An underground mine air quality laboratory for studying ventilation, vehicle and diesel engine pollutant control techniques

CIM Bulletin, Vol. 74, No. 835, 1981

D.E. KESKI-HYNNILA, E.O. REINBOLD and J.H. JOHNSON, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan

A field laboratory for use in monitoring underground mine air quality has been developed and proven in underground service. The laboratory includes two separate monitoring systems and data analysis computer programs. One is the Mine Air Monitoring Laboratory (MAML). This is an enclosed trailer-mounted laboratory capable of monitoring CO2, CO, NO, NO2, particulate matter, SO2, NH3, temperature and air velocity in the mine drift. The MAML can be up to 1000 feet away from the area being monitored. The second system is the vehicle data system, mounted on the load-haul-dump (LHD) vehicle, which monitors engine speed, engine fuel rack position, exhaust gas temperature, ambient temperature, vehicle speed, CO2 concentration near the operators' breathing zone and the mode of operation of the vehicle. The two computer data analysis programs and the two field instrument systems comprise a complete Mine Air Quality Laboratory (MAQL) for underground pollutant studies. Data from the systems have been used for studying vehicle duty cycles, ventilation systems, exhaust after-treatment devices, vehicle exhaust system design and portable instrumentation. Descriptions of the laboratory are presented along with a summary of some of the experiments performed. The capabilities of the lab are discussed, along with future potential uses.

Keywords: Underground mining, Diesel emissions, Emission control, Air quality, Ventilation, Pollution control, Monitoring systems, Data analysis, LHD mining.