Scientists and engineers
in MATRIC have a broad
range of technical
capabilities that can be
applied to the area of
coal mining safety.
Described below are specific areas in which concepts are under development to protect the safety of our miners.
Personnel Tracking Technology
This system would equip each miner with a transponder (either one-way or two-way) that communicates periodically with receivers distributed throughout the mine. The receivers would relay information to the surface via existing copper, fiber or coaxial media.
Vital Sign Tracking
Once the personnel tracking system is implemented, MATRIC can also integrate non-invasive technology that will monitor the heart rate, blood oxygen content and respiration rate of every miner. This will give crucial information which will allow a real time assessment of the miner’s health as well as give some insight to the environmental changes that are occurring in the immediate area.
Vehicle Tracking System
This system would work similarly to a Personnel Tracking System, but would provide additional information content such as oxygen and carbon-monoxide (CO) sensors to report those levels within the immediate vicinity of the vehicle. All mines already have what is known as mine-wide monitoring systems which are comprised of arrays of oxygen, CO and methane monitors throughout the mine. However, these sensors are only required by law to be located along the conveyor belt lines, where personnel are not typically located. Presuming that RF communications are possible, the vehicle could relay pertinent environmental information to the surface in times of crisis. This information would also be useful for air quality monitoring during non-crisis conditions.
Mobile Paging System
This would be an extension to the vehicle tracking system, and would utilize the existing tracking system infrastructure. These receivers would all be individually addressable from the surface and could relay special information intended for mining and rescue personnel. There already exists an underground paging system known as PEDS. This system uses very low frequency RF (VLF) communications that emanate from a transmitter on the surface. Since it operates at such low frequency, the transmission data rate is very slow, and it also cannot determine if a message was successfully received. The Mobile Paging System would be a two-way system so that acknowledgements of successful transmissions could be established.
Equipment Obstacle Avoidance System
This system would have greater application at surface mines where restricted zones are required around moving vehicles and equipment. It would utilize autonomous on-board sensors to detect whenever personnel were in a restricted zone and automatically shut down equipment when the protected zone is compromised.
Emergency Exit Indicators
Since each tracking receiver is individually addressable, we could install directional arrows (or other indicators) that could be turned on by personnel on the surface to let trapped miners know which direction of egress might be the most beneficial. Depending on inputs from other receivers, remote sensors and scout personnel, directional information could be updated so miners don't waste time trying to exit down a blocked passageway.Ultrasonic Locators
In the event all other communication methods have failed, it’s possible to have a portable device that can be pressed against a solid surface which emits ultrasonic "pings" that could be detected by counterpart receivers. Miners today are trained to bang on roof bolts periodically with metal poles in the hopes that listening equipment will pick up the vibrations. Since different strata configurations would transmit sound waves differently, there exists some room for geological/electronic studies to discover an optimum waveform to use in such a device to achieve the greatest transmission distance.
Advanced Oxygen Generators
The self rescue equipment in use today has been using the same scheme of oxygen generation for many years. They are relatively small, since each miner is required to wear it on their utility belt. Finding a way to generate oxygen for longer periods using the same space would be of great significance. The biggest danger in any mine disaster is low oxygen levels and high CO levels. Part of the self rescue apparatus is a nose plug and goggles, which are primarily designed to prevent CO from entering the body. The remainder of the apparatus is a bag and mouthpiece that connects to the oxygen generator. There is significant room for improvement in this system using new oxygen generation principles.
Carbon Monoxide Removal
Even low levels of carbon monoxide can be toxic to an individual. Using novel catalysts already in the market place has the potential to greatly increase the efficiency with which carbon monoxide is removed, thereby providing improved protection for miners underground. MATRIC’s experts are well versed in the use of catalysis and separations technology in industry. Applying that knowledge to other applications is the logical next step and should result in increased efficiency and safety.