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By Ertugrul Alp

Alp & Associates - Who We Are ?? Canadian consulting company (1999-?) ?? Principal Consultant: Dr. Ertugrul Alp, P.Eng. ?? Over twenty-five years experience serving the chemical, mining, pulp & paper, energy, steel, and transportation industries, and government clients. ?? Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Waterloo ?? Experience: ?? Westinghouse Canada, Atomic Power Division, Manager, Analysis and Modelling ?? Concord Environmental (later Bovar Environmental), Principal, Manager, Air Quality and Risk Assessment ?? Arthur D. Little, Associate Director, Safety & Risk Practice Leader in Canada ?? Member: NATO CCMS Pilot Project on Disaster Preparedness (1991-1993) ?? Chair: MIACC Risk Assessment Expert Committee, 1995-1999 ?? Member: MIACC Committees on Land Use Planning and Pipelines (1993-1998) ?? Member: CSA/Q850 Risk Management Standard Technical Committee ?? Member: CSA/Z1002 OHS Risk Assessment Standard Technical Committee ?? Member: CCPA/CSChE Process Safety Management Committee (1999-?) ?? Member: ISO-31000 Risk Management Standard Canadian Advisory Committee ?? Chair: CSChE Process Safety Management Committee (2005-2006) ?? Chair: CSChE Expert Committee on Risk Assessment (1999-2005) ?? CSChE 2007 Process Safety Management Award

May 1, 2008

By J. Miettunen

"The lining of a grinding mill has an important role in creating the conditions for the grinding process. The main purpose of the lining is to transfer the energy taken by the mill motor to the contents of a mill. The power draw curve of the mill, if measured with sufficiently short intervals, describes how well the lining works in lifting and mixing the material to be ground.The power draw curve can also be used for determining the volumetric filling of a mill. This new measuring technique was developed at the Pyhasalmi concentrator in 1989-90. The measuring device with its PC-connections offers an excellent tool for controlling volumetric mill filling, for maximizing throughput and for research purpose (e.g. process studies, mill linings design).The paper describes the new method and the results achieved at Outokumpu's concentrators.INTRODUCTIONVarious methods have been developed for measuring mill load; weighing, noise, etc. Weighing is one of the most reliable methods but installing the sensor to existing mills is often difficult. Besides the load measurement does not indicate the volumetric filling if the specific gravity of the mill feed fluctuates. Noise measurement has often failed with its sensitivity to various disturbance sources.As known, the power draw measurement is one of the most accurate measurements in grinding circuits and therefore it has been utilized in sophisticated control, e.g. in power peak seeking algorithms for maintaining maximum grinding efficiency.About 10 years ago power oscillation measurement was developed at Pyhasalmi concentrator. In this method the amplitude of the oscillation caused by the lifters was measured. The oscillation amplitude and the mill filling has quite a good correlation and together with the power draw measurement it could be used for maximizing mill throughput (Koivistoinen and Miettunen, 1989). The main difficulties in this method were that the dependence between mill filling and the amplitude is unlinear and that the dependence also is individual for each mill.The method developed during 1989-90 is also based on the power oscillation but on its phase shift. In principle level of the material in a mill is measured. The method has been successfully used for maximizing throughput at Pyhasalmi and Enonkoski concentrators and at Harjavalta slag concentrator."

Jan 1, 1991

By Patrick F. R. Murphy

An ultra-low profile LHD has been developed by EJC Mining Equipment of Burlington, Ontario for narrow-reef mining applications. This paper discusses the challenges encountered during the evolution of the machine's design and subsequent field testing. Continuing research and development focuses on optimizing machine performance and controllability, reducing emissions, and enhancing maintainability. Details will be given on field trial experience and ongoing test work being carried out at the manufacturing facility.

May 1, 2004

By F. C. Grensing, W. R. Crib

Copper-15 Nickel-8 Tin alloy is a relatively modern material, having been discovered in the 1970’s. It has complexities with casting, hot working and interdependent solid state phase transformations. A key to the high reliability manufacture of wrought rods, bars, plates and tube is the casting technology, which limits segregation, promotes microstructural uniformity and enables hot working. The EquaCast® continuous casting process has enabled the production of a broadening variety of wrought forms with typical yield strengths ranging from 100 to 180 ksi (690 to 1241 MPa) depending on size, shape and temper. This paper reviews the characteristics of wrought Copper-15 Nickel-8 Tin products which have registration in AMS specifications (4596 and 4597) and MMPDS-04 (CN-1) for use in aircraft. The design limits, microstructures, fracture characteristics and tribological behavior will be examined. This alloy system is emerging as a material of choice for aircraft bearings, corrosion resistant oil and gas exploration components, machinery and demanding off-road equipment applications. ToughMet® 3 is an alternative or upgrade to conventional moderate and high strength aluminum bronze bearing alloys.

Jan 1, 2010

By Joseph L. Fournier

Suncor Oil Sands employs delayed coking technology in converting bitumen into synthetic crude oil. Currently up to 10,000 m3 of delayed coke (coke) is produced per day as a byproduct of the upgrading process, of which up to 9,000 m3 per day is placed in dry storage on Lease 86/17. A review was completed to examine the case history of leachate potential experiments from the dry storage of coke and the environmental relevance of coke leachate studies conducted over the past decade. The review included an evaluation of the potential impacts of environmental conditions within the location of coke storage, including precipitation pH, as well as daily and annual ozone trends. Coke leachate potential has historically been characterized using standard leachate testing protocols (i.e., TLCP, SPLP) together with other studies that have employed strong acids and oxidizing agents in the extraction fluids. The present paper highlights prevailing conditions in the Athabasca Valley air-shed with emphasis given to ambient ozone (oxidizers), as well as precipitation pH and acid input deposition rates, and will demonstrate that TCLP / SPLP tests lack the intended environmental relevance relative to the conditions under which coke is stored.

May 1, 2011

By A. R. Barnes, N. O. Lotter

Recoverable economic copper sulphide minerals such as chalcopyrite, bornite, chalcocite and covellite often occur together in varying proportions in the major copper-bearing ores, and have individual flotation requirements and characteristics. Pyrite also occurs in these ores to varying extents as the sulphide gangue, and is problematic because of its natural tendency to float quickly and easily. In a bulk sulphide float, selectivity against pyrite is desirable, particularly if it does not host other paymetals such as gold or silver. At the same time it is a requirement to float all of the copper sulphides despite their electrochemical differences. The electrochemistry and semiconductor properties of these minerals are reviewed, together with implications for flotation with and without collector addition. Mixed collector systems for the improved flotation of these sulphides are proposed as a solution. The use of xanthate and dithiophosphate in the collector suite allows the co-existence of dixanthogen and free dithiophosphate radical because the latter has a higher redox potential requirement than xanthate to oxidise to the dithiolate. Because some of these minerals require dixanthogen, and others, free thiolate, to generate surface hydrophobicity, a bulk flotation of all the species becomes possible in the overlapping area of Eh and pH between the two dithiolate equilibrium lines on the Pourbaix diagram. The arsenic-signature copper minerals are added to the study, since many copper operations encounter arsenic as a penalty element in the saleable concentrate. It is shown that the addition of arsenic to the copper and iron sulphides alters the semiconductor and electrochemistry properties, and in turn, its flotation characteristics. The degree of mineral association and liberation between these minerals can be a complicating factor due to textural associations, and should also be considered in the process as a next step.

Jan 1, 2016

By Brigitte Lacouture, Yeen Shien Hwang, David Lin

"A baseline survey of the partially open lead regrind circuit at Red Dog Mine indicated poor regrind efficiencies for the three parallel 450 HP tower mills. Driven by the high energy cost and the potential metallurgical gain brought by improved mineral liberation, the Red Dog lead regrind circuit was optimized in two stages.In the first optimization stage, different circuit layouts were evaluated in two plant trials. In June 2003, the regrind circuit was changed to a fully closed circuit. This reduced the tower mill requirement from three to two mills. The circuit modification payback was 11 days through power savings alone.The second stage of optimization was the evaluation of reagent addition. To improve pyrite depression, sodium cyanide was added to the feed of the lead regrind tower mills and tested in a series of plant trials over several mill feed stockpiles. Galena selectivity against pyrite was found to improve in these plant trials. Due to environmental sensitivities, no net increase in cyanide addition to the plant occurred and thus no increase in the cyanide concentrations in the tailings pond or the environment will result.The lead regrind optimization work improved the overall lead metallurgical performance and reduced energy and reagent costs. Economic analysis showed that annual profit increased by as much as US$3.0 M."

Jan 1, 2005

By Gorzalczynski. Stan

The recent trend in underground mine developments is ?big is better?. This is most certainly evident in the mine shaft and the conveyances that operate within its compartments. Today, there are several new installations requiring mine cages that can transport up to 170 passengers. The technology in mine hoisting is advancing to address a combination of higher capacity requirements, deeper hoisting depths and faster winding rates, however, some areas of the hoist plant have not changed for the past fifty years. The most notable of these areas is the shaft compartment guide string and the conveyance mounted safety arrest mechanism. The technology in use today for the protection of passengers in a shaft conveyance from a hoist rope severance incident, remains conceptually unchanged from Elisha Otis? design of 1850. The actual retardation components, the safety dogs, have taken on several forms since Elisha?s invention with the last major design change occurring in the late 1940?s. The arrest of a free falling shaft conveyance requires that the shaft guides withstand the energy imparted on them by the safety dogs. There are some very real limitations presented by the use of wood for this application. The new hoisting era will most certainly continue to demand larger capacity equipment but also, an increased awareness toward safety.

May 1, 2002

By Patrick Frenette

Résumé La Mine Goldex entrera en production au 2ième trimestre de 2008. Pour permettre une production de l?ordre de 6960 tpj, le forage ITH à une pression de 400 psi (28 bar) à été sélectionné. Il s?agira d?une des premières applications du forage ITH à cette pression sous terre. Cet article traitera des gains anticipés et montrera certains résultats préliminaires. Il sera aussi question du bras manipulateur utilisé pour manipuler les tiges de forage. Abstract The Goldex Mine will start production in the second quarter of 2008. In order to achieve a production of 6960 tpd, ITH drilling at 400 psi (28 bar) was selected. ITH drilling at this pressure will be one of the first underground applications. This paper will discuss the anticipated gains and show some preliminary results. The use of the rod handler will also be discussed.

Feb 1, 2008

By R. E. Barbosa

Seepage forces generated during tunnel excavation affect the ground response and may cause severe instability problems, including total ground collapse and flooding into the tunnel. This paper presents a new closed-form analytical solution, for stresses and displacements around a cylindrical tunnel excavated in a porous water-bearing elasto-plastic material, which includes the effects of seepage forces. The analysis is carried out in terms of effective stresses and pore water pressures. The solution shows that seepage forces may have a major effect on the effective stresses around the tunnel, on the extent of the plastic zone, on the radial displacements, and on the tunnel support requirements. The conditions for development of a ?flowing ground? condition at the tunnel face have been identified. The paper presents a procedure for the hydromechanical ground-support interaction analysis, to determine the excavation induced inflow and the pressures acting on the lining, throughout the progressive driving of the tunnel, including the effective pressures exerted by the ground and the pressures generated by the water.

May 1, 2009

By L. W. Hamel

"DUST CONTROL - GRANISLE COPPER LIMITEDINTRODUCTIONGranisle. Copper Limited is located in the north-central region of the Province of British Columbia, approximately 200 road miles north-west of Prince George. Mill startup was in November, 1966, at a rate of 5,000 tons per day, expanded to 13,000 in 1973. The primary crushing rate is 1,200 tons per operating hour, and the secondary 750, and they can be operated jointly or separately.DUST COLLECTION SYSTEMS There are seven dust collection systems ventilating the crushing and grinding complex. The individual pickup points are depicted on Figure 1 -""Crushing Plant Flowsheet"", and Figure 2 - ""Concentrator Flowsheet"", e.g. 1A, 1B, 3C, etc.System No. 1 - Primary Crusher The feed rock box of the Allis-Chalmers superior 42-65 primary crusher is ventilated by 19,000 CFM of air exhausted directly to atmosphere by a Sturtevant 426 M fixed discharge fan.No. Dust Pick Up Point CFM lA Crusher Feed Rock Box 19,000System No. 2 - Primary Crushing and Screening System No. 2 ventilates the primary crushing and screening equipment. A total of 19,000 CFM of air is exhausted by a Sturtevant 426 M fixed discharge fan through a Howden Type S - size 75 cyclone locally modified for wet scrubbing."

Jan 1, 1976

By G. Paquet, E. Godin

"Since the mid fifty's, worlwide pellet production capacity has constantly risen (Fig. 1, Ref. 1 l. There was however at that time no real incentive to decrease production costs but only to produce as many pellets as possible. State of things changed with the iron and steel market recession, starting in 1975, and is currently leading producers to improve pellet quality and to reduce fuel and power consumption.At the Port-Cartier pellet plant, the energy needed for the induration of pellets ranks first in overall operating costs. An important step was made when starting admixing coke breeze in 1980. Oil prices justified the use of coke breeze as a direct replacement in terms of dollar/ton, however, while gaining expertise in using solid fuel a significant decrease in energy consumption was observed (Fig. 2, Ref. 2).In 1985, the ""Centre de Recherches minérales"" was commissioned to undertake research work to investigate the effects of further increasing coke addition to the pellet mix. The positive results of that work led to a 1,5% coke addition plant trial during the fall of 1985. Both laboratory and industrial results are discussed in this paper."

Jan 1, 1986

By B. V. Knelson

"GENTLEMEN:This paper will deal with centrifugal separation - theory and practical, and since the Knelson Concentrator is the only centrifugal concentrator with a properly fluidized bed, this paper will cover the Knelson Concentrator and its technical and structural advances over the last five years. As I am the person with the most experience in this line, I guess I am some kind of an expert; what kind I’m not sure, but some kind.This type of concentrator truly was developed because I’m lazy and I constantly look for easier ways to do things. My experience in the mining industry was very limited but I did realize in looking at placer operations, which is the application where I spring from, that it was tremendously labour intensive and my first reaction that ""my god, there must be some method or way-of handling product in a more efficient (and you can read that as being able to quickly recover very fine particle gold) way than was being shown at that time"". So, the Knelson Concentrator was born - about 6 or 7 years later. Our first attempt was a cone with about the same degree of slope as our present machine and since we had no knowledge of vibration dampening and centrifugal forces at that point, it was just an idea that this should work.Our first run was one of twenty minute duration. We did make that first machine variable speed by a mechanical belt system and we found that at about 240 rpms we were virtually shaking the gravel plant apart that we were attached to. So the first run was twenty minutes and back to the drawing board. However, that first run produced a concentrate so superior to anything we had seen previously, that we knew without any question, we were definately and accurately on the right track."

Jan 1, 1985

By J. K. Gowans

"INTRODUCTIONTo bring a mining property into production in the Canadian High Arctic a company must deal with the harsh environment, the short shipping season and the high cost of labour. In trying to minimize the effect of these factors, the concept of a barge-mounted process plant was investigated as an alternative to the conventionally built concentrator. Cominco's previous experience gained at the Black Angel Mine on Greenland's west coast suggested that this would be a practical alternative.The normal shipping season at Little Cornwallis Island is approximately six weeks long, from mid-August to the end of September. All equipment and materials must be delivered during this small ''shipping window."" The logistics problems are enormous; if the conventional approach had been used the major process equipment would have been delivered to Little Cornwallis Island at the same time as the completed barge actually was! Construction would also be starting at the start of the worst climatic conditions, the Arctic winter. Nine months production was gained by opting for the ""Barge"" approach.What the Arctic winters do to the shipping season, so do they affect the productivity and the cost of labour. Construction labour must come from southern Canada. Thus higher transportation costs and higher wage rates, with more overtime and incentives, increase the labour costs to approximately 50% over normal southern rates. Couple these rates with the lower productivity involved with men working in the extreme cold temperatures and the net effort is worth avoiding. A process plant being constructed in Southern Canada can take advantage of more accessible labour at lower costs, increased productivity and a faster construction schedule. The barge concept must still deliver the equipment and materials during the ""shipping window"" but it can in the completed form."

Jan 1, 1983

By Christoph Mueller

Mining operations are characterized by cost pressure and cycling product prices. A high potential for enhancing efficiency is the integration of all single steps of the mining working chain into a production process structure to make advantage of an optimized flow of material and information through the ?moving ore factory?. As modern mining machinery today is controlled electronically and even already operated autonomously, a smooth and cost efficient flow of data in the mining process will be crucial for cost efficient future mine operations. Therefor, the International Rock Excavation Data Exchange Standard (IREDES) was launched by major players in the industry. The task of this initiative is to define a ?common electronic language? for easy and standardized data exchange between mining machines and central computer systems. As in other industries, this standard is expected to have significant impact on the use of automated equipment. It shall provide easy ways of using multi vendor machine installations in data controlled mining processes. At the same time it reduces cost for individual development of interfaces for all parties involved. Standardized data exchange is also a crucial precondition to integrate the mining process into enterprise level modeling, cost analysis and decision finding systems. The standard?s technical architecture is open and flexible for future applications. It uses modern XML technology enabling easy data exchange with commercial databases as well as open on line networking. The IREDES work is carried out by the initiative members working jointly together in the technical work groups. Prototyping implementations of the Drill rigs profile are currently going on. Further profiles under development cover LHD?s/Loaders/Trucks and Explosives Chargers. The first official release covering the Drill Rigs profile is planned for the end of 2002.

May 1, 2002

By I. O. Ojala

Detailed knowledge of velocity-depth trends is essential for constructing well-to seismic ties, determining background velocity and generating synthetic seismic traces for interpreting seismic amplitudes in terms of porosity, lithology and pore fluid type. The acoustic properties of shales are of particular importance in the exploration setting as shales constitute more than 80% of sediments and rocks in siliclastic environments. Seismic and sonic log data may be used for estimating overpressure in shales in order to maintain borehole stability during drilling. In addition, velocities in shales can be used for predicting its mechanical properties and hence, borehole collapse. Despite of the apparent importance of understanding shale acoustics, sonic logs in shales are frequently unavailable or unreliable especially for older wells. Hence, it is essential to compute pseudo-velocity logs from other available information. This can be accomplished by using empirical relationships or rock physics transforms. In this study we have compared the predictive power of resistivity (Faust 1951, Hubert 2008) and porosity based models (Wyllie 1956, Holt & Fjær 2003) for computing synthetic P-wave velocity logs using wireline log data from mudstone intervals at three North Sea wells. The wells 6507/2-1, 6507/2-2 and 6507/2-1 are located at the Haltenbanken area at the Norwegian Sea. The wells targeted hydrocarbon potential at the upper Cretaceous and lower Tertiary sandstone sequences. The sandstone beds are overlain by thick Tertiary and Cretaceous sequences of mudstones. Since our primary goal is to model acoustic velocities in shale, we used wireline data from the Nordland (NL), Rogaland (RL) and Hordaland (HL) groups that are mainly composed of mudstone. The mudstone beds were identified from the well log data by using natural gamma log, sonic and resistivity data as well as information from the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate website. The volume of shale was estimated from the natural gamma log and the data points with values higher than 0.65 were discarded. Similarly, the data points with shale volume less than 40 % were discarded. Furthermore, exceptionally high resistivity values amounting to more than 6 Ohm m were not included in the analysis. Porosities were determined from the density log assuming 2.7 and 1.05 g/cm3 for matrix and fluid densities, respectively. The depth that was used for calculating Vp from Faust (1953) was the depth below mudline in order to the compare of well data from wells that have been drilled at different depths (Hubert 2008).

May 1, 2009

By H. Wyslouzil

"The Kelsey Centrifugal Jig is a gravity separation device which utilizes the principles of the conventional mineral jigs but with the additional feature of being able to vary the apparent gravitational field. This is accomplished by utilizing the specific induced movements of the conventional jig within a centrifuge.Pilot plant trials have been underway since July 1988 to evaluate the potential applicability of this technology to various process streams at Rio Kemptville Tin.The grade/recovery relationships for samples treated in the jig were consistently better than results obtained from tables. Recoveries of more than 90% were attained at concentrating factors ranging up to 20. When compared with electrostatic separators, the jig achieved equivalent metallurgical results in a two stage process, without the expensive requirement of filtration and drying. Recoveries exceeding 96% were achieved with final concentrate grades averaging higher than 60% tin.INTRODUCTIONMineral jigs have been used for hundreds of years. Many different types have been developed, and each one has numerous variations. In recent years, the idea of applying centrifugal forces to conventional jigs has been put to practical tests and today a number of units are in commercial production. In principle, by enhancing the apparent gravitational field, it should be possible to recover finer particles by overcoming viscosity and surface effects which tend to limit existing gravity devices. In addition, it may be possible to use gravity to separate minerals with much smaller specific gravity differences."

Jan 1, 1990

By Mohamed Ourriban, Yongjun Peng, Qi Liu, Denis Cotnoir

"In the flotation of fine particles, there are two difficulties in general: low recovery of valuable minerals and high recovery of gangue minerals. The low recovery of fine valuable minerals is attributed to low bubble-particle collision and attachment efficiencies, while high recovery of fine gangue minerals is attributed to mechanical entrainment through water films between gas bubbles. Over the last five years COREM has been actively developing fine particle flotation techniques with the objective of improving fine particle flotation separation efficiencies.The fine particle flotation techniques with both generation of micro bubbles and enlargement of sizes of fine particles have been developed to increase bubble-particle collision efficiency. For oxidized fine sulphide minerals, both physical and chemical techniques have been developed to modify the hydrophilic surfaces and therefore increase bubble-particle attachment efficiency. To reduce mechanical entrainment of fine gangue minerals, a new approach, polymeric depression and flocculation, has been developed. By selecting the high molecular weight polymeric depressants to make fine gangue minerals hydrophilic and also enlarge their sizes, entrainment can be minimized. By combining these techniques, we are able to improve both flotation recovery and selectivity in some fine ore flotation systems.INTRODUCTIONWith depleting mineral resources and their declining grades, ores leaving grinding circuit for froth flotation are becoming increasingly finer to achieve mineral liberation. Together with the increasing demand for minerals, ever-increasing tonnages of fines are being produced. Therefore, flotation of fine particles is an immense challenge to be tackled by researchers all over the world today."

Jan 1, 2006

By Tim Martin, Dave Tahija

"In April, 2014, Hecla's Greens Creek mill, near Juneau, Alaska, switched from sulphuric acid to the use of dissolved carbon dioxide for lead flotation circuit pH control. The Greens Creek mine uses paste backfill, in which mill tailings are mixed with cement and used to fill mined areas. Some backfill inevitably becomes part of mill feed during subsequent mining cycles, resulting in high feed pH levels and increased dissolved calcium in the lead flotation circuit. Sulphuric acid is traditionally used to lower pH in such cases but it produces undesirable side effects, including poorer lead-zinc separation and unstable froth. The amount of sulphuric acid used at Greens Creek was limited due to these effects, resulting in higher than target pHs when feed backfill content was high. Dissolved carbon dioxide can be added without these limitations so pH levels have been under much better control since the switch. Additionally, lead-zinc separation and froth characteristics have significantly improved.IntroductionThe Greens Creek Mine, owned by Hecla Greens Creek Mining is an underground mine located on Admiralty Island near Juneau, Alaska, producing silver, gold, lead and zinc in the form of lead and zinc flotation concentrates and a gravity gold concentrate (McDonald, Morgen & Hancock, 2012). The lead and zinc concentrates are produced in conventional flotation circuits preceded by a graphite removal flotation step.The underground mine utilizes cemented paste backfill, of which a certain amount is inevitably re-mined in later mining cycles and returned to the mill, mixed with fresh ore. The Portland cement used in the paste backfill is highly basic so that, from the point of view of the mill, the net effect is to introduce a good deal of lime to run-of-mine mill feed, producing a very high natural pH. This high pH needs to be lowered to obtain good metallurgical results."

Jan 1, 2016

By Charles Kocsis

Over the last few years a multi-faceted feasibility study has been evaluating the introduction of hydrogen fuel cell powered equipment into underground mines to replaced diesel engine powered equipment. The analysis has shown that under normal operating conditions fuel cells could at the very least be an environmental and health benefit by eliminating combustion engines and their unwanted by-products. However, they could also generate significant reductions in the amount of ventilation a mine needs to supply when compared to dieselized operations; this would further decrease a mine?s energy consumption, its associated greenhouse gas impact and also reduce a mine?s significant ventilation associated costs. Fuel cell powered equipment also has the advantage of lower noise and heat production compared to their equivalent diesel powered counterpart. The degree to which fuel cells can generate ventilation benefits in underground mines depends upon a number of operational parameters and mine specific qualifiers such as current ventilation control or management, mine depth, inherent dust conditions and minimum velocity requirements. However another major consideration in the introduction of fuel cells in underground mines will be the safety requirements associated with diluting and removing the potentially explosive hydrogen in the event of a gas leak. In outside surface applications, it is possible to use dispersion, buoyancy, time, and lack of ignition sources as mitigating factors in deriving a low risk of an explosion. However, in underground operations these factors change, dispersion and buoyancy are limited; time may not be available and in non-coal mines ignition sources are not typically controlled. When a hydrogen leak occurs, the availability of sufficient ventilation to dilute and effectively remove the gas will be critical, consequently ventilation may be the prime risk controlling factor. In this paper, the authors evaluate the potential benefits of replacing diesel engines with fuel cells in powered production equipment, discuss the mitigating qualifiers that could limit ventilation savings and evaluate solutions to retain and maintain an additional ventilation capacity in the event of an emergency situation such as a hydrogen leak from the fuel cell stack or its distribution system.

May 1, 2007