Mirza Muhammad Zaid, Nana Kobina Amoako Amoah, Guang Xu*
Increased exposure of the respirable coal dust leads to irreversible lung diseases in mine workers. MSHA mandates a maximum dust concentration of 1.5 mg/m3 in underground coal operations. Current ways of monitoring concentrations using filter-based method or expensive PDM3700 monitors cannot provide real time concentration. Low-cost light scattering PM sensors have the potential to overcome these challenges. Experiments were performed based on factorial design to evaluate the impact of wind velocity and sensor direction on the sensor response. Three levels of wind velocity 3m/sec, 1.5 m/sec & 0.5 m/sec and sensor direction as towards the stream, perpendicular to the stream and opposite to the stream and were evaluated. The results showed that the direction of the sensor has significant impact on the sensor response. For each input concentration 0-1 mg/m3, 1-2 mg/m3 and 2-3 mg/m3, PSM 5003 sensor has the superior response than any other sensor used in this research. This study will provide valuable information on the feasibility of using these sensors to make real time decisions.
