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Mining Publication: Methods for Evaluating Explosion Resistant Ventilation Structures
Keywords: Explosion proof design Seals Strength of materials
This page is archived for historical purposes and is no longer being maintained or updated.
Original creation date: July 2005
Authors: MJ Sapko, ES Weiss, SP Harteis
Conference Paper - July 2005
Download PDF Document (1.02 MB)
NIOSHTIC2 Number: 20028292
Proceedings of the Eighth International Mine Ventilation Congress, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, July 6-8, 2005. Carlton, Victoria, Australia: Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2005 Jul; :211-219
The NIOSH Pittsburgh Research Laboratory (PRL) has conducted full-scale explosion experiments to evaluate the strength characteristics of various seal designs used for safely isolating worked-out areas in underground coal mines. Large-scale explosion tests conducted within the multiple-entry section of PRL's Lake Lynn Experimental Mine (LLEM) are currently the only accepted test method used by the Mine Safety and Health Administration for deeming a seal design suitable for use in U.S. mines. These explosion tests are labor-intensive, expensive to conduct, and can interfere with other critical underground safety and health research programs conducted by NIOSH. PRL has developed an alternative seal evaluation method, based on a hydrostatic pressure-loading concept, that can facilitate the in situ testing of seals in an operating mine. Two chambers within the LLEM and one within PRL's Safety Research Coal Mine were used for hydrostatic pressure loading various seal designs. The results from these chamber tests compare favorably with those from the large-scale explosion tests in the multiple entries. In addition to testing seal designs at the required 20-psi static pressure level, the chamber test approach also allows for the determination of the seal's ultimate design strength. Size-scaling relationships for predicting the strength of seal designs as a function of entry size are also presented.
Image of publication Methods for Evaluating Explosion Resistant Ventilation StructuresConference Paper - July 2005
Download PDF Document (1.02 MB)
NIOSHTIC2 Number: 20028292
Proceedings of the Eighth International Mine Ventilation Congress, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, July 6-8, 2005. Carlton, Victoria, Australia: Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2005 Jul; :211-219
See Also
Clearing the Air
Comparison of Methods: Dynamic Versus Hydrostatic Testing of Mine Ventilation Seals
Demonstration of Safety Plugging of Oil Wells Penetrating Appalachian Coal Mines
Explosion Pressure Design Criteria for New Seals in U.S. Coal Mines
Inflatable Partitions for High-Expansion Foam Generators
Progress Toward Improved Engineering of Seals and Sealed Areas of Coal Mines
Strength Characteristics and Air-Leakage Determinations for Alternative Mine Seal Designs
Strengthening Existing 20-psi Mine Ventilation Seals With Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Reinforcement
Use of Ground Penetrating Radar and Schmidt Hammer Tests to Determine the Structural Integrity of a Mine Seal
Use of Pressure Swing Adsorption Technology to Inert Sealed Mine Areas with Nitrogen
Page last reviewed: September 21, 2012
Page last updated: September 21, 2012
Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Mining Program
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