Mining Contract: Evaluation and Testing of Pressure Relief Valves (PRVs) for Refuge Alternatives Subjected to Explosive Forces

Contract Status & Impact

This contract is complete. To receive a copy of the final report, send a request to mining@cdc.gov.

Research to date by NIOSH suggests that the design and the implementation of refuge alternatives (RA) pressure relief valves (PRVs) have not yet had sufficient performance analysis. No testing has been performed on PRVs to study their behavior when subjected to 103 kPa (15 psi) impulse overpressure. Also, PRV survivability and valve design reliability have not been addressed. The proposed project is focusing on RA PRV survivability evaluation and analysis through physical testing and numerical modeling of different valve designs under explosive conditions.

This contract with the University of Kentucky will research the survivability of PRVs commonly used in Built-In-Place (BIP) and self-contained mobile unit RAs through physical testing and numerical modeling. The research will also explore the use of other commercially available valves such as blast valves (used in reinforced underground shelters) and its applicability to RAs when subject to overpressure waveforms typical of methane/coal dust explosions.