetts)
Description:
New types of industrial instruments use fiber-coupled law energy to power remote serum. Fiber-optic based instruments are useful in classified (hazardous) locations found in many industrial plants because the fiber provides a natural barrier against accidental electrical discharge into potentially explosive atmospheres. However, current safety standards do not cover the use of laser-powered fiber-optic instruments in potentially explosive environments such as found in coal mines. The U. S. Bureau of Mines began an investigation of laser-powered fiber-optic instruments in explosive atmospheres in support of the standards-making process. A commercial fiber-optic interface system, modified to sin relate several worst-case operating conditions, ignited explosive hydrogen-air mixtures. Worst-am simulations consisted of disabling a safety shutoff feature, operating the laser at significantly higher powers than intended for normal operations, and cleaving fiber-optic connections to direct laser energy onto selected absorptive materials. At the highest power level available, the fiber-optic interface system did not ignite selected methane-air mixtures. The obtained data should prove useful in establishing appropriate safety standards.
Subject:
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Mining

Source:
Proceedings of the 41st Annual ISA Analysis Div. Symposium, 1996, Framingham, Massachusetts, 29 :175-184
Document Type:
Book Chapter
Genre:
Conference Publications
Collection(s):
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:91dd465609d100f29ae9f4933696bd7b1d3cc6e414d39adc87ff1f364502d88b
File Type:

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