Maintenance Free Impingement Screen In-Mine Testing

MAINTENANCE FREE IMPINGEMENT SCREEN IN-MINE TESTING ABSTRACT The University of Kentucky has developed a maintenance-free impingement screen intended for use in a flooded bed scrubber device found on continuous mining machines. A prototype and three generations of the screen have been studied in a previous NIOSH contract. After discussions with mine regulators, it was determined that more in- mine testing was necessary. This project is a continuation to include more in-mine testing. UKY will fabricate screens to go to NIOSH (funding agency), American Natural Coal Resources, and Prairie State Generation Company. All screens will be evaluated for airflow and cleaning by Komatsu. UKY will collect the data and provide a report to NIOSH and the regulators (MSHA) about the effectiveness of the screens.