Scientists at the Perm National Research Polytechnic University (PNIPU) have developed an approach to prevent heat accumulation inside mines. The method is designed to protect the health of miners from heat stress and increase mining safety, the press service of the scientific institution told socialbites.ca.
“In accordance with the safety regulations, the air temperature in the work areas should not exceed 26°C. It is also important to pay attention to the miner’s body’s ability to maintain normal thermoregulation.
The efficiency of heat removal depends on the relative humidity of the air in addition to the ambient temperature. Exposure to adverse environmental conditions leads to the accumulation of heat load on the body and worsening of the person’s condition,” said Artem Zaitsev, professor of the Department of Mineral Deposits Development of PNIPU.
Experts from Perm Polytechnic developed a heat transfer model taking into account the thermal inertia that occurs during switching on and cooling of equipment.
The simulation results confirmed the relationship established during the measurements: the drop in air temperature after the equipment is turned off does not occur instantly.
It is high at the beginning of the repair shift, but decreases over time as the heat source gradually cools. When the equipment is turned on after a repair shift, the temperature increases again and then takes a constant value.
According to the researchers, the new approach can be used to assess the heat stress level of workers on coal surfaces and to predict heat stress in future work areas. This will normalize the microclimate in mines and mines.
Russian scientists before to create A way to prevent buildings from collapsing due to ground melting in cold climates.