Investigating Diesel Particulate Matter Reduction using Local Ventilation Changes in a U.S. Industrial Commodity Mine - Case Study

Abstract

Diesel Particulate Matter (DPM) measurements were taken at Tronox's Westvaco Trona mine in Wyoming. Both shift-average and real-time monitoring using Elf pumps and Airtec analyzers, were used. The mine's underground transportation fleet consists of more than 250 diesel-powered vehicles. A vehicle monitoring log tracked fleet usage during the test; logged data consisted of vehicle type, direction of travel, and time. The log was used in analysis to determine the DPM spread rate, of normally operating equipment, in the different entries with respect to vehicle location. Airflow velocity measurements at the stations were taken during the survey. The survey results also identified vehicles with higher emission rates. An ECOM gas and a MAHA DPM analyzer, both located in the mine's underground emission shop, were used to obtain various vehicle emission rates. The correlation of the workshop and field measurements was investigated with regard to the machine activity, fuel usage and atmospheric conditions. The results were used to identify and execute a ventilation project to reroute 45% of diesel shop air back to intake entries, by interlocking an automated door and a regulator. The result is reduced DPM downstream.

Department(s)

Mining Engineering

International Standard Book Number (ISBN)

978-151082565-9

Document Type

Article - Conference proceedings

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2024 Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jan 2016

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