Temperature Rise Within a Mobile Refuge Alternative-Experimental Investigation and Model Validation

Area of Science:

• Occupational Safety and Health
• Mine Safety Engineering
• Environmental Control in Enclosed Spaces

Background:

• Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) mandates refuge alternatives (RAs) for underground coal mines.
• RAs must sustain breathable air for 96 hours during emergencies.
• Occupied RAs risk dangerous heat and humidity buildup from metabolic and equipment heat.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate thermal environment changes within an occupied refuge alternative.
• To quantify heat and humidity buildup over a 96-hour period.
• To develop and validate a thermal simulation model for RAs.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a 96-hour test on a ten-person, tent-type RA in an isolated area of NIOSH's Safety Research Coal Mine.
• Monitored internal temperature and relative humidity.
• Used test data to benchmark and validate a thermal simulation model.

Main Results:

• Average internal air temperature increased by 11.4°C (20.5°F).
• Relative humidity within the RA approached 90%.
• Validated thermal model accurately predicted temperature within 0.6°C (1.1°F) of measured values.

Conclusions:

• Unoccupied RAs experience significant heat and humidity increases, posing heat stress risks to miners.
• Accurate thermal simulation models are crucial for predicting and mitigating adverse conditions in RAs.
• Further research is needed to develop effective thermal management strategies for refuge alternatives.