Thermal Load of Mine Rescuer in the Underwear and Protective Clothing with Phase Change Materials in Simulated Utility Conditions.

Grażyna Bartkowiak,Anna Marszałek,Anna Dąbrowska

doi:10.3390/ma13194320

Abstract

A new set of underwear and protective clothing with phase change materials (PCM) for mine rescuers has been developed in order to increase their safety of work. It includes PCM pouches absorbing excess heat from the body. In order to evaluate thermal load of mine rescuers, physiological tests were carried out for three variants of possible use of the developed set of clothing: for mine rescuers wearing only the underwear with PCM; for a set of underwear and protective clothing; and for a complete set of clothing with closed-circuit compressed oxygen breathing apparatus. Tests were performed in difficult microclimate conditions, reflecting the typical working conditions of rescuers that cause a significant thermal load. The use of outer clothing shortened safe time of exposure to such conditions by about 36%, while the addition of respiratory protective device to this set further shortened this time to a lesser extent (by another 13%).

Highlights

Underground mining is characterized by difficult geological and mining conditions
Coal mining is gradually taking place at ever greater depths—each year it increases by an average of about 8 m, which results in an intensification of the climatic threat [2]
Considering the high accident rate and threats occurring in the coal mining industry, attention should be paid to the difficult and very dangerous conditions for conducting rescue operations, which take place in extreme climatic conditions

Summary

Introduction

Underground mining is characterized by difficult geological and mining conditions They are accompanied by many natural hazards such as: rock bursts, gas and rock outbursts, methane atmosphere, fires and coal dust explosions, and flooding with water [1]. In the coal mining industry, there is still a high probability of accident events. They cover the operation of large spaces and are characterized by the strong intensity of the course. Considering the high accident rate and threats occurring in the coal mining industry, attention should be paid to the difficult and very dangerous conditions for conducting rescue operations, which take place in extreme climatic conditions

Objectives

Discussion

Conclusion