SEDL / STP / STP958-EB / STP28169S

Laboratory and Mine Dust Explosion Research at the Bureau of Mines

Cashdollar, KL
Research physicist, supervisory chemical engineer, mining engineer, and supervisory research chemist, Bureau of Mines, Pittsburgh Research Center, Pittsburgh, PA

Sapko, MJ
Research physicist, supervisory chemical engineer, mining engineer, and supervisory research chemist, Bureau of Mines, Pittsburgh Research Center, Pittsburgh, PA

Weiss, ES
Research physicist, supervisory chemical engineer, mining engineer, and supervisory research chemist, Bureau of Mines, Pittsburgh Research Center, Pittsburgh, PA

Hertzberg, M
Research physicist, supervisory chemical engineer, mining engineer, and supervisory research chemist, Bureau of Mines, Pittsburgh Research Center, Pittsburgh, PA

Pages: 17    Published: Jan 1987

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Abstract

This paper describes the results of recent dust explosibility testing in a 20-L laboratory chamber and in the Bruceton and Lake Lynn Experimental Mines in Pennsylvania. Laboratory data on the lean flammability limits for coals and oil shales are compared to mine data for both predispersed tests and nominal loadings that are dispersed by a gas ignition zone. A linear relationship for the lean flammability limits for mixtures of bituminous coal dust and methane gas was measured in both laboratory and mine tests. This paper also compares data on the amount of limestone rock dust necessary to inert coal dusts and coal-methane mixtures. The good agreement between the 20-L chamber data and the mine data means that the laboratory chamber can be used for screening tests before full-scale mine tests.