Dust Control, Ventilation and Toxic Substances Branch

Ed ThimonsBranch Chief

Branch MissionThe Branch mission is to eliminate the adverse H&S impacts to mine workers resulting from exposures to respirable dust, diesel emissions, workplace contaminants, and methane gas

Branch StructureThe branch is organized into 3 research teams: Aerosol & Toxic Substances Team…..Responsible for

mine dust and diesel monitoring research and for diesel control technology research (19 people)

Dust Control Team…..Responsible for dust/silica control technology research for all U. S. mining operations, both surface and underground (12 people)

Ventilation Team….Responsible for mine ventilation research in all underground mines. Particular emphasis in coal mines is on methane control (14 people)

DCVTSB Laboratory Facilities

Dust lab

Diesel dynamometer

Longwall dust gallery

Continuous miner dust gallery

Diesel lab

Methane gallery

Branch Projects• Control Technologies for Reducing Diesel Emissions• Particulate Measurement and Characterization• Dust Control at Surface Coal Mines• Longwall Mining Dust Control• Continuous Miner/Roof bolter Dust Control• Belt Air Ventilation in Coal Mines• Improved Ventilation for Underground Coal Mines• Ventilation to Control Contaminants in M/NM Mines• Silica and Dust Control in M/NM Mines

Continuous Miner Dust Control

• Redirected scrubber exhaust• Increased miner water flow• Stand alone scrubber• Crosscut dust control

Longwall Dust Control

• Tailgate-side shearer sprays• Shield sprays• Shearer scrubber• Foam applications

Surface Mining Dust Control

• Blasthole drills• Haulage roads• Mobile workers• CFD

Partnering Opportunities

• Manufactures– Crosscut dust control– Shield sprays– Shearer scrubber– Foam applications– Continuous dust monitoring

• Mine sites – all projects• Individual novel ideas – all projects

Monitoring • Dust

– Personal Dust Monitor – PDM– PDM Management Studio

• Diesel– Real-time Personal Elemental

Carbon Analyzer (ICX)– Diesel Tailpipe Monitoring

• Silica– End-of-Shift Silica– Real-Time Silica

Partnership Opportunities

• Silica Monitoring•End-of-shift methods to determine exposure at the mine site.•Real-time, or near-real-time monitor.

•Quantitative•Qualitative

• Diesel Particulate Monitoring

•Ambient exposure personal monitor•Field portable tail pipe emission monitor

Laser Source

Spectrometer

Pierced Mirror

Lens

Lens

LIBS Plasma

OMSHR Diesel Research• Diesel Engine Research

– Introduction of new Tier 4 and Tier 4i diesel engines into underground mines. Workshop - April, 2010

• Effects of exhaust aftertreatment technologies on in-use emissions – Field study at Newmont Leeville UG gold mine (NV)

• Best Practices Guide for Controlling Diesel Emissions – Summer/Fall 2011.

• Potential Health Effects from use of Diesel Control Technologies– NO2 increase, mutaginicity, etc.

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Partnering Opportunities• Efficiency of enclosed cabs for reducing

miners exposure to diesel particulate matter and gases.– Cab manufacturers, filter manufacturers,

underground mines, etc.

• Evaluation of diesel emissions control technologies– Control technology manufacturers, biodiesel

suppliers, OEMs, underground mines, etc.

• Implementation of Tier 4 and 4i engines underground– Engine manufacturers, equipment suppliers,

underground mines, etc.

Use of Belt Air Ventilation in Underground Coal Mines

• Use of booster fans to improve airflow levels– Assess risks/benefits of booster fan usage– Develop SOPs for use

• Evaluate means for continuous airflow monitoring– Assess use of ultrasonic anemometers

• Give airflow velocity and direction• Little affected by dust and moisture

Ventilation to Control Methane on Longwalls

• Model methane inflows to active/sealed gobs from adjacent sources

• Quantify methane outflows from gobs during extreme low pressure barometric events

• Assess limitations of current longwall bleeder designs for controlling methane levels

• Software output: Methane Control and Prediction (MCP) – Available on NIOSH website– Design and evaluate degas systems– Predict methane inflows from longwall

operation

Partnering Opportunities• Belt Air Ventilation

– Assistance from mine operators for long-term testing of ultrasonic anemometers in underground coal mines

– Assistance from manufacturers to pursue IS certification for these instruments

• Ventilation to Control Methane on Longwalls – Cooperation from mine operators for

underground studies to evaluate movement of methane from adjacent sources and sealed/active gobs

Current Partnering Efforts• Haul road spray system

– Caterpillar

• Clothes cleaning system– Unimin Corporation– Clothes Cleaning Booth Systems

• Enclosed cab filtration systems– Bergstrom (Sigma)– Clean Air Filter Corporation– Red Dot Corporation– Sy-Klone International

• Instrumentation manufacturers– ICX Technologies (EC diesel monitor)

– Thermo Scientific (Personal dust monitor)

Current Partnering Efforts• Fletcher Mining Equipment

– Canopy air curtain for roof bolter– Collector bags & water box for roof bolter– Enclosed cab filtration– Stand-alone scrubber contract

• Wet Head Spray System– Joy Mining Machinery

Contact InformationEd ThimonsBranch ChiefDust Control, Ventilation and Toxic Substances BranchNIOSH OMSHRP.O. Box 18070Pittsburgh, PA 15236412-386-6683EThimons@cdc.gov

mailto:EThimons@cdc.gov?subject=NMA%20presentation%20question�

Dust Control, Ventilation and Toxic Substances BranchBranch Mission�Branch Structure�DCVTSB Laboratory FacilitiesBranch Projects�Continuous Miner Dust ControlLongwall Dust ControlSurface Mining Dust ControlPartnering OpportunitiesMonitoring Partnership Opportunities OMSHR Diesel ResearchPartnering OpportunitiesUse of Belt Air Ventilation in Underground Coal MinesVentilation to Control Methane on LongwallsPartnering OpportunitiesCurrent Partnering EffortsCurrent Partnering EffortsContact Information