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. 2013;10(9):468-77.
doi: 10.1080/15459624.2013.818240.

Field assessment of enclosed cab filtration system performance using particle counting measurements

John A Organiscak  1 , Andrew B Cecala, James D Noll
Affiliations

Field assessment of enclosed cab filtration system performance using particle counting measurements

John A Organiscak et al. J Occup Environ Hyg. 2013.

Abstract

Enclosed cab filtration systems are typically used on mobile mining equipment to reduce miners' exposure to airborne dust generated during mining operations. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Office of Mine Safety and Health Research (OMSHR) has recently worked with a mining equipment manufacturer to examine a new cab filtration system design for underground industrial minerals equipment. This cab filtration system uses a combination of three particulate filters to reduce equipment operators' exposure to dust and diesel particulates present in underground industrial mineral mines. NIOSH initially examined this cab filtration system using a two-instrument particle counting method at the equipment company's manufacturing shop facility to assess several alternative filters. This cab filtration system design was further studied on several pieces of equipment during a two- to seven-month period at two underground limestone mines. The two-instrument particle counting method was used outside the underground mine at the end of the production shifts to regularly test the cabs' long-term protection factor performance with particulates present in the ambient air. This particle counting method showed that three of the four cabs achieved protection factors greater than 1,000 during the field studies. The fourth cab did not perform at this level because it had a damaged filter in the system. The particle counting measurements of submicron particles present in the ambient air were shown to be a timely and useful quantification method in assessing cab performance during these field studies.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
New HVAC and filtration system design with an intake, recirculation, and final filter.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Optical particle sizes measured outside the cab at the manufacturer’s facility.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Test replicate with steady outside cab test concentrations and minimal coincidence errors.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Test replicate with unsteady outside cab test conditions and coincidence errors.
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
Final filter and pressurizer test results at the manufacturer’s facility.
FIGURE 6
FIGURE 6
Field test results for face drill cab at Mine A.
FIGURE 7
FIGURE 7
Field test results for scaling machine cab at Mine A.
FIGURE 8
FIGURE 8
Field test results for face drill cab at Mine B (the symbol * marks the point in time that the recirculation filters were changed or removed).
FIGURE 9
FIGURE 9
Field test results for roof bolting machine at Mine B (the symbol * marks the point in time that the recirculation filters were changed or removed).
FIGURE 10
FIGURE 10
Replicated laboratory cab tests conducted with a wide range of outside particle count concentrations.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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