Microcomputer keeps watch at Emerald Mine
Where there's smoke, there's fire. Take the old adage a step further: ''Where there's carbon monoxide, there's likely to be a fire.'' That's the principle behind the mine monitoring system being used at the Emerald Mine operated by Emway Resources. Instead of watching for smoke or temperature rises, the system uses carbon monoxide (CO) sensors to detect fires - before they break out. CO, a gaseous product of incomplete combustion, is present in the early stages of a fire. Carried by the mine ventilation air, CO can be quickly traced by electrochemical gas sensors that are wired to a central computer. When preset levels are reached, alarms can alert mine personnel of the trouble. The Emerald Mine is located in southwestern Pennsylvania, near Waynesburg, and mines the Pittsburgh Seam, the nation's most heavily mined seam. Emerald is one of a number of progressive mines that are turning to computers to improve safety and productivity.
- OSTI ID:
- 6534939
- Journal Information:
- Coal Min. Process.; (United States), Vol. 24:4
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION MONITORS
MICROPROCESSORS
CARBON MONOXIDE
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
MINE ROADWAYS
PENNSYLVANIA
COAL MINES
UNDERGROUND MINING
FIRE PREVENTION
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
AIR FLOW
AIR QUALITY
ALARM SYSTEMS
COMBUSTION
FIRE HAZARDS
FIRES
MONITORS
SAFETY ENGINEERING
SMOKES
VENTILATION SYSTEMS
AEROSOLS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COLLOIDS
COMPUTERS
DISPERSIONS
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
ENGINEERING
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
FEDERAL REGION III
FLUID FLOW
GAS FLOW
HAZARDS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MICROELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
MINES
MINING
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDATION
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RESIDUES
SAFETY
SOLS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
TUNNELS
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
USA
016000* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Health & Safety
012030 - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Underground Mining- (1987-)
500200 - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)