Explosion Prevention and Research in Mining

Current research efforts for Explosion Prevention fall into three areas: (1) Basic and applied research into the causes and mechanisms of gas and dust explosions, to be used as a basis for developing techniques and strategies to prevent and suppress explosions. Current studies include measurement of the dynamic pressures necessary to disperse coal and rock dust, investigating the effect of turbulence on the initial stages of explosion development, and determining the combustion behavior of large volumes of non-uniformly mixed methane and the contributions of volatiles and fixed carbon to coal dust explosion combustion, (2) Isolation of worked-out areas from active mining areas with seals, stoppings, and bulkhead structures. These structures are widely used in underground mines to isolate worked-out areas, control mine atmospheres, direct ventilation airflow, and protect miners from the hazards of active fire zones, explosions, and water inundations. Current research is investigating the use of water pressure to replace the full-scale explosion tests traditionally used to evaluate the strength characteristics, and strength and safety of mine seals.  Mine seals are used to prevent the propagation of blast effects from sealed gob areas into the underground workplace. This new approach will facilitate the in-situ testing of seals in individual operating mines at site-specific conditions, (3) Reduction of methane concentrations in the underground workplace using optimized methane control technologies and strategies.  Current research is aimed at producing a set of methane control best practices and a comprehensive predictive mining gas flow and methane emissions simulator for use in improving methane control systems.

Topics

About Lake Lynn Laboratory
Research conducted at this laboratory includes large-scale gas and coal dust explosion studies, conveyor belt flammability trials, evaluations of explosive materials and mine stoppings, and self-contained self-rescuers.

Laser Safety in Underground Coal Mines
New laser technologies are being developed for a variety of applications. In the coal mining industry, lasers can be used to detect the presence of dangerous gases, to monitor the level of coal in storage facilities, and to survey the underground mine, to name a few applications.

Explosion Publications

The following papers are in .pdf format and require Adobe Acobat.  Download the latest version of the free Adobe® Acrobat® reader, at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html.

Coal Dust Explosibility Meter
Technology  News, No. 461
PDF 142 KB (2 pages)

Determining the Source of Longwall Gob Gas:  Lower Kittanning Coalbed, Cambria County, PA
Report of Investigation (RI) 9430
PDF 1363 KB (20 pages)

Explosion Hazard From Hydrogen Gas Generation Inside Sealed Frames
Technology News, No. 473
PDF 69 KB (2 pages)

Inexpensive Device for Monitoring Explosions in Sealed Areas of Underground Mines
Technology News, No. 490
Report of Investigation (RI) 9586
PDF 288 KB (2 pages)

Method for Predicting Methane Emissions on Extended Longwall Faces
Technology News, No. 465
PDF 30 KB (2 pages)

Reducing the Danger of Explosions in Sealed Areas (Gobs) in Mines (536 KB)
Technology News, No. 489
PDF 536 KB (2 pages)

Secondary Explosion Hazards During Blasting in Oil Shale and Sulfide Ore Mines
Report of Investigation (RI) 9632
PDF 2935 KB (62 pages)

SPONCOM--An Expert System to Predict Spontaneous Combustion Potential of a Coal Mining Operation
Technology News, No. 441
PDF 73 KB (2 pages)

NIOSHTIC-2 Search

NIOSHTIC-2 search results on Explosions
 
is a searchable bibliographic database of occupational safety and health publications, documents, grant reports, and journal articles supported in whole or in part by NIOSH.