Technologies for continuously monitoring respirable coal mine dust
- Pittsburgh Research Center, PA (United States)
- Twin Cities Research Center, Minneapolis, MN (United States)
The Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 requires mine operators to periodically sample mine atmospheres to determine compliance with the Federal respirable dust exposure standard. To do so, mine operators use gravimetric samplers that are approved by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), Department of Labor. However, the gravimetric approach with its inherent delays cannot provide dust level data quickly enough to allow on-site correction of inadequate dust control strategies or removal of personnel from harmful environments. Furthermore, alleged tampering with dust samples collected to determine compliance with the standard prompted the Secretary of Labor to appoint a special Respirable Dust Task Group to study options to improve monitoring and control of respirable coal mine dust. MSHA`s Task Group recommended that the U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) develop a fixed-site monitor that will provide continuous information to the miner and mine operator regarding dust levels and the status of compliance with the applicable respirable dust standard. In response to MSHA`s request, the USBM is investigating several technologies for monitoring respirable dust. These technologies include resonant frequency decrement, beta attenuation, continuous dust pyrolysis, and differential pressure across sampling filters. This paper describes these technologies, discusses possible applications, and summarizes the current status of these investigations.
- OSTI ID:
- 41721
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9407171-; TRN: 95:003332-0016
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 12. West Virginia University (WVU) international mining electrotechnology conference, Morgantown, WV (United States), 27-29 Jul 1994; Other Information: PBD: 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of The 12th West Virginia University international mining electrotechnology conference; PB: 168 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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