Using sulfur hexafluoride as a gaseous tracer to study ventilation systems in mines

Technical Report · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1974

OSTI ID:5375314

Thimons, R J.B.; Kissell, F N

The Bureau of Mines found sulfur hexafluoride (SF/sub 6/), released from a lecture bottle, to be an ideal gaseous tracer for studying mine ventilation systems. Air samples were collected in glass syringes and analyzed by electron-capture gas chromatography. In these studies, the lower limit of detection was about 1 part per billion by volume (ppB) of SF/sub 6/ per part of air. Experiments conducted in a Pennsylvania limestone mine showed this technique useful in evaluating the effectiveness of auxiliary fans, measuring low flow velocities, probing the air circulating near a working face region where ventilation appeared to be poor, and estimating volumetric flow rates in airways of large cross-sectional area and having low flow velocities. This technique was also used in a western vein-type metal mine to measure the amount of return air being recirculated into the intake air due to leakage through old stoped areas.

• Research Organization: Bureau of Mines, Washington, D.C. (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5375314
• Report Number(s): BM-RI-7916
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
MINES
VENTILATION
TRACER TECHNIQUES
MONITORING
SULFUR FLUORIDES
FLUORIDES
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
422000* - Engineering- Mining & Underground Engineering- (1980-)
012000 - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Mining