Communication, Tracking &
Communication, Tracking &
Breathing Technology
Breathing Technology
…What are the options?
Outline
Outline
•
•
Current Mine Communication Devices
Current Mine Communication Devices
•
•
MINER Act requirements
MINER Act requirements
•
•
What’s available now
What’s available now
•
•
Technology Gaps
Technology Gaps
•
•
Activities to help provide the technology
Activities to help provide the technology
Communication, Tracking…
Outline (cont)
Outline (cont)
•
•
Current
Current
SCSRs
SCSRs
•
•
MINER Act requirements
MINER Act requirements
•
•
SCSR Training
SCSR Training
•
•
Activities to help provide the technology
Activities to help provide the technology
Breathing Technology…
Current Mine Communication
Current Mine Communication
Devices
Devices
•
•
Telephones
Telephones
•
•
Pager Phones (Loudspeaking Telephones)
Pager Phones (Loudspeaking Telephones)
•
•
Handheld 2
Handheld 2
-
-
way radios
way radios
•
These systems rely on in
These systems rely on in
-
-mine cables & components…
mine cables & components…
…
The MINER Act
The MINER Act
!
!
General Requirements
General Requirements
Post
Post
-
-
Accident Communications
Accident Communications
MINER Act
At a minimum, provide for a
redundant means of
communication with the
surface for persons
underground, such as
secondary telephone or
equivalent two-way
communication.
Program Policy Letter
When hardwired systems are
used to meet the MINER Act
requirement for redundant
communication between
surface and underground
personnel, wires should be
routed through separate
entries or boreholes
Post
Post
-
-
Accident Tracking
Accident Tracking
MINER Act
Provide for above ground
personnel to determine the
current, or immediately
pre-accident, location of all
underground personnel.
Any system so utilized shall
be functional, reliable, and
calculated to remain
serviceable in a post-accident
setting.
Program Policy Letter
Until post-accident tracking
technology becomes
commercially available and
MSHA approved, MSHA will
accept a dispatcher system,
or equivalent system, that has
as a function the tracking of
persons underground.
A dispatcher system should
track location of personnel in
writing, on a map, or
The MINER Act
The MINER Act
!
!
Specific Requirements for “within 3 years”
Specific Requirements for “within 3 years”
Post
Post
-
-
Accident Communications
Accident Communications
MINER Act
Within 3 years, Provide for post
accident communication
between underground and
surface personnel via a wireless
two-way medium.
Program Policy Letter
MSHA interprets the term
“wireless”, as used in the MINER Act, to mean that no wired
component of the system exists underground where it may be damaged by fire or explosion. Post-accident communication technology would be considered acceptable if, based on its
location in the mine and the history of mine explosions and fires in the mine, it is likely to
Post
Post
-
-
Accident Tracking
Accident Tracking
MINER Act
Within 3 years, Provide for
an electronic tracking system
permitting surface personnel
to determine the location of
any persons trapped
What’s Available Now?
Communication Systems Tests
Communication Systems Tests
Mine Emergency Communication
Mine Emergency Communication
Systems Partnership
Systems Partnership
Designated Return
R R BC BC R Designated Return R RR R CONNER'S RUN PORTAL FISH CREEK PORTAL CROSSCUT 2-1 #2 BELT DRIVE 600ft OVERBURDEN TEST AREA 500ft OVERBURDEN TEST AREA #3 BELT DRIVE TRACK AND BELT ENTRY TEST AREA S-TURN TEST AREA PARALLEL ENTRY TEST AREA 270ft OVERBURDEN TEST AREA DIP AREA #1 BELT DRIVE SUPPLY SLOPE BELT SLOPE ELEVATOR 1,000 ft
Criteria for Selecting Systems
Criteria for Selecting Systems
for Testing
for Testing
•
•
Systems that do not rely on a wire
Systems that do not rely on a wire
back
back
-
-
bone to operate
bone to operate
•
•
Various types of technology are
Various types of technology are
represented
represented
•
Systems Tested
Systems Tested
•
•
Rajant
Rajant
•
•
Time Domain/Concurrent Technologies
Time Domain/Concurrent Technologies
•
•
Geosteering
Geosteering
•
•
Innovative Wireless Technologies
Innovative Wireless Technologies
•
•
Kutta Consulting
Kutta Consulting
•
•
Transtek
Transtek
•
Pre
Pre
-
-
Test Facts
Test Facts
•
•
All prototypes
All prototypes
•
•
First coal mine test for most systems
First coal mine test for most systems
–
–
the many challenges of a mine
the many challenges of a mine
environment was not expected by the
environment was not expected by the
vendors
Test Process
Test Process
-
-
evaluation criteria
evaluation criteria
•
•
For in
For in
-
-
mine communications
mine communications
–
–
Line
Line
-
-
of
of
-
-
site
site
–
–
Non-
Non
-
line
line
-
-
of-
of
-
site
site
–
–
Interference
Interference
•
•
For through
For through
-
-
the
the
-
-
earth communications
earth communications
–
–
Depth of penetration
Depth of penetration
•
•
For in
For in
-
-
mine tracking
mine tracking
–
Preliminary Test Results
Preliminary Test Results
•
•
Most systems limited to 1000
Most systems limited to 1000
-
-
2000 ft.
2000 ft.
Line
Line
-
-
of
of
-
-
site communications
site communications
•
•
Exception
Exception
–
–
MF system provided >5387
MF system provided >5387
ft. non
ft. non
-
-
line
line
-
-
of
of
-
-
site voice communication
site voice communication
(>11,600 ft. in a 2
(>11,600 ft. in a 2
nd
nd
test)
test)
•
Preliminary Test Results
Preliminary Test Results
270 (Voice)
270 (Voice)
N/A
N/A
Transtek
Transtek
631 (Text)
631 (Text)
>11600 (was
>11600 (was
non
non-
-line
line-
-of
of-
-site)
site)
Kutta Consulting
Kutta Consulting
N/A
N/A
1800
1800
Innovative Wireless
Innovative Wireless
270 (Beacon)
270 (Beacon)
1000
1000
Geosteering
Geosteering
N/A
N/A
2000
2000
Time Domain/Concurrent
Time Domain/Concurrent
Technologies
Technologies
N/A
N/A
1500
1500
Rajant
Rajant
Through
Through-
-the
the-
-earth range (ft)
earth range (ft)
In
In-
-mine, Line
mine, Line-
-of
of-
-sight range (ft)
sight range (ft)
M
M
INE
INE
S
S
ITE
ITE
PED
PED
AND
AND
TRACKER
TRACKER
I
I
NVESTIGATION
NVESTIGATION
(by MSHA)
(by MSHA)
•
•
Investigate PED installations at:
Investigate PED installations at:
–
–
Peabody Air Quality and Twentymile Mines
Peabody Air Quality and Twentymile Mines
–
–
Consol Blacksville and Robinson Run Mines
Consol Blacksville and Robinson Run Mines
–
–
BHP San Juan Mine (only surface
BHP San Juan Mine (only surface
-
-
installed antenna in
installed antenna in
the US)
the US)
•
•
Traveled to Australia to investigate TRACKER
Traveled to Australia to investigate TRACKER
installation
P
P
ROS
ROS
AND
AND
C
C
ONS
ONS
OF
OF
PED
PED
•
•
Pros:
Pros:
–
–
Can send evacuation instructions to miners in early stages of fi
Can send evacuation instructions to miners in early stages of fi
re
re
–
–
Can be retrofit for Koehler, NLT and MSA cap lamps
Can be retrofit for Koehler, NLT and MSA cap lamps
–
–
System can be deployed in emergency by arranging surface
System can be deployed in emergency by arranging surface
loop antenna
loop antenna
•
•
Cons:
Cons:
–
–
Underground antenna could be compromised in fire or explosion
Underground antenna could be compromised in fire or explosion
–
–
Reports of some areas where signals can’t be received (shadow
Reports of some areas where signals can’t be received (shadow
zones)
zones)
–
–
Can interfere with existing mine systems
Can interfere with existing mine systems
–
–
Communications limited to one-
Communications limited to one
-way
way
–
P
P
ROS
ROS
AND
AND
C
C
ONS
ONS
OF
OF
TRACKER
TRACKER
•
•
Pro: Can provide last known location of
Pro: Can provide last known location of
miner before loss of power
miner before loss of power
•
•
Cons:
Cons:
–
–
Cannot provide precise location of personnel
Cannot provide precise location of personnel
–
–
System will become non
System will become non
-
-
operational upon
operational upon
loss of power
What are the Technology Gaps?
What are the Technology Gaps?
•
•
Limited in
Limited in
-
-
mine range requires significant
mine range requires significant
in
in
-
-
mine components & infrastructure
mine components & infrastructure
•
•
Through
Through
-
-
the
the
-
-
earth communication has
earth communication has
limitations
limitations
•
•
Ability to be Intrinsically Safe
Ability to be Intrinsically Safe
•
Activities to help provide the
Activities to help provide the
necessary technology
necessary technology
•
•
Mine Emergency Communications
Mine Emergency Communications
Systems Partnership
Systems Partnership
•
•
Emergency Supplemental Appropriations
Emergency Supplemental Appropriations
Bill
Bill
•
Mine Emergency Communication
Mine Emergency Communication
Systems Partnership
Systems Partnership
Conduct in
Emergency Supplemental
Emergency Supplemental
Appropriations Bill
Appropriations Bill
•
•
$10M to push promising technology to the
$10M to push promising technology to the
mines
mines
–
–
Funding to be administered by NIOSH
Funding to be administered by NIOSH
through outside contracts
through outside contracts
–
–
Divided between communications & tracking,
Divided between communications & tracking,
SCSRs, refuge chambers
Funding Targets Areas…
Funding Targets Areas…
•
•
Harden existing communications systems
Harden existing communications systems
•
•
Hybrid communications technology
Hybrid communications technology
•
•
New communications systems
New communications systems
•
Harden existing communications
Harden existing communications
systems
systems
•
•
Protect cables and components
Protect cables and components
–
–
Armor or conduit
Armor or conduit
–
–
Burying
Burying
•
•
Enhance system
Enhance system
–
Hybrid Systems
Hybrid Systems
•
•
During normal operations, function using
During normal operations, function using
existing communication systems
existing communication systems
•
•
In an emergency, use the same wireless
In an emergency, use the same wireless
components to function in another mode
components to function in another mode
that has greater chance of survival
that has greater chance of survival
–
–
Example: Leaky feeder for normal operations
Example: Leaky feeder for normal operations
and medium frequency in an emergency,
and medium frequency in an emergency,
using the same portable radio
Other Communication System
Other Communication System
Issues
Issues
•
•
Interoperability
Interoperability
•
•
Interference
Interference
•
Actions…
Actions…
•
•
Award contracts for development &
Award contracts for development &
demonstration projects
demonstration projects
•
•
Continue to test promising technology
Continue to test promising technology
•
•
Award contracts for research issues
Award contracts for research issues
•
•
Share information through Partnership &
Share information through Partnership &
NIOSH Web site
Breathing Technology
MSHA/NIOSH
MSHA/NIOSH Approved SCSRs
Ocenco EBA 6.5
Draeger OXY-K Plus
CSE SR-100
Ocenco M-20
The MINER Act
The MINER Act
Post
Post
-
-
Accident Breathable Air
Accident Breathable Air
MINER Act
Emergency supplies of breathable air for individuals trapped
underground sufficient to maintain such individuals for a sustained period of time
In addition to the 2 hours of
breathable air per miner required by the emergency temporary
standard, caches of self-rescuers providing in the aggregate not less than 2 hours per miner to be kept in escapeways from the deepest work areas to the surface at a distance of no further than an average miner could walk in 30 minutes
Program Policy Letter
MSHA interprets “caches of
self-rescuers providing in the
aggregate not less than 2
hours per miner to be kept in
escapeways” to mean that
one-hour of oxygen per miner
should be provided at each
SCSR storage location in each
escapeway.
Distances for SCSR Storage
Distances for SCSR Storage
Locations
Locations
5738
5738
Walk Erect
Walk Erect
–
–
more than
more than
4415
4415
Walk
Walk
Head Bent
Head Bent
–
–
51 to
51 to
65
65
3328
3328
Duck Walk
Duck Walk
–
–
40 to 50
40 to 50
2173
2173
Crawl
Crawl
–
–
less than 40
less than 40
Distance in Feet (30
Distance in Feet (30
min.)
min.)
Average Seam Height
Average Seam Height
(in.)
Post
Post
-
-
Accident Breathable Air
Accident Breathable Air
MINER Act
Provide for:A maintenance schedule for checking the reliability of self-rescuers, retiring older self-rescuers first, and
introducing new self-rescuer technology, such as units with interchangeable air or oxygen cylinders not requiring doffing to replenish airflow and units with
supplies of greater than 60 minutes, as they are approved by the
Administration and become available on the market.
Training for each miner in proper
procedures for donning self-rescuers, switching from one unit to another, and ensuring a proper fit.
Program Policy Letter
Specify a schedule for opening,
initiating the breathing cycle, and
establishing operational
reliability for a representative
number of SCSR units on an
annual basis.
Provide for replacement of
retired SCSRs with
technologically advanced
SCSRs as they become
commercially available and are
approved for use in mines.
SCSR Training …
SCSR Training …
•
•
Hands On Switchover Training
Hands On Switchover Training
•
Switchover Training
Switchover Training
•
•
A process with steps that are universal
A process with steps that are universal
regardless of model of SCSR
regardless of model of SCSR
•
•
Incorporates elements of the “3+3” donning
Incorporates elements of the “3+3” donning
procedure
procedure
•
Switchovers Assessed
Switchovers Assessed
Training for miners about…
•
•
How to properly
How to properly
conduct daily and 90
conduct daily and 90
day inspection
day inspection
•
•
How to care for an
How to care for an
SCSR
SCSR
•
•
Criteria for removing an
Criteria for removing an
SCSR from service
SCSR from service
Care and Maintenance of
Care and Maintenance of
Self
Components of the package …
Components of the package …
•
•
Instructor’s guide
Instructor’s guide
•
•
Videotape
Videotape
•
•
CBT module
CBT module
•
•
Hands
Hands
-
-
on component
on component
•
•
Hardhat sticker
Hardhat sticker
•
Emergency Supplemental
Emergency Supplemental
Appropriations Bill
Appropriations Bill
-
-
Funding
Funding
Targets Areas…
Targets Areas…
•
•
Hybrid Technology Self Rescue Respirators
Hybrid Technology Self Rescue Respirators
•
•
Dockable
Dockable
SCSRs
SCSRs
•
Hybrid Self Rescuers
Hybrid Self Rescuers
Combination SCSR and FSR Respirator
Combination SCSR and FSR Respirator
–
–
once
once
life support capacity of SCSR part is expended,
life support capacity of SCSR part is expended,
device switches into FSR mode, filtering out CO
device switches into FSR mode, filtering out CO
from ambient air
from ambient air
•
•
Technology required:
Technology required:
–
–
FSR Mode
FSR Mode
•
• Traditional Technology →Traditional Technology → HopcaliteHopcalite to convert CO to convert CO --> > COCO2 2 (high inhaled (high inhaled gas temp)
gas temp)
•
• New Technology →New Technology → use CO Oxidation Catalysts (reaction at lower temp)use CO Oxidation Catalysts (reaction at lower temp)
–
–
When/How to switch from closed
When/How to switch from closed
-
-
to open
to open
-
-
circuit operation
circuit operation
•
