Experimental mine and laboratory dust explosion research at NIOSH

This paper describes dust explosion research conducted in an experimental mine and in a 20-L laboratory chamber at the Pittsburgh Research Laboratory (PRL) of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The primary purpose of this research is to improve safety in mining, but the data are also useful to other industries that manufacture, process, or use combustible dusts. Explosion characteristics such as the minimum explosible concentration and the rock dust inerting requirements were measured for various combustible dusts from the mining industries. These dusts included bituminous coals, gilsonite, oil shales, and sulfide ores. The full-scale tests were conducted in the Lake Lynn experimental mine of NIOSH. The mine tests were initiated by a methane–air explosion at the face (closed end) that both entrained and ignited the dust. The laboratory-scale tests were conducted in the 20-L chamber using ignitors of various energies. One purpose of the laboratory and mine comparison is to determine the conditions under which the laboratory tests best simulate the full-scale tests. The results of this research showed relatively good agreement between the laboratory and the large-scale tests in determining explosion limits. Full-scale experiments in the experimental mine were also conducted to evaluate the explosion resistance characteristics of seals that are used to separate non-ventilated, inactive workings from active workings of a mine. Results of these explosion tests show significant increases in explosion overpressure due to added coal dust and indications of pressure piling.     

Using soybean isoflavone to prevent hydrogen production reaction of aluminium dust and water in wet dust removal systems

Using a dry dust removal system used for aluminium dust collection presents a dust explosion risk, whereas a wet dust removal system presents a risk of hydrogen fire and explosion. Neither system can attain a sufficient level of safety for use at aluminium processing sites. In this paper, soybean isoflavone, a non-toxic and environmentally sustainable flavonoid, was investigated to inhibit hydrogen production from aluminium dust and water. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to characterize aluminium particles before and after the reaction. Soybean isoflavone was found to inhibit hydrogen production from aluminium dust and water. At a soybean isoflavone solution concentration of 2.1 g L⁻¹, a dense protective film resulting from chemical adsorption on the surfaces of the aluminium particles isolated the aluminium particles from water molecules. This film blocked the reaction pathway between the aluminium particles and water to suppress hydrogen generation. This fundamental study addresses the problems of hydrogen fires and explosions in wet dust removal systems for aluminium dust collection and provides a novel, safe and effective method for aluminium dust removal.     

煤岩混合型粉尘云最低着火温度试验研究

为研究半煤岩巷道中岩粉质量分数和煤的挥发分与煤岩混合型粉尘云最低着火温度的关系,选取挥发分差异较大的5种煤样以相同比例配制煤岩混合型粉尘,利用粉尘云最小点火温度测定仪进行煤岩混合型粉尘试验。结果表明,当煤岩混合型粉尘中岩粉质量分数低于40%时,岩粉的混合会导致混合型粉尘云最低着火温度发生小幅度波动;当岩粉质量分数高于40%时,煤岩混合型粉尘最低着火温度会随岩粉质量分数的增加而大幅度升高;挥发分质量分数越小的煤粉,其混合型粉尘云最低着火温度越容易受岩粉质量分数的影响。     

矿用湿式引射除尘器的应用研究

针对目前煤矿井下钻孔工作面粉尘浓度高和降尘效率低的现状,提出了湿式引射除尘技术,分析其基本原理和性能特点。分别进行了钻孔风力排渣气体流量测量试验和湿式引射降尘试验。前者得出了压气压力和钻孔深度的变化关系式以及钻孔过程中所需处理的含尘气体量。降尘试验表明,湿式引射除尘技术对全尘和呼吸性粉尘都有很好的降尘效果。     

管道内瓦斯煤尘共混爆炸温度特性

采用瞬态火焰传播实验系统,对7%,8%,9%,10%和11%的瓦斯体积浓度分别与不同浓度的长焰煤煤尘混合,并使用直径25 μm的Pt/Rh13-Pt微细热电偶测量温度,揭示受限空间内瓦斯与煤尘混合爆炸温度特性。结果表明:煤尘浓度一定时,随着瓦斯浓度的增加,爆炸温度先增加后减小;纯瓦斯浓度在10%时爆炸温度最高,加入煤尘后的混合体系中,瓦斯浓度为9%时爆炸温度最高;瓦斯浓度不变时,随着煤尘浓度的增加,爆炸温度一直减小;7%~11%瓦斯分别与130 g/m3煤尘混合爆炸后测得最高温度分别为1 333.6,1 475.4,1 511.4,1 455.6,1 396.4 ℃;与9%纯瓦斯爆炸相比,9%瓦斯与130,260,520,780 g/m3煤尘混合爆炸后测得最高温度分别降低7.2%,11.5%,15.0%和22.9%。结论得到的瓦斯煤尘共混爆炸温度数据可为煤矿灾害高温防护提供参考依据。     

采煤工作面粉尘状况与防尘工作重点

本文介绍了近几年来对我国部分煤矿采煤工作面粉尘状况的调查,测试和煤矿粉尘粒度分布分析结果。通过测试分析证明,不同煤种的煤被外部能量破碎时,它的产尘量、产生的粉尘的粒度分布及粉尘中呼吸性粉尘含量不同;各种煤直接破碎产生的粉尘和矿井空气的浮游粉尘的粒度分布均符合罗辛——拉姆勒(Rosin——Rammlar)分布规律;采用一般常规防尘措施(如煤体注水、洒水、喷雾降尘等),对粒度较粗的粉尘有一定降尘效果,可改善粉尘作业环境,而对工人身体健康影响较大的呼吸性粉尘降尘效果不显著,造成矿井浮游粉尘中呼吸性粉尘含量增加。为此,今后防尘工作重点应加强对呼吸性粉尘控制技术的研究,推广、应用对呼吸性粉尘除尘效率高的防尘措施,大幅度降低矿井中呼吸性粉尘.使煤矿尘肺病发病率有较大降低。     

Coal dust particle size survey of US mines

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) conducted a joint survey to determine the range of coal particle sizes found in dust samples collected from intake airways of US coal mines. The last comprehensive survey of this type was performed in the 1920s. The size of the coal dust is relevant to the amount of rock dust required to inert the coal dust, with more rock dust needed to inert finer sizes of coal dust.

Dust samples were collected by MSHA inspectors from several mines in each of MSHA's 10 bituminous Coal Mine Safety and Health Districts. Samples were normally collected in several intakes at each mine. The laboratory analysis procedures included acid leaching of the sample to remove the limestone rock dust, sonic sieving to determine the dust size, and low-temperature ashing of the sieved fractions to correct for any remaining incombustible matter. The results indicate that particle sizes of mine coal dust in intake airways are finer than those measured in the 1920s. This finer size coal dust in intake airways would require more incombustible matter to be effectively inerted than the 65% incombustible specified in current regulations.     

呼吸性煤尘与尘肺的剂量-反应关系分析

分析6个煤矿3082名煤尘接尘工人,其中包括51名尘肺患者接尘资料,首先通过比例换算法,按总煤尘EIC/TWA为1.5、总煤尘TWA/呼吸性煤尘TWA为3.82,将总煤尘EIC转换为呼吸性煤尘TWA;再用寿命表法分析累计接尘量与尘肺发病的剂量-反应关系,得到回归方程logit=5.714lgd-18.902(r=0.939),采用区间估计法,得接尘30年尘肺累计发病率为1%时,呼吸性煤尘TWA为6.52mg/m3,对估算结果取1.2的安全系数,呼吸性煤尘接触浓度管理限值为5mg/m3。     

Influences of coal dust components on the explosibility of hybrid mixtures of methane and coal dust

In order to study the influences of coal dust components on the explosibility of hybrid mixture of methane and coal dust, four kinds of coal dust with different components were selected in this study. Using the standard 20 L sphere, the maximum explosion pressure, explosion index and lower explosion limits of methane/coal dust mixtures were measured. The results show that the addition of methane to different kinds of coal dust can all clearly increase their maximum explosion pressure and explosion index and decrease their minimum explosion concentration. However, the increase in the maximum explosion pressure and explosion index is more significant for coal dust with lower volatile content, while the decrease in the minimum explosion concentration is more significant for coal dust with higher volatile content. It is concluded that the influence of methane on the explosion severity is more pronounced for coal dust with lower volatile content, but on ignition sensitivity it is more pronounced for coal dust with higher volatile content. Bartknecht model for predicting the lower explosion limits of methane/coal dust mixture has better applicability than Le Chatelier model and Jiang model. Especially, it is more suitable for hybrid mixtures of methane and high volatile coal dust.     

基于全工班的煤矿呼吸性粉尘特点的研究

为解决大流量工序定点短时测尘结果与工人实际接尘情况存在差距的问题，本文以山西潞安集团漳村煤矿的综采、综掘、炮掘工作面为主要监测点，应用全工班呼吸性粉尘监测方法进行测尘。采用平均数、标准差、累计百分比等统计学方法对监测结果进行了深入的分析。对现有防尘措施从改善工人实际接尘情况的角度进行了评价，提出了合理化建议。从而有利于矿山管理者有的放矢地采取防尘措施，减少投资，提高效率，确保劳动者健康。     

Methane/coal dust/air explosions and their suppression by solid particle suppressing agents in a large-scale experimental tube

Methane/coal dust/air explosions under strong ignition conditions have been studied in a 199 mm inner diameter and 30.8 m long horizontal tube. A fuel gas/air manifold assembly was used to introduce methane and air into the experimental tube, and an array of 44 equally spaced dust dispersion units was used to disperse coal dust particles into the tube. The methane/coal dust/air mixture was ignited by a 7 m long epoxypropane mist cloud explosion. A deflagration-to-detonation transition (DDT) was observed, and a self-sustained detonation wave characterized by the existence of a transverse wave was propagated in the methane/coal dust/air mixtures.The suppressing effects on methane/coal dust/air mixture explosions of three solid particle suppressing agents have been studied. Coal dust and the suppressing agent were injected into the experimental tube by the dust dispersion units. The length of the suppression was 14 m. The suppression agents examined in this study comprised ABC powder, SiO₂ powder, and rock dust powder (CaCO₃). Methane/coal dust/air explosions can be efficiently suppressed by the suppression agents characterized by the rapid decrease in overpressure and propagating velocity of the explosion waves.     

煤巷掘进过程中粉尘浓度影响因素分析

为了掌握煤巷掘进过程中粉尘浓度变化的影响因素,根据气固两相流理论,针对矿井掘进工作面的特点,采用计算流体力学的离散相模型（DPM）考察了掘进巷道风速、风筒直径、风筒出风口到掘进工作面距离以及风筒的悬挂高度对粉尘浓度变化的影响。结果发现：当掘进巷道风速为0.25-4 m/s时,提高巷道内的通风风速,可以降低巷道内的粉尘浓度,缩短呼吸性粉尘浓度达到稳定的时间,减小工作面粉尘的危害;有利于通风除尘的风筒相关参数为风筒直径0.4-0.6 m、风筒出风口到掘进工作面距离6-7 m、风筒悬挂高度2.0-2.2 m。     

综采面高压注水联合高压喷雾二级防尘技术研究

综采工作面的粉尘防治一直是煤矿安全工作的重点和难题之一。结合双鸭山矿区新安矿综采工作面的实际状况,采用现场煤层高压注水实验方法,研究了高压注水条件下煤体增湿的规律;运用注水实验数据进行反演数值试验,优化煤层高压注水数学模型内部参数,利用注水数值模拟试验确定了综采工作面煤层高压注水减尘技术的最优参数;运用了高压喷雾降尘效率模型数值模拟方法,分析确定了综采工作面采煤机外置高压喷雾降尘的最优参数,研发了孔径为1.2 mm的7孔高压集成喷嘴。新安二矿、三矿煤层高压注水联合高压喷雾二级防尘技术应用效果表明:通过二级联合防尘措施,工作面全尘去除率高达96%,呼吸性粉尘去除率高达94%。     

综采面高压注水联合高压喷雾二级防尘技术研究

综采工作面的粉尘防治一直是煤矿安全工作的重点和难题之一。结合双鸭山矿区新安矿综采工作面的实际状况,采用现场煤层高压注水实验方法,研究了高压注水条件下煤体增湿的规律;运用注水实验数据进行反演数值试验,优化煤层高压注水数学模型内部参数,利用注水数值模拟试验确定了综采工作面煤层高压注水减尘技术的最优参数;运用了高压喷雾降尘效率模型数值模拟方法,分析确定了综采工作面采煤机外置高压喷雾降尘的最优参数,研发了孔径为1.2 mm的7孔高压集成喷嘴。新安二矿、三矿煤层高压注水联合高压喷雾二级防尘技术应用效果表明:通过二级联合防尘措施,工作面全尘去除率高达96%,呼吸性粉尘去除率高达94%。     

溜井泡沫抑尘剂的研制及其抑尘性能实验研究

矿山溜井卸矿过程中产生的大量冲击性粉尘已成为矿井可呼吸性粉尘的主要来源,为了有效解决溜矿井卸矿时产生的大量冲击性粉尘,基于泡沫抑尘的机理,研究了发泡倍数和半衰期两个指标进行优选实验,通过正交法和单因素法优选出最佳的泡沫抑尘配方为十二烷基硫酸钠、月桂酸钠和聚丙乙酰胺,各成分的质量浓度分别为0.6%、0.8%与0.4%。结果表明,通过模拟溜井卸矿测得不同泡沫高度的抑尘效率在85%~95%之间,呼吸性粉尘的抑尘效率为87%左右,其时效性可达2h以上。     

不同含水率煤尘在瓦斯爆炸诱导下爆炸传播规律研究

为了探究不同含水率煤尘在瓦斯爆炸诱导下的爆炸传播规律,利用自行搭建的直管瓦斯爆炸诱导煤尘二次爆炸实验系统,从冲击波压力和火焰传播速度2个方面,研究了不同含水率沉积煤尘在瓦斯爆炸诱导下的爆炸传播规律和原因。研究结果表明:当煤尘含水率小于40%时,管道内沉积煤尘会在瓦斯爆炸诱导下产生二次爆炸,同时沉积煤尘总量一定时,沉积煤尘二次爆炸产生的冲击波超压峰值和火焰传播速度随着煤尘含水率的增加先增大后减小;当沉积煤尘含水率为20% 时,煤尘二次爆炸产生的冲击波超压峰值、火焰传播速度峰值达到最大值,分别为1.657 MPa和468.060 m/s;当沉积煤尘含水率大于40%时,沉积煤尘无法产生二次爆炸,此时爆炸产生的威力小于单一瓦斯爆炸,火焰传播速度衰减较无煤尘的瓦斯爆炸更快,沉积煤尘起到抑制瓦斯爆炸传播的作用。研究结果可以为防治煤尘二次爆炸提供理论依据。     

A new shock tube configuration for studying dust-lifting during the initiation of a coal dust explosion

The traditional defence against propagating coal dust explosions is the application of dry stone dust. This proven and effective safety measure is strictly regulated based on extensive international experience. While new products, such as foamed stone dust, offer significant practical benefits, no benchmark tests currently exist to certify their dust lifting performance in comparison to dry stone dust. This paper reviews the coal dust explosion mechanism, and argues that benchmark testing should focus on dust lifting during the initial development of the explosion, prior to arrival of the flame. In a practical context, this requires the generation of shock waves with Mach numbers ranging from 1.05 to 1.4, and test times of the order of 10's to 100's of milliseconds. These proposed test times are significantly longer than previous laboratory studies, however, for certification purposes, it is argued that the dust lifting behaviour should be examined over the full timescales of an actual explosion scenario. These conditions can be accurately targeted using a shock tube at length scales of approximately 50 m. It is further proposed that useful test time can be maximised if an appropriately sized orifice plate is fitted to the tube exit, an arrangement which also offers practical advantages for testing. The paper demonstrates this operating capability with proof-of-concept experiments using The University of Queensland's X3 impulse facility.     

基于20L球形爆炸装置的甲烷煤尘混合爆炸实验

利用实验室自行设计的20L球形爆炸装置,对煤尘及甲烷煤尘混合物的爆炸特性进行了研究。结果表明:无论有无甲烷,煤尘的最大爆炸压力随煤尘浓度增加呈现先升高后降低的变化趋势,并且均在在煤尘浓度为600g/m3时均达到最大值。同时,甲烷的加入明显提高了煤尘最大爆炸压力值,而且随着甲烷浓度的增加,最大爆炸压力增幅先增加后降低,在甲烷5%时增幅最大。煤尘的爆炸持续时间随煤尘浓度增加呈现先降低后升高的特点,甲烷存在时有同样规律,但是有甲烷时爆炸持续时间明显降低,而且随着甲烷含量的增加,煤尘的爆炸持续时间降低幅度不断增加,在甲烷5%以后趋于稳定。实验结果对生产实践有一定的指导作用。     

矿井瓦斯煤尘爆炸传播数值模拟研究

基于连续相、燃烧、颗粒相数理方程建立瓦斯煤尘爆炸传播数理模型,并应用连续相、颗粒相计算方法,依据大型巷道瓦斯爆炸、瓦斯煤尘爆炸传播实验数据,借助普遍应用的流场模拟平台,成功开发瓦斯、煤尘爆炸数值模拟系统。该系统可有效地模拟煤矿瓦斯、煤尘的爆炸事故过程,对瓦斯爆炸的爆燃转爆轰、煤尘是否参与爆炸、爆炸冲击传播速度、衰减规律以及爆炸灾害的波及范围都能进行较准确的模拟。     

CO2-超细水雾对瓦斯/煤尘爆炸抑制特性研究

为了解CO2-超细水雾对瓦斯/煤尘爆炸抑制特性，用自行搭建的实验系统，从超压、火焰传播速度和火焰结构3个方面研究了CO2-超细水雾形成的气液两相介质对9.5%瓦斯/煤尘复合体系爆炸的抑爆效果、影响因素与原因。研究结果表明:随着CO2体积分数和超细水雾质量浓度的增加，爆炸火焰最大传播速度、爆炸超压峰值均出现明显下降，火焰到达泄爆口时间显著延迟；尤其当CO2体积分数达到14%与超细水雾的共同抑爆效果凸显，瓦斯/煤尘复合体系爆炸超压的“震荡平台”消失，同时火焰结构呈现“整体孔隙化”。所得结论为煤矿井下高效防爆抑爆技术进行了完善和增强。