Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) regulations require underground coal mines to install refuge alternatives (RAs). In the event of a disaster, RAs must be able to provide a breathable air environment for 96 h. The interior environment of an occupied RA, however, may become hot and humid during the 96 h due to miners' metabolic heat and carbon dioxide scrubbing system heat. The internal heat and humidity may result in miners suffering heat stress or even death. To investigate heat and humidity buildup with an occupied RA, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducted testing on a training ten-person, tent-type RA in its Safety Research Coal Mine (SRCM) in a test area that was isolated from the mine ventilation system. The test results showed that the average measured air temperature within the RA increased by 11.4 °C (20.5 °F) and the relative humidity approached 90% RH. The test results were used to benchmark a thermal simulation model of the tested RA. The validated thermal simulation model predicted the average air temperature inside the RA at the end of 96 h to within 0.6 °C (1.1 °F) of the measured average air temperature.
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June 2017
Research-Article
Temperature Rise Within a Mobile Refuge Alternative—Experimental Investigation and Model Validation
Lincan Yan,
Lincan Yan
The National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health (NIOSH),
626 Cochrans Mill Road,
Pittsburgh, PA 15236
e-mail: LYan1@cdc.gov
Safety and Health (NIOSH),
626 Cochrans Mill Road,
Pittsburgh, PA 15236
e-mail: LYan1@cdc.gov
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David Yantek,
David Yantek
The National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health (NIOSH),
626 Cochrans Mill Road,
Pittsburgh, PA 15236
e-mail: DYantek@cdc.gov
Safety and Health (NIOSH),
626 Cochrans Mill Road,
Pittsburgh, PA 15236
e-mail: DYantek@cdc.gov
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Peter Bissert,
Peter Bissert
The National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health (NIOSH),
626 Cochrans Mill Road,
Pittsburgh, PA 15236
e-mail: PBissert@cdc.gov
Safety and Health (NIOSH),
626 Cochrans Mill Road,
Pittsburgh, PA 15236
e-mail: PBissert@cdc.gov
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Rudy Matetic
Rudy Matetic
The National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health (NIOSH),
626 Cochrans Mill Road,
Pittsburgh, PA 15236
e-mail: RMatetic@cdc.gov
Safety and Health (NIOSH),
626 Cochrans Mill Road,
Pittsburgh, PA 15236
e-mail: RMatetic@cdc.gov
Search for other works by this author on:
Lincan Yan
The National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health (NIOSH),
626 Cochrans Mill Road,
Pittsburgh, PA 15236
e-mail: LYan1@cdc.gov
Safety and Health (NIOSH),
626 Cochrans Mill Road,
Pittsburgh, PA 15236
e-mail: LYan1@cdc.gov
David Yantek
The National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health (NIOSH),
626 Cochrans Mill Road,
Pittsburgh, PA 15236
e-mail: DYantek@cdc.gov
Safety and Health (NIOSH),
626 Cochrans Mill Road,
Pittsburgh, PA 15236
e-mail: DYantek@cdc.gov
Mark Klein
Peter Bissert
The National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health (NIOSH),
626 Cochrans Mill Road,
Pittsburgh, PA 15236
e-mail: PBissert@cdc.gov
Safety and Health (NIOSH),
626 Cochrans Mill Road,
Pittsburgh, PA 15236
e-mail: PBissert@cdc.gov
Rudy Matetic
The National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health (NIOSH),
626 Cochrans Mill Road,
Pittsburgh, PA 15236
e-mail: RMatetic@cdc.gov
Safety and Health (NIOSH),
626 Cochrans Mill Road,
Pittsburgh, PA 15236
e-mail: RMatetic@cdc.gov
1Corresponding author.
Contributed by the Heat Transfer Division of ASME for publication in the JOURNAL OF THERMAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS. Manuscript received January 8, 2016; final manuscript received October 3, 2016; published online December 21, 2016. Assoc. Editor: Samuel Sami.This work is in part a work of the U.S. Government. ASME disclaims all interest in the U.S. Government's contributions.
J. Thermal Sci. Eng. Appl. Jun 2017, 9(2): 021003 (7 pages)
Published Online: December 21, 2016
Article history
Received:
January 8, 2016
Revised:
October 3, 2016
Citation
Yan, L., Yantek, D., Klein, M., Bissert, P., and Matetic, R. (December 21, 2016). "Temperature Rise Within a Mobile Refuge Alternative—Experimental Investigation and Model Validation." ASME. J. Thermal Sci. Eng. Appl. June 2017; 9(2): 021003. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4034963
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