Mining Publication: Three Coal Mine Ventilation Studies Using Sulfur Hexafluoride Tracer Gas

This report describes three coal mine ventilation studies by the Bureau of Mines in which sulfur hexafluoride (sf6) was used as a tracer gas. One of these studies was conducted to determine air movement and leakage in a sealed area. Another was run to determine the ventilation efficiency of a bleeder system. Finally, a study was made of air leakage across permanent stoppings of parallel intake airways. These studies proved sulfur hexafluoride to be a useful addition to the equipment commonly used in coal mine ventilation analysis.