Underground » Health and Safety
This report covers the ACARP C15021 research project into using acoustic agglomeration techniques to reduce diesel particulates from coal mine vehicle exhaust by 92%. The project was initially in three stages:
Stage 1
Bench test a diesel engine, measure diesel particulate emissions over the RPM spectrum. Optimise engine operating parameters for lowest emissions, with rated BHP output, retest with ultrasonic transducer fitted, measure emissions. Calibrate ultrasonic transducer frequency to maximise agglomeration effect Retest
Stage 2
Build prototype diesel exhaust scrubber ultrasonic filter including miniature cyclone optimised to agglomerated diesel particulate size for maximum effect on the removal of the particulates. Build electrostatic diesel exhaust filter, fit post cyclone and optimise for maximum particulate removal.
Stage 3
Build second prototype diesel exhaust scrubber sized to a selected mine vehicle, measure diesel particulate emissions from selected mine vehicle before fitting the diesel exhaust scrubber. Fit prototype diesel exhaust scrubber, optimise for lowest particulate emissions and operate on mine vehicle for 3 months to monitor operational performance.
A fourth stage was added to correlate the measurements from a NIOSH diesel particulate exposure measuring instrument to the fundamental mass over time measurement used in the ACARP C15021 project. The results of the stage 4 are outlined in Appendix 4 taken from ACARP final report of project C15028 by Gillies Wu Mining. The result of the testing with EC to D-PDM correlation to 0.817 is excellent considering the testing was conducted in open air with all the variables that introduces. (NIOSH conduct their tests in a temperature controlled laboratory with preset ambient conditions before testing)
The outcome of the project at 92% particulate reduction came close to the 95% particulate reduction targeted at the beginning of the project. Two areas of further research became evident when examining the test results, there is further improvement to diesel particle agglomeration with the use of three separate acoustic frequencies and with improved mini cyclone technology diesel particles can be removed more efficiently.