Statistical analysis of the size and elemental composition of airborne coal mine dust
The specific purpose of this thesis is to analyze two of the basic characteristics of airborne coal mine dust, size and elemental composition, and to study their ramifications on dust control measures and medical studies of coal workers' pneumoconiosis. A dust-sampling strategy using multi-stage cascade impactors is established for characterization purposes. Analysis of the size data based upon the aerodynamic diameter is performed to examine the two assumptions implicitly made in the current practice for coal mine dust size presentation; lognormality and unimodality in the mass size distribution. The bimodal lognormal model is able to identify the major modal patterns observed in the empirical models. Association of the elemental composition of coal with the rank is tested to be significant. Size dependency and locational variation of elemental composition of airborne coal mine dust are significant. The size dependency is more significant in the immediate return of the continuous miner operation and the elements showing significant locational variability are found to be enriched near the roof bolter operation. The coal seam is the main source of major elements in airborne coal mine dust, while no consistent relationship exists for the trace elements. The significance of the dust in the intake air as a potential source for the elements in airborne coal mine dust is shown. Dust reentrained along the shuttle car route is also found to be a significant dust source. Dust particles in the respirable size range are likely to transport through the working area.
- Research Organization:
- Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6454482
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Thesis (Ph. D.)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
COAL MINES
DUSTS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CONTROL
HEALTH HAZARDS
PARTICLE SIZE
CASCADE IMPACTORS
COAL MINERS
COAL SEAMS
CONTINUOUS MINERS
INSTALLATION
MINE CARS
PNEUMOCONIOSES
POLLUTION SOURCES
ROOF BOLTS
SAMPLING
COAL DEPOSITS
CUTTER LOADERS
CUTTING MACHINES
DISEASES
EQUIPMENT
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HAULAGE EQUIPMENT
HAZARDS
LOADERS
MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT
MINERAL RESOURCES
MINERS
MINES
MINING EQUIPMENT
PERSONNEL
RESOURCES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
SIZE
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
VEHICLES
010600* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Properties & Composition
010800 - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Waste Management
016000 - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Health & Safety