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 MINE AIR
Composition of Atmospheric Air:
Component % by Vol. % by Wt.
Oxygen 20.95 23.15
Carbon dioxide 0.03 0.046
Nitrogen 78.09 75.52
Argon & other inert gases 0.93 1.284

Impurities in mine air:

Non Toxic but Explosive: CH4, C2H2, H2 and Higher Hydrocarbons
Toxic Gases: CO2, Radon and its daughter products
Acutely Poisonous: CO, NO2, SO2, H2S, Arsene / Phosphene
Water Vapour, Hydrocarbons (Fuels & Lubricants) Metals Hg, Pb
Suspended fine liquid droplets /mist of fine oil droplets from drills...
Solid Impurities: Dust. Smoke and Organisms.

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 MINE AIR

Composition of Atmospheric Air:

Component % by Vol.
Oxygen 20.95
Carbon dioxide 0.03
Nitrogen 78.09
Methane 0.46
.

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 Oxygen
Properties: Molecular mass : 32
Specific Gravity : 1.105
Solubility : 3 vol. in 100 at 293 K
Colourless, Odourless, and Tasteless
Supports Life and Combustion
Deficiency is mainly due to:
– Oxidation of Combustible Substance
– Addition of large quantity of gases
– Consumption by man and equipments
Physiological effects: Reaction with haemoglobin
No Serious effect if it is small
17% Breathing faster 15% Dizziness, ear buzzing
13% Unconsciousness 10% Unconsciousness 0.5 Hr
7% Heavy panting and palpitation
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Oxygen

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 Nitrogen

Properties:
Colourless, Odourless, Tasteless
Specific Gravity: 0.967
Solubility: Practically insoluble
Combustion: Neither burns nor supports
Reactivity: Inert gas
Importance: Growth of plant and animal tissues
Critical temperature: -146°C
Critical Pressure: 35 atmospheric pressure
Sources:
• Decomposition of organic substances
• Blasting with explosives
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 Nitrogen

Physiological effect:
No harmful effect on human system except

• Blood & tissues of the body begin to absorb N2 when

a man works at higher pressure.
• Releasing high pressure abruptly N2 will be given p by
the body quickly.
• This results in painful and dangerous condition.

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 CARBON DI OXIDE
Properties:
Molecular Mass: 44
Specific Gravity: 1.529
Solubility: Water absorbs 0.88 times its own
volume of CO2 at 239K (H2CO3)
Doesn't support life and combustion

Physiological Effect:

• Mild toxic physiological effect. Causes irritation of the mucous

membrane of the eyes, mouth, nose
• Concentration > 5-10% - Sensation of burning
• 2% - Depth of breathing increases by 50%
• 3% - Depth of breathing increases by 300%
• 6% - Panting
• 10% Narcotic effect – headache, dizziness and sweating
• 11% Unconsciousness followed by death (exposure – few

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CARBON DI OXIDE

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 CARBON DI OXIDE

Sources:
– Exhalation of man (0.05 – 0.06 cu. M. per hour)
– Burning of lights (Flame Safety Lamp – 0.01 cu. M. per
hour)
– exhaust of Internal Combustion Engines (0.08 cu. M.
per hour per KW)
– Decay of timber
– Oxidation of coal
– Blasting of explosives (0.25 cu. M. per kg of gelatine
dynamite)
– Mine fires, explosions
– Liberated from Strata (Acidic water on lime stone) etc...

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 CARBON MONO OXIDE
Properties:
Colourless, Odourless, Tasteless and Non-irritating
Molecular mass : 28
Speific Gravity : 0.967
Solubility : hardly soluble in water
Burning in air : Light blue flame to CO2
Combustion : Combustible but doesn’t Support
Mixing with air : Explosive mixture within limits of
nearly 12% and 75% by volume
Critical temperature : -140°C
Critical Pressure : 35 Atmosphere

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 CARBON MONO OXIDE
Sources:
• Oxidation of coal and other carbonaceous matter:
Incomplete oxidation
• Explosives:
Imperfect chemical reaction due to
lack of O2
• Spontaneous Combustion:
Heating of Coal and active fires
• Methane or Coal dust explosion:
Gases produced by the explosion
• Underground Machinery:
Air Compressor, Internal
combustion Engines, mainly due to
improper lubrication
• Liberation from Coal seam:
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 CARBON MONO OXIDE

Physiological Effects:
• Poisonous gas
• Affinity to blood is 250 times that of oxygen
• Forms Carboxyhaemoglobin
• Particularly brain tissues get damaged
• Blood cells also get damaged after long exposure
• Patients suffer from headache, nausea, overstraining of
heart, mental disorder, loss of memory, paralysis, temporary
blindness etc. leading to unconsciousness
• Provides pink tinge to blood, so patient looks fresh & flushed
Remedy: Quickly remove the patient to fresh air and
administer pure oxygen.
Keep patient warm.
Provide stimulant like black coffee
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CARBON MONO OXIDE

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 CARBON MONO OXIDE
Detection:
– Using birds (Muniah & Canaries)
– Based on Chemical reactions:
» Silico-molybdates (Turning blue)
» Potassium Palladium Sulphite (Yellow to purple)
» Hoolamite: Mixture of iodene penta oxide and
Sulphuric Acid (Shades of Green)
» Drager multi gas detector (On the spot
determination of gas %
» MSA CO detector
» Thermal CO analyzer: measurement of heat released
during the oxidation of CO to CO2 by Hopcolite (Mixture of
MnO2 and Cuo)
» Electro-Chemical Cells: Measurement of electric current
» MOS detector: Metal Oxide Semi Conductor
»Portable Infra red CO Detector: Spectrometers
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CARBON MONO OXIDE

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 Hydrogen Sulphide/Sulphuretted Hydrogrn

Properties: (Also Known as Stinkdamp) Molecular Mass: 34

Poisonous, Colourless, Sweetish taste
Smell: Rotten Eggs
Sp. Gravity: 1.175
Solubility: Readily Soluble in water
Combustion: Combustible but doesn’t support it
Forms explosive mixture when mixed with air
Sources:
• Stagnant water in old workings
• Spontaneous heating of coal
• Decay of organic matter
• Action of acidic water on pyrites
• Emission from strata
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 Hydrogen Sulphide

Physiological effects:

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 Methane
Properties: Product of decay of Cellulose, Marsh gas
Colurless and Odourless
Sp. Gravity: 0.559
Solubility: Slightly (100 to 3.3)
Burning: Burns with Blue Flame
CH4 + 2O2 = CO2 + 2H2O (End Equation) (Lag on Ignition)
General Equation:
CH4 + 2(O2 + 4N2) = CO2 + 2H2O + 8N2

Explosive mixture: 1/11th or 9.5%

On complete combustion
1 Kg Methane = 55685 kJ of heat
1 Kg of Gunpowder = 2428 kJ
1 Kg of Nitroglycerine = 6280 kJ

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 Methane
In Coal Mines Methane may find its way in the workings as:
» Gradual Exudation or Bleeding
» Blower
» Gas Outbursts
» Release by Roof Fall
» Sudden Fall of Barometric Pressure

Factors Affecting gas Emission:

• Nature of Coal Seam and adjacent Stata
• Method of Mining & CCM Type
• Speed of Advance
• Ventilation Arrangement and Efficiency

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Methane (Coward Diagram)

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 METHANE DETECTION

• Flame Safety Lamp

• Ring Rose Fire Damp Detector
• Methanometers

• Change in Resistance

• Change in thermal conductivity

• Difference in refractive indices

• Absorption of infra red rays

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METHANE DETECTION

• Diffusion, Combustion and

Contraction
• P: Porous pot
• F: Filament
• W: Main Lamp R: Red Lamp
• D: Aneroid Diaphragm
• C: Contacts
• B: Coil
• A: Contactor
• S: Switch

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 METHANE DETECTION

• Principle: Wheat Stone Bridge

• Detector Filament: Activated Pt
embedded in pellet of alumina
coated with finely divided
Palladium catalyst.
• It lowers the oxidation temp of
Ch4 to 623K to avoid
evaporation of Pt at low temp.
• Compensating: Deactivated Pt
In a solution of potassium
dichromate. It prevents
oxidation of ch4 below 1173K
• Inaccuracy: Physical
deterioration of Pt filament
• Two scales: 2% and 5%

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 METHANE DETECTION

• Principle: Thermal Conductivity

• a: battery
• b: Altimeter
• c: null adjuster
• d: Indicating meter
• e: Voltage Regulator
• f: Compensating Chamber
• g: Test Chamber (Al)

Absorbents for CO2

Temp 343 K

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 METHANE DETECTION
• Principle: Refractive index of
Methane is higher than air.
• Range: 0.05 to 6.0%
• S: Light Source
• F: Collimating Lens
• G: Glass slab
• B: Measurement Cell
• A: Comparison Cell
• P: Glass Prism
• R: Reflecting prism
• T: Telescope
• M: Graduated Disk
Essentials:
Use suitable Absorbents.
Temp and Pressure in both the
cells must be equal.

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METHANE DETECTION

• Principle: Absorption of infra

red rays by methane.

• Higher the methane content in

C2, Weaker is the infra red
radiation received in R2

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 Damps

• Fire Damp: Impure hydrocarbon, Chiefly Methane

and varying % of N2, CO2, H2S and O2

• Black Damp: Chokedamp/Stythe

Mechanical mixture of N2, and CO2

• White Damp: Chemical combination of C and O2

Carbon Mono Oxide

• Stink Damp: Chemical combination of H2 and S

Sulphuretted Hydrogen H2S

• After Damp: Mechanical mixture of gases found in a mine after

explosion e.g. N2, CO2, CO, H2, Fire Damp, O2 and
other inflammable gases like ethane, ethylene etc.

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Q. 1 The following is an analysis of a sample of mine air:
Oxygen: 19.82 Nitrogen 79.04 Carbon di Oxide 0.33
Carbon Mo Oxi 0.01 Methane 0.80 Total 100.00
Arrange the analysis of the constituent damps.

The composition of mine air, by volume, is O2: 20.93%, N2: 79.04% and
CO2: 0.03%

The amount of N2 corresponding to 19.82% of O2 to give correct air

composition is
19.82/20.93 X 79.04 = 74.85%

The amount of CO2 corresponding to 19.82% of O2 to give correct air

composition is
19.82/20.93 X 0.03 = 0.0284%

% of air present in given sample is the sum of O2 19.82%, N2 74.85% and

CO2 0.0284% = 94.6984%
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Q. 1 The following is an analysis of a sample of mine air:
Oxygen: 19.82 Nitrogen 79.04 Carbon di Oxide 0.33
Carbon Mo Oxi 0.01 Methane 0.80 Total 100.00
Arrange the analysis of the constituent damps.

Black damp: Mixture of Nitrogen and Carbon di Oxide

(79.04 – 74.85) + (0.33 – 0.0284)

= 4.19 + 0.3016
= 4.4912

Fire Damp: Basically it is Methane, hence 0.8%

White Damp: basically it is Carbon Mono Oxide, hence 0.01%

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Q. 2. What are the ingradients of normal air if the analysis of the mine air
is as follows:
Oxygen: 19.5% Nitrogen: 78.5%
Carbon di Oxide; 0.5% Methane: 1.5%

Composition of Pure, Dry Atmospheric Air:

Component % by Vol. % by Wt.
Oxygen 20.95 23.15
Carbon dioxide 0.03 0.046
Nitrogen 79.04 75.52
Argon & other inert gases 0.93 1.284

Analysis of mine air:

Oxygen: 19.5% Nitrogen: 78.5%
Carbon di Oxide; 0.5% Methane: 1.5%

In Normal air ratio of Nitrogen to Oxygen = 79.04/20.93 = 3.776

And the ratio of Carbon di Oxide to Oxygen = 0.03/20.93 = 1/698

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Thus, in the sample given, the fresh air equivalent of the oxygen present
has the following composition:

Oxygen : 19.500%
Nitrogen 19.5 x 3.776 : 73.632%
CO2 19.5/698 : 0.028%
Total air : 93.160%

Hence the excess nitrogen : 78.5 – 73.632 = 4.868%

And the excess CO2 = 0.5 – 0.028 = 0.472%
Total Black Damp = 5.340%

The sample contains 93.160% of ordinary air, 1.5% of methane and

5.34% of black damp making a total of 100%

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Q. 2. What are the ingradients of normal air if the analysis of the mine air
is as follows:
Oxygen: 19.5% Nitrogen: 78.5%
Carbon di Oxide; 0.5% Methane: 1.5%

The % composition of blackdamp is

N2 = 4.868/5.34X100 = 91.161 %
CO2 = 0.472/5.34 X 100 = 8.839 %
-----------------
Total = 100.000 %

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Q. 3. The analysis of air from old workings is reported as follows:
Oxygen: 16.52% Nitrogen: 77.93%
Carbon di Oxide: 3.1% Methane: 2.45%
Find the percentage of air and black damp I the sample as well as the
composition of blackdamp
Taking air to contain 20.95% O2, 0.03% CO2 and 79.04% N2
we have in the sample:
16.52/20.95 X 100 = 78.85 % of O2 in the air
16.52/20.95 X 79.04 = 62.31% of N2 in the air
and 16.52/20.95 X 0.03 = 0.02 % of CO2 in the air

Excess N2 = 77.93 – 62.31 = 15.62 %

Excess CO2 = 3.1 – 0.02 = 3.08%

Blackdamp = 15.62+3.08 = 18.70%

Composition of blackdamp:
N2 = 15.62/18.70 X 100 = 83.53%
CO2 = 3.08/18.70 X 100 = 16.47%

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