Evaluation of diesel emission control technologies used in U.S. underground coal and noncoal mines.
Authors
Schnakenberg-GH; Bugarski-AD; Mischler-SE; Noll-JD
Source
31st International Conference of Safety in Mines Research Institutes, 2-5 October 2005, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Redbank, Queensland, Australia: Safety in Mines Testing and Research Station (Simtars), 2005 Oct; :277-280
Abstract
Over the past several years, researchers at the NIOSH Pittsburgh Research Laboratory have evaluated various control technologies available to the underground mining industry to reduce concentrations of particulate matter emitted by diesel engines. These technologies include disposable pleated filter elements, several different ceramic diesel particulate filters, and reformulated fuels, including soy- and cooking oil-based biodiesel fuels, water-fuel emulsions, No. 1 and No. 2 diesel, and ultralow sulfur fuels. A series of definitive tests was executed during an isolated zone study in a coal mine and two isolated zone studies in a metal mine. The control technologies were evaluated on selected mining vehicles that were repeatedly operated over a simulated duty cycle. Concentrations of diesel particulate matter (DPM) and gases were sampled or measured on the vehicle, as well as upwind and downwind of the operating zone. This paper presents an overview of the tested control technologies and the effects of these technologies on the concentrations of elemental carbon and NO2 in mine air. The tests showed the potential of the selected technologies for controlling the exposure of underground miners to DPM and gases. However, the studies also revealed a number of potential problems related to implementing these technologies in underground mines.
Keywords
Diesel-emissions; Diesel-engines; Mining-industry; Underground-mining; Coal-mining; Fuels; Filters; Metal-mining; Underground-miners; Occupational-health; Health-hazards
Contact
NIOSH Pittsburgh Reserach Laboratory, P.O. Box 18070, Pittsburgh, PA 15236
Document Type
Conference/Symposia Proceedings
Source Name
31st International Conference of Safety in Mines Research Institutes, 2-5 October 2005, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
