Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC twenty four seven. Saving Lives, Protecting People
Search
            ×
                        Mining
                        Mining
                            NIOSH
                            All CDC
                    Submit
                For a full list of topics:A-Z Index
                Advanced Search
            Advanced Search


The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)





Mining Contract: Mechanisms of Coal Dust Explosions and Their Prevention
Keywords: Coal dust Inert dust Numerical modeling
This page is archived for historical purposes and is no longer being maintained or updated.
Contract #
200-2015-64091Start Date
9/1/2015End Date
8/31/2018Research Concept
This contract aims to explore mine safety related to the activation, dispersion, and cessation of secondary dust explosions.Topic Area
Explosion Prevention
Contract Status & Impact
This contract is complete. To receive a copy of the final report, send a request to mining@cdc.gov.
Research on secondary dust explosions has been primarily empirical in nature. Previous attempts to model the complex processes describing dust lifting by air movement induced from a blast, particle heating, and combustion have not been successful. Only recently has numerical modeling been used to solve these multifaceted activities.
This contract will determine the following:
How much dust (both inert and coal) is removed and lifted by winds induced from a primary explosion.
When the thickness of a coal dust top layer is dangerous enough to support a dust explosion.
Conditions under which a second reactive zone ignites.
Effect of airborne dust on the ignition and spread of a secondary dust explosion.The University of Maryland has developed and tested a numerical model of the dust explosion process called the Dust Explosion Simulation (DESIM) code. Through simulation experiments with the chemical reactions “turned off,” this code can determine how fluids and particles interact and react in explosion scenarios. Variable parameters for the DESIM code include the thickness of a coal dust layer, strength of a pressure wave that lifts the coal dust, volatility of coal dust particles, dilution of coal dust with inert particles, and the initial size of those particles.
Under this contract, some of the University of Maryland results include:
The suggestion of dust rises more rapidly with decreasing layer thicknesses, and the thicker layers produce stronger fluctuations than thinner layers;
faster than particles with higher inertia and can result in a separation between different particle sizes;
The effects of radiation should be explored more carefully since one-dimensional computations show that thermal radiation may cause large accelerations of coal dust flames and ignite two different coal dust clouds;
Even a very thin layer of coal dust (~250 μm) on top of an inert dust layer is sufficient to produce a reactive particle cloud dispersed by a shockwave; and
Ignition may occur behind a reflected shock wave where the temperature, pressure, and turbulence are much higher.Successful completion of these tasks provide a fundamental theoretical and computational model for understanding the mechanics of coal dust explosions, a better understanding of the relevant existing experimental data, and information on how frequently inert dust should be placed on top of reactive coal dust layers.
See Also
Above-the-Earth Field Contours for a Dipole Buried in a Homogeneous Half-Space
Airborne Dust Liberation During Coal Crushing
Coal Dust Explosibility Meter Evaluation and Recommendations for Application
Degasification System Selection for U.S. Longwall Mines Using an Expert Classification System
Effects of Weak Bands on Pillar Stability in Stone Mines: Field Observations and Numerical Model Assessment
Elastic and Shear Moduli of Coal Measure Rocks Derived from Basic Well Logs Using Fractal Statistics and Radial Basis Functions
Pillar Strength and Design Methodology for Stone Mines
Rock Dusting Considerations in Underground Coal Mines
Stochastic Modeling of Gob Gas Venthole Production Performances in Active and Completed Longwall Panels of Coal Mines
Technology News 515 - Float Coal Dust Explosion Hazards
Page last reviewed: April 8, 2019
Page last updated: April 8, 2019
Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Mining Program
Facebook
        Twitter
        LinkedIn
        Syndicate Mining
        Site BrowserSafety and Health TopicsData & StatisticsMethodologyMine DisastersMSHA Data FilesMine & Mineworker ChartsTools & PublicationsTools You Can UsePublicationsNews & ArticlesResearch ProgramNORA Mining CouncilStrategic PlanMining Program, 2019-2023Miner Health Program, 2020-2030ProjectsContractsFunding OpportunitiesMining LinksAbout UsContact NIOSH MiningEmploymentFacilitiesHistoryVisitor Information Explosion Prevention
 NIOSH Homepage
 NIOSH A-Z
Workplace Safety & Health Topics
Publications and Products
Programs


About CDC
					Contact Us
					800-232-4636
 Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Youtube Pinterest Snapchat
 CONTACT CDC
				Contact Us
							Call 800-232-4636
							Email Us
			ABOUT CDC
				About CDC
							Jobs
							Funding
			POLICIES
				Accessibility
							External Links
							Privacy
							Policies
							No Fear Act
							FOIA
							OIG
							Nondiscrimination
							Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			CONNECT WITH US
				Facebook
								Twitter
								Instagram
								LinkedIn
							Youtube
								Pinterest
								Snapchat
								Email
			LANGUAGES
				Español
							繁體中文
							Tiếng Việt
							한국어
							Tagalog
							Русский
							العربية
							Kreyòl Ayisyen
							Français
							Polski
							Português
							Italiano
							Deutsch
							日本語
							فارسی
							English


U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
			Accessibility
			External Links
			Privacy
			Policies
			No Fear Act
			FOIA
			Nondiscrimination
			OIG
			Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			USA.gov


Exit Notification / Disclaimer Policy Close
 Links with this icon  indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
				Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
				You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.
				CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. Website Disclaimers
 Cancel Continue