7
We propose a widespread application of these respira-
tors in the mining industry where miners have been con-
clusively shown to have suffered from several forms of
pneumoconiosis.
As the first step to establishing their efficacy in an
underground mine environment, we developed CFD simu-
lations to demonstrate the flow field around a miner who
has donned a PAPR. A LiDAR scan was used to develop
the complicated geometry of the miner with a PAPR. The
LiDAR scan eliminated the need to approximate any geo-
metrical features. Through these numerical simulations, we
established the procedure to replicate different operating
conditions for a PAPR in a confined volume. Steady-state
simulations enabled us to visualize the airflow patterns
around the PAPR and regions of recirculation, and tran-
sient-state models enabled us to determine different param-
eters such as particulate positions and airflow velocity. We
showed that under low directional airflow in a confined
space, the PAPR can generate adequate airflow to capture
particulates. However, the models also demonstrate visu-
ally that airflow through the PAPR is not strong enough to
attract respirable particulates toward itself to capture them
on an active mining face as it is restricted by human breath-
ing and motor power.
This was the first approach that was taken to the mod-
eling of PAPRs in underground mining tunnels. The simu-
lations show the ability of the CFD models to accurately
predict conditions and help researchers understand the
conditions under which a PAPR’s use will be most efficient.
Future work includes the validation of results and running
longer simulations to predict the absolute amount of par-
ticles captured by the PAPR during its 8-hour battery life.
While running steady-state and transient cases, many of the
impacts of the airflow were understood. The position of the
inlet and outlets will be improved for the next steps. Some
adjustments will be made to the geometry to achieve even
more realistic conditions, and the flow parameters will also
be adjusted to replicate the conditions of a mine.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors thank the National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health for supporting the research ‘Review of
industrial practices and the use of compulsory PPE related to
miners in areas of high risk: Airstream helmet/ powered air
purifying respirator (PAPR) to minimize respirable dust expo-
sure’ through contract 75D30123C17277. We also thank
Drs. Sekhar Bhattacharyya, William Groves, and Raja V.
Ramani for their feedback.
REFERENCES
[1] Y. Shekarian, E. Rahimi, M. Rezaee, W.C. Su, and P.
Roghanchi, “Respirable coal mine dust: a review of
respiratory deposition, regulations, and characteriza-
tion,” Minerals, vol. 11, p. 696, 2021.
[2] J. Colinet, C. N. Halldin, and J. Schall, Best practices
for dust control in coal mining, 2021.
[3] A. R. Kumar and S. Schafrik, “Multiphase CFD
modeling and laboratory testing of a Vortecone for
mining and industrial dust scrubbing applications,”
Process Safety and Environmental Protection, vol.
144, pp. 330–336, 2020.
[4] A. R. Kumar, N. Gupta, and S. Schafrik, “CFD mod-
eling and laboratory studies of dust cleaning efficacy
of an efficient four-stage non-clogging impingement
filter for flooded-bed dust scrubbers,” International
Journal of Coal Science &Technology, vol. 9, no. 1,
p. 16, 2022.
[5] NIOSH, “Niosh-approved p100 particulate filtering
facepiece respirators,” 11 2024. [Online]. Available:
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/topics/ respirators/
disp part/p100list1.html.
[6] M. D. of Health, “Powered air purifying respirator
(PAPR),” 2022.
[7] V. Roberts, “To PAPR or not to PAPR?” Canadian
Journal of Respiratory Therapy: CJRT= Revue can-
adienne de la therapie respiratoire: RCTR, vol. 50,
p. 87, 2014.
[8] J. Schumacher, S. A. Gray, L. Weidelt, A. Brinker, K.
Prior, and W. M. Stratling, “Comparison of powered
and conventional air-purifying respirators during
simulated resuscitation of casualties contaminated
with hazardous substances,” Emergency medicine
journal, vol. 26, pp. 501–505, 2009.
[9] N. J. Bollinger, “NIOSH respirator selection logic,”
2004.
[10] S. S. Xu, Z. Lei, Z. Zhuang, and M. Bergman,
“Computational fluid dynamics simulation of flow of
exhaled particles from powered-air purifying respira-
tors,” in International Design Engineering Technical
Conferences and Computers and Information in
Engineering Conference, vol. 59179. American
Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2019.
[11] M. Bergman, Z. Lei, S. Xu, K. Strickland, and Z.
Zhuang, “Validation of computational fluid dynam-
ics models for evaluating loose-fitting powered air-
purifying respirators,” in Proceedings of the 20th
Congress of the International Ergonomics Association
(IEA 2018) Volume II: Safety and Health, Slips, Trips
and Falls 20. Springer, 2019, pp. 176–185.
We propose a widespread application of these respira-
tors in the mining industry where miners have been con-
clusively shown to have suffered from several forms of
pneumoconiosis.
As the first step to establishing their efficacy in an
underground mine environment, we developed CFD simu-
lations to demonstrate the flow field around a miner who
has donned a PAPR. A LiDAR scan was used to develop
the complicated geometry of the miner with a PAPR. The
LiDAR scan eliminated the need to approximate any geo-
metrical features. Through these numerical simulations, we
established the procedure to replicate different operating
conditions for a PAPR in a confined volume. Steady-state
simulations enabled us to visualize the airflow patterns
around the PAPR and regions of recirculation, and tran-
sient-state models enabled us to determine different param-
eters such as particulate positions and airflow velocity. We
showed that under low directional airflow in a confined
space, the PAPR can generate adequate airflow to capture
particulates. However, the models also demonstrate visu-
ally that airflow through the PAPR is not strong enough to
attract respirable particulates toward itself to capture them
on an active mining face as it is restricted by human breath-
ing and motor power.
This was the first approach that was taken to the mod-
eling of PAPRs in underground mining tunnels. The simu-
lations show the ability of the CFD models to accurately
predict conditions and help researchers understand the
conditions under which a PAPR’s use will be most efficient.
Future work includes the validation of results and running
longer simulations to predict the absolute amount of par-
ticles captured by the PAPR during its 8-hour battery life.
While running steady-state and transient cases, many of the
impacts of the airflow were understood. The position of the
inlet and outlets will be improved for the next steps. Some
adjustments will be made to the geometry to achieve even
more realistic conditions, and the flow parameters will also
be adjusted to replicate the conditions of a mine.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors thank the National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health for supporting the research ‘Review of
industrial practices and the use of compulsory PPE related to
miners in areas of high risk: Airstream helmet/ powered air
purifying respirator (PAPR) to minimize respirable dust expo-
sure’ through contract 75D30123C17277. We also thank
Drs. Sekhar Bhattacharyya, William Groves, and Raja V.
Ramani for their feedback.
REFERENCES
[1] Y. Shekarian, E. Rahimi, M. Rezaee, W.C. Su, and P.
Roghanchi, “Respirable coal mine dust: a review of
respiratory deposition, regulations, and characteriza-
tion,” Minerals, vol. 11, p. 696, 2021.
[2] J. Colinet, C. N. Halldin, and J. Schall, Best practices
for dust control in coal mining, 2021.
[3] A. R. Kumar and S. Schafrik, “Multiphase CFD
modeling and laboratory testing of a Vortecone for
mining and industrial dust scrubbing applications,”
Process Safety and Environmental Protection, vol.
144, pp. 330–336, 2020.
[4] A. R. Kumar, N. Gupta, and S. Schafrik, “CFD mod-
eling and laboratory studies of dust cleaning efficacy
of an efficient four-stage non-clogging impingement
filter for flooded-bed dust scrubbers,” International
Journal of Coal Science &Technology, vol. 9, no. 1,
p. 16, 2022.
[5] NIOSH, “Niosh-approved p100 particulate filtering
facepiece respirators,” 11 2024. [Online]. Available:
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/topics/ respirators/
disp part/p100list1.html.
[6] M. D. of Health, “Powered air purifying respirator
(PAPR),” 2022.
[7] V. Roberts, “To PAPR or not to PAPR?” Canadian
Journal of Respiratory Therapy: CJRT= Revue can-
adienne de la therapie respiratoire: RCTR, vol. 50,
p. 87, 2014.
[8] J. Schumacher, S. A. Gray, L. Weidelt, A. Brinker, K.
Prior, and W. M. Stratling, “Comparison of powered
and conventional air-purifying respirators during
simulated resuscitation of casualties contaminated
with hazardous substances,” Emergency medicine
journal, vol. 26, pp. 501–505, 2009.
[9] N. J. Bollinger, “NIOSH respirator selection logic,”
2004.
[10] S. S. Xu, Z. Lei, Z. Zhuang, and M. Bergman,
“Computational fluid dynamics simulation of flow of
exhaled particles from powered-air purifying respira-
tors,” in International Design Engineering Technical
Conferences and Computers and Information in
Engineering Conference, vol. 59179. American
Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2019.
[11] M. Bergman, Z. Lei, S. Xu, K. Strickland, and Z.
Zhuang, “Validation of computational fluid dynam-
ics models for evaluating loose-fitting powered air-
purifying respirators,” in Proceedings of the 20th
Congress of the International Ergonomics Association
(IEA 2018) Volume II: Safety and Health, Slips, Trips
and Falls 20. Springer, 2019, pp. 176–185.