High-Speed Gas Monitoring Can Improve Mine Safety
The UBB Mine disaster highlights the importance of data acquisition speed in discovering and assessing hazardous gas buildup. Reports indicate that 15-minutes or more expired before the AMS computer reacted to the developing problem. Old ‘80s era systems operating at 200-400 baud were very slow. Some have been upgraded to 4800 baud, but still plenty slow. However, the good news is that there is better technology available today that vastly increases the speed of data retrieval.
Rel-Tek Corp. has developed and perfected new, high-speed data acquisition and gas monitoring for coal mines. This proven technology offers whole-system solutions for the fast detection of dangerous gas buildup and prompt reporting to surface management.
Established in United States in 1979, Rel-Tek has led the way in research and development of cutting edge products that can boost mine safety and productivity. All Rel-Tek technology is developed privately, without taxpayer funds, which may explain the often progressive methods and exceptional results achieved.
Since originally classified by MSHA in 1987, the GasBoss methane sensor (0-5% methane) has been in continued development, such that it has become the longest-life, full-spectrum (analog) methane sensor in the industry.
Putting their advanced telemetry technology to work, Rel-Tek‘s high-speed monitoring can quickly track gas levels in seconds, avoiding the costly quarter-hour delays typical for old technology.
When the methane builds up and exceeds the LEL range of catalytic-bead sensors, erroneously low values are reported… an unsafe condition.
However, in the wings at Rel-Tek is a companion methane sensor that is not limited to the 5 percent full-scale range of catalytic beads. This unique device monitors up to 100 percent methane, covering the high end, as might have been the case in the UBB Mine explosion.
Thousands of Rel-Tek gas sensors – both methane and carbon monoxide—have been operating in mines and industry—many for more than two decades. Statistics show average sensor life of 8-10 years, probably twice that of competing products.
All these sensors are MSHA classified as intrinsically safe for hazardous areas of coal mines. Post-disaster approvals are also on file.
Rel-Tek developed its Flash Telemetry (FT) over the past few years, providing very high-speed, long-distance data acquisition to 20-miles or more over twisted-pair copper or optical-fiber cable. Early “FT” applications were at Manalapan Mining Co. in ’09, located in SE Kentucky. Three separate coal mines installed FT systems that have been operating flawlessly for nearly two years. Plug and play, the startups were fast and eventless. The client has been well pleased.
As a high speed benchmark, the FT system refreshes data on the surface computer at the rate of about 100 sensors per second, cutting the scan time delay enormously. A fourth mine in the Manalapan complex uses a competitor’s system, and that update rate was reported by the client to be about 0.2 sensors per second, i.e. 15-20 minute updates.
Rel-Tek’s automatic calibration utility is also available with FT, providing fully automatic gas sensor calibration for carbon monoxide, methane, oxygen and other gases completely automatically, on a preset schedule, and with full computer graphics and documentation. Sensors in hard-to-reach areas, like gobs, over conveyors, inside silos and such, are especially critical, as this avoids risk to persons doing manual calibrations. MagiKal employs 12-bit (+/- 0.0244%) resolution, far better than possible manually.
Other Rel-Tek sensors monitor air-velocity, smoke, pressure, and temp/RH, as well as vibration. Brand new products include pull-key monitoring, a fast response RPM sensor and a belt-slip/sequence supervisory system.
To view Rel-Tek’s catalog, CLICK ON PDF LINK IN UPPER RIGHT HAND CORNER
For more information:
Contact Al Ketler, Pres, P.E.
Phone: 800-783-9228
E-mail: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
To stop by Rel-Tek’s website, CLICK HERE
