Mine Ventilation [MN 333] (5th Semester)

Question: How is air sampling carried out in mines? Explain the procedure of analysis of air
quality by Orsat and Haldane apparatus.
Answer: Composition of pure, dry air:

Gas %Volume %Weight

Oxygen 20.93 23.02
Nitrogen 78.10 75.5
Carbon Dioxide 0.03 0.04
Air(other inert gases) 0.94 1.44

Addition of moisture or any other gases causes instability.

Mine air on the other hand, invariably contains impurities. Even in the least contaminated state
mine air contains more carbon dioxide than ordinary atmospheric air. Impurities in mine air
can be classified as:
A. Non-toxic but explosives like Methane (CH4), acetylene (C2H2), hydrogen (H2) and
higher hydrocarbons.
B. Toxic gases like carbon dioxide (CO2), radon and its daughter product.
C. Acutely poisonous gases like carbon monoxide (CO), nitrous fumes, sulphur dioxide
(SO2), sulphureted hydrogen (H2S).
Therefore, sampling of air is very important to be carried in mines.
Examples of gases found in mines with their specific gravity and where it can be found in mine:

Gases Specific Gravity Found at

Methane 0.559 Roof
Carbon Dioxide 1.529 Floor to mid drift
Hydrogen 0.0695 Against back or roof
Oxygen 1.105 Evenly distributed
Sulphur Dioxide 2.264 Floor

There are various methods through which air sampling can be carried out in mines.
1. Detection of CO% by MSA CO Detector:
Carbon Monoxide is colourless, tasteless, non-irritating, slightly lighter than air (sp.gr. =
0.972). No sensory warning of its presence until actual disablement occurs and escape becomes
difficult, or impossible. If CO is present in the lungs, also enters the blood, forming carboxy
haemoglobin. A stable compound and its presence reduces the oxygen carrying capacity of the
blood.
MSA CO detector works on the principle of Colorimetry.
Aspirator allows the user to use a variable number of squeezes (1, 2 or 5),
thereby enabling detection of CO concentration by the by colorimetric
process. The Aspirator Bulb draws an air quantity of 60cc / squeeze.

CO Detecting Tube Yellow Silica gel impregnated with palladium

sulphate and Ammonium molybdate sealed at the both ends.

Test Procedure:
Remove one indicating tube from box and break off both tips
Insert unfilled end of tube into rubber bushing.
Mount the tube-holder on to the other end of the tube.
Face mounted tube into atmosphere to be tested.
Take sample volume. (1 squeeze, or 2 squeezes or 5 squeezes)
Wait a minimum of 35 seconds after each squeeze for the evacuated bulb to fill.

About one-half minutes after sampling is completed, match colour of indicating gel in tube
with colour comparing scale and select the closest matching colour.
Read concentration for number of squeezes used.

CO in air reacts with ammonium palladium complex producing oxides, predominantly that of
molybdenum. The yellow colour changes to shades of green depending on CO concentration.
2. Determination of percentage of CO and CO2 by Drager Multi gas Detector.

When the Bellow Pump is compressed the air in it escape through the
Outlet Valve and not through the Tube, since the tube has a much
higher resistance then the Outlet Valve.
The pump suction operation commences when the fingers are relaxed.

The Compression Springs inside the bellows which are place under
stress when the bellows is compressed, extend and Outlet Valve is
closed through the vacuum created in the bellows.

The air flows through the Drager Tube into the bellows while the
latter returns to the original volume. The end of the suction movement
is reached when the limit chain is completely taut.
Range of Measurement:
With n= 1 stroke, 0.01 to 0.3% by volume of CO.
With n= 10 strokes, 0.001 to 0.03% by volume of CO.
With n= 5 strokes, up-to 0.06% by volume of CO.
And the evalution is made on 10-stroke scale, multiplying the numerical value with the factor2,
this results in % by volume of CO.
Drager CO2 Detector Tube:

A pre cleansing layer and a white indicating layer of the chemical i.e. Hydrazine (NH2NH2) ,
which changes colour to bluish-violate due to reaction with CO2.
Measuring Ranges:
With n= 10 strokes, 0.01 to 0.3% by volume of CO2.

3. Determining the concentration of combustible gases like oxygen, carbon monoxide,

carbon dioxide and H2S by MSA Multi gas detector.

MSA multi gas detector is a very fast and accurate apparatus for determing various gases. It
has many features which include

a. Large buttons and bright display and easy operations while wearing gloves.
b. If a user becomes disabled due to unforeseen hazards, the motion alert sensor will
activate after 30 seconds i.e. mandown condition.
c. It has an instant alert feature which enable users to manually alert others of a dangerous
situation with the push of the button.
d. It has a sensor which has a good life of about 1.5 years.

Low Alarm High Alarm

Gas Measure upto
Concentration Concentration
Oxygen 16.5% 22% 25%
Carbon Monoxide 22ppm 100ppm 0-1000ppm
Carbon Dioxide 0.5% 10% 50% by volume
Combustible Gas 10% 30% 100%
Hydrogen Sulphide 10ppm 15ppm 0-200ppm

4. Determination of methane percentage by MSA D-6 Methanometer.

MSA D-6 Methanometer is a hand held instrument. It weights around 0.47kg. This makes it
suitable for taking spot concentrations of methane in the range of 0-5%. It works on the
principle of wheatstone bridge.

The sample of mine air collected is analyzed mainly for oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen,
carbon monoxide and methane. This analysis can be done mainly by two ways
1. Chemical analysis
2. Physical analysis
Chemical Analysis:
It can be done by using one of the following apparatus
Orsat apparatus

It is most commonly used apparatus for chemical analysis. It is used if the sample is more in
quantity and rough estimate and routine analysis is required.
Haldane apparatus

Apparatus is almost similar to the Orsat apparatus. It is more accurate apparatus for analyzing
mine air compared to the Orsat apparatus. It is used for smaller samples (lesser quantity). It
comes in two sizes;
1. Large laboratory type (capacity of burette, 20 cm3)

2. Portable type (capacity of burette, 10

cm3)

Fig shown – An adaptation of

Haldane’s gas analysis apparatus.
For analysing a sample for CO2 and
oxygen the procedure, in brief,
is as follows. At regular intervals, the
respiration chamber is removed from
the water bath and place in a position
shown in figure. No connection is made
with the manometer and orifice (O) is
kept away from side tube. The air in the
apparatus is first freed from carbon
dioxide and oxygen in order that all the
capillaries may be filled with nitrogen.

After the potash levels have been set, a

sample of respired air is withdrawn
from the chamber (R) into the burette,
two or three samples are usually
rejected with a view to washing
connections with the expired air.
Question: G. B. Mishra, Mine Climate, Problem 12
References :
G.B.Mishra, Mine Air Chapter 1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_dioxide
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmosphere_of_Earth
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1967031/?page=1
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1469-8137.1936.tb06892.x/pdf
MINE VENTILATION

Submitted by:
Neelabh Abhishek
112MN0424