Multidisciplinary design and flight testing of a remote gas/particle airborne sensor system

The main objective of this paper is to describe the development of a remote sensing airborne air sampling system for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and provide the capability for the detection of particle and gas concentrations in real time over remote locations. The design of the air sampling methodology started by defining system architecture, and then by selecting and integrating each subsystem. A multifunctional air sampling instrument, with capability for simultaneous measurement of particle and gas concentrations was modified and integrated with ARCAA’s Flamingo UAS platform and communications protocols. As result of the integration process, a system capable of both real time geo-location monitoring and indexed-link sampling was obtained. Wind tunnel tests were conducted in order to evaluate the performance of the air sampling instrument in controlled nonstationary conditions at the typical operational velocities of the UAS platform. Once the remote fully operative air sampling system was obtained, the problem of mission design was analyzed through the simulation of different scenarios. Furthermore, flight tests of the complete air sampling system were then conducted to check the dynamic characteristics of the UAS with the air sampling system and to prove its capability to perform an air sampling mission following a specific flight path

Real Time Gas Monitoring System Using Wireless Sensor Network

Miner’s safety is the main issue in the present era. Miner’s health is affected by many means which includes unstable and cumbersome underground activities and awkward loads, heavy tools and equipment, exposure to toxic dust and chemicals, gas or dust explosions, improper use of explosives, gas intoxications, collapsing of mine structures, electrical burn, fires, flooding, rock falls from roofs and side walls workers stumbling/slipping/falling, or errors from malfunctioning or improperly used mining equipment. In earlier days for detection of gases canary and small animals are used but they didn’t provide the exact condition of the mines so safety in the mine in not guaranteed. Hence, there is a need of monitoring system which utilised the ZigBee wireless sensor network technology. There are two units of the monitoring system Sensor unit and Monitoring unit. Sensor unit will be placed in the underground section and Monitoring unit will be placed in the above the mines from where monitoring is done. Firstly, the Sensor unit is placed in the underground section of the mine. Where input is taken from the sensors in terms of Methane (CH4) i.e. MQ-2 sensor, Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) i.e. MQ-136 sensor, and Natural Gases i.e. MQ-5 sensor. Then they are compared with their threshold value by the Microcontroller Module and if the value is above the threshold value, the Buzzer starts ringing meanwhile data is displayed in the Display module and sent to the Wireless Communication Module of the Monitor unit i.e. ends device or coordinator through the Wireless Communication Module of the Sensor unit i.e. router. In this way, the study can help the miners get relief from any casualty and ultimately save their lives. The device encompasses a large range of networking. The data can also be stored for future investigation. The device is also durable and costs effective with a price of approx. Rs. 6,500 to 7,000/-

Wearable Real Time Health and Security Monitoring Scheme for Coal mine Workers

This paper deals with implementing a supervision system for coal mine and underground workers, which is essential to avoid the workers illness and death. The proposed recovery system consists of all primary aspects of the coal mine and underground areas. This system incorporates a sensor array, GSM, RF and controller modules. ARM 7 (LPC2148) Microcontroller is fully automated measuring system. ARM7 processor is used for measuring the environment parameters with high reliability and accuracy and smooth control by using sensor networks. Consequently, advance detecting crucial conditions the microcontroller starts alerting the mine workers by the alarm system and sends the alert messages to fire and ambulance services by using GSM modem. In addition, the observed parameter's value will be displayed on a PC by using RF (CC2500) module, which is at the control station. At the hazardous situation, this system shows the shortest and available way out path for the workers to move away from the harmful environment. DOI: 10.17762/ijritcc2321-8169.15037

APPLICATION OF STATISTICAL PROCESS CONTROL THEORY IN COAL AND GAS OUTBURST PREVENTION

With Chinese coal exploitation extending to depth rapidly, a large number of coal and gas outburst accidents happened and resulted in thousands of casualties in the last decade. Coal and gas outburst prevention project has become the prerequisite of underground coal mining, but its process control ability is especially poor. By integrating statistical process control theory into the process of coal and gas outburst prevention, three urgent problems were solved. First at all, data structure of the process inspection parameters was designed asvectors, which only consisted of principle elements and formed data series as time went by. Secondly, based on sample data of the experimental area, statistical characteristic of inspection parameters was gained and their X-Rs control charts were drawn. Finally, performance of process running statuses that might be in control or beyond control were analyzed in detail. When the process was in control, curves should slightly fluctuate around their center lines and between upper control limits and lower control limits. Otherwise, the process was beyond control, in which X control charts were used to identify anomalies of data value fluctuation and Rs control charts were used to identify anomalies of data fluctuation amplitudes. By the experimental application in Hexi colliery of China, the interdisciplinary research was proved to be helpful to improve process control ability and then prevent coal and gas outburst accidents

Development and utilisation of fibre optic-based monitoring systems for underground coal mines

The continuous economic growth and depleting shallow reserves have increased the number of deeper mining operations worldwide which has made safety and productivity more challenging due to the higher stresses, heat and increased gas contents. Any major improvements in safety and productivity require a reliable and real-time monitoring system that provides more comprehensive information about various processes. The current monitoring systems suffer from lack of reliability, accuracy and high capital and operating costs. Recent advancements in fibre-optic based sensing technology have introduced unique solutions for various underground coal mine applications such as health and safety, geotechnical, ventilation, borehole, mine environment and condition monitoring. This paper presents recent research, development and utilisation of this technology by a group of researchers at the University of Queensland (UQ) and CRCMining in Australia and Shandong Academy of Science in China

Master of Science

thesisA booster fan is an underground ventilation device installed in series with a main surface fan and is used to boost the pressure of air of the current passing through it. Currently, federal regulations in the U.S. do not permit the use of booster fans in underground bituminous and lignite coal mines. Considering that a booster fan is an active device with moving parts, it is imperative to install it with an efficient and reliable monitoring and control system. The important aspects of booster fans and monitoring systems that are discussed in this thesis are environmental monitoring, condition monitoring, design and installation principles, guidelines for safe operation of booster fans, fan interlocking, and risk assessment. The environmental status of underground mining operations with large booster fans is critical to the health and safety of the miners. Mining operations, especially in large deep coal mines, rely greatly upon the monitoring systems to create safe and healthy work conditions by monitoring carbon monoxide, methane, carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen oxides, and smoke. Condition monitoring is the process of measuring the fan operating factors to evaluate and predict the health of mining machinery. In coal mine ventilation, condition monitoring includes the measurement and evaluation of the following factors: vibration, barometric pressure, noise, input power, motor and bearing temperatures, differential pressures, and air flow rate. The monitoring system network in a mine could become extremely complex if the monitors are not located at the right place. Recommendations are given for calculating the appropriate siting and spacing of monitors. Booster fans are assembled and installed to operate under harsh conditions; they are subject to wear and tear and malfunction. Installation principles are discussed in detail and recommendations are made for the safe operation of booster fans. Interlocking is one method of preventing the occurrence of unsafe conditions due to electrical or mechanical failures. It is described in detail, and the best practices used in other coal mining countries are summarized. To ensure the safe operation of booster fans and monitoring systems underground, a risk assessment was done, critical hazards were identified, and mitigation controls are outlined

Use of wireless, ad-hoc networks for proximity warning and collision avoidance in surface mines

Despite the record of progress achieved in the United States with respect to reducing fatal and non-fatal injuries in surface mines, both the number and severity of these injuries remain unacceptable. A large fraction of these injuries in surface mines are caused by collisions involving large haulage equipment such as trucks, dozers, and front-end loaders. There are two main contributing factors for these collisions: (i) the massive size of these vehicles, which causes several blind spots surrounding the vehicle for the driver, and (ii) the sheer momentum of these vehicles, which makes it hard to maneuver these vehicles and often necessitates a long response time to avoid collisions. The objective of this work is to investigate the use of different kinds of wireless networks in a distributed ad-hoc mode for providing timely warning about nearby personnel and vehicles, and to evaluate their performance using tests in an actual surface mine.;The contributions of this work are as follows: (i) A zone-based proximity warning system was developed and tested using low power IEEE 802.15.4 radios for detecting obstacles and vehicles at small distances (\u3c10m), with the information of the exact zone they are in, around the vehicle. (ii) For timely warning about approaching vehicles at relatively larger distances (10-100m), a GPS system was integrated with Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11a/b/p) radios in an ad-hoc mode, where information about approaching vehicles can be known as soon as they come into range. A communication range test was performed in an actual surface mine setting to characterize the distances at which the warnings can be reliably received using each of the IEEE 802.11 family of radios. Both the proximity warning system and the Wi-Fi-based collision avoidance system were evaluated for feasibility at an operating surface coal mine in the southern United States

Design and Implementation of Coal Mine Physiological Parameters Monitoring Protocol

Modernization in the industries also concerns with the safety of workers especially for underground mining?s. This paper mainly deals with surveillance and safety measures for mine workers, which is most essential in underground mining areas. Here, a concept of wireless sensors network is used to monitor the environment parameters of underground mine area and all sensed parameters are sent to host computer. Arduino Microcontroller is a heart of a system used to build a fully automated measuring system with reliability, high accuracy and smooth control. Upon detecting critical conditions, alert system starts and the same information is transmitted to remote location by ZigBee Communication. The observed changes in the parameters will also be displayed on the host computer at base station which makes it easier for the underground control center to monitor and to take necessary immediate action to avoid damages