Mine

Gases
Rini Novrianti Sutardjo Tui

Occurrence of Mine Gases

Blasting
Using diesel
engines

Drilling

Mining coal
Oxidation

Underground
explosion and fires

Composition of Fresh Air

Fresh air is assumed to always contain 0.03% carbon

dioxide and also always contain moisture.

Element

% volume

% weight

Nitrogen (N2)

78.09%

75.53%

Oxygen (O2)

20.95%

23.14%

Carbon dioxide (CO2)

0.03%

0.046%

Argon (Ar), dll

0.93%

1.284%

Oxygen content in mining is always kept at safe level, which is

between 19.5% to 23.5% volume.

Need of Fresh Air

Oxygen
consumption
(lt/min)

Energy expenditure
(kal/min)

Heart rate during

work (beats/min)

Light

0.5 1.0

2.5 5.0

60 100

Moderate

1.0 1.5

5.0 7.5

100 125

Heavy

1.5 2.0

7.5 10.0

125 150

Very Heavy

2.0 2.5

10.0 12.5

150 175
Dr. Lucien Brouha

Respiratory rate
per min

Inhaled air
in3/min
(10-4 m3/sec)

Consumed oxygen
cfm (10-5 m3/sec)

Respiratory
Quotient

Relaxed

12 18

300 800
(0.82 2.18)

0.01 (0.47)

0.75

Moderate work

30

2800 3600
(7.64 9.83)

0.07 (3.29)

0.90

Heavy work

40

6000 (16.4)

0.10 (4.70)

1.00

Amount of Air Needed for Respiratory

Minimum Need of O2,

19.5%

Maximum Content of
CO2, 0.05%

In respiratory, the amount of oxigen

will decrease 0.1 cfm; therefore, the
equation for the quantity of oxygen is:

If the grade of respiratory is 1.0; then,

the quantity of CO2pada in respirating
will increase 1.0 x 0.1 = 0.1 cfm.

0.21Q 0.1 = 0.195Q

0.0003Q + 0.1 = 0.0005Q

0.1
6.7cfm 3.2 10 3 m3 sec
0.21 0.195

0.1
21.3cfm 0.01m3 sec
0.0005 0.0003

Effects of Lack of Oxygen

O2 Content in the Air

Effect

17%

Increasing respiratory rate

15%

Dizzy, sounds of ringing in ears, faster heart beat

13%

Losing consciousness

9%

Pale and unconscious

7%

Jeopardizing life

6%

Spasm and death

Toxic Hazards

Asphyxiant
Gases

Irritant
Gases

Poisonous
Gases

There two types:

simple and chemical.
Simple asphyxiant
excludes oxygen from
the lung (carbon
dioxide and
methane). Chemical
ashyxiant deprives
the oxygen-carrying
capacity (carbon
monoxide).

These gases induce

inflammation in
tissues such as the
skin, etc when
come into contact
(nitric oxide,
nitrogen dioxide,
partially oxidized
hydrocarbons)

These gases
destroy the
tissues with
which they come
into contact
(nitric oxide,
hydrogen
sulphide, sulphur
dioxide).

Mine Gases
Name

Symbol

Sp.
Gravity
(air = 1)

Oxygen

O2

1.1056

Nitrogen

N2

0.9673

Carbon
dioxide

CO2

1.5291

Methane

CH4

0.5545

Carbon
monoxide

CO

0.9672

Odourless,
colourless,
tasteless

Asphyxiating,
explosive

Blasting, fire,
incomplete
combustion

0.005

12,5-74

Irritant,
poisonous,
explosive

Strata water,
blasting

0.001

4-44

0.0005

Physical
Properties
Odourless,
colourless,
tasteless
Odourless,
colourless,
tasteless
Odourless,
colourless, slight
acid taste
Odourless,
colourless,
tasteless

Harmful
Effects

Main Source

Non toxic

Normal air

Asphyxiating

Normal air, strata

Asphyxiating
Asphyxiating,
explosive

Breathing, fire,
combustion,
explosion
Blasting, diesel
engine, organic
decay

Hydrogen
Sulphide

H2S

1.1912

Rotten egg
odour,
colourless, acid
taste

Sulphur
dioxide

SO2

2.2636

Irritating odour,
colourless, acid
taste

Irritant,
poisonous

Diesel engine,
combustion of
sulphide ore

Nitrogen
oxide

NO, NO2,
N2O

1.5895

Distinct smell,
reddish brown
colour, bitter
taste

Irritant,
poisonous

Blasting, diesel
engine,
incomplete
combustion

TLV TWA
(%)

TLV-C
(%)

Fatal
Point
(%)

0.5

5-15

0,0005

Prevention of Exposure

Exposure of
persons to
mine gases

Removal
of gases

Dilution
of gases

Prevention
of
formation
of gases

Prevention
of
exposure
of persons

Carbon Monoxide

Poisonous even in low concentration, and

accumulative in blood

Explosive when its content in

the air reaches 12.5% - 74%

Carbon dioxide

Increasing quantity of CO2, is caused by:

Gas from coal seam, mine fire, blasting, engine emission, coal
oxidation, acid water reaction to carbonate rocks.

Effects of over-quantity of CO2:

0.5%, increasing respiratory

3.0%, respiratory rate becomes 2x normal condition
5.0%, respiratory rate becomes 3x normal condition
10.0%, humans can only last several minutes

Control of Gases from Blasting

It was indicated that the fumes extend to a distance
of about 20 m from the face (Szechy, 1976).
Cross
sectional
area of
tunnel

Volume flow
rate of
fresh air
required,
m3/s

20 AN
t

Number
of times
air is to be
exchanged

Time within
which the
fumes
should be
diluted

For rapid diffusion, air velocity in the tunnel is within range 0.7 1.0 m/s

Control of Exhaust Emission

Principal Pollutants

Concentration

Carbon dioxide

100,000 ppm

Carbon monoxide

2,000 ppm

Nitric oxide

900 ppm

Nitrogen dioxide

100 ppm

Sulphur dioxide

215 ppm

Concentration
of gas, ppm

Volume flow
rate of
fresh air
required,
m3/s per kW

Exhaust
quantity,
m3/kW

ce q
cTLV ca
TLV of gas, ppm

Ambient
concentration
of gas in normal
air, ppm

The ambient
concentration of
carbon dioxide and
carbon monoxide
are 2,000 ppm and
10 ppm