Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Study of the Impact of Powered Air-Purifying Respirators (PAPR) in Underground Mining Operations

Luis Sanchez Gonzalez; Ashish Ranjan Kumar; Barbara Arnold

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Study of the Impact of Powered Air-Purifying Respirators (PAPR) in Underground Mining Operations

Luis Sanchez Gonzalez, Ashish Ranjan Kumar, Barbara Arnold

Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review

Abstract

Mining operations adopt a variety of measures to combat dust underground. These include ventilation systems, water sprays, physical barriers, and personal protective equipment (PPE). Respirators are a class of PPE that can provide clean particulate- free air to the users. Powered Air-Purifying Respirators (PAPRs), used commonly in medical and other sectors, are not prevalent in the mining industry. PAPRs use P100 filters that have 99.97% dust capture efficiency. We present our results from computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations performed to understand the impact of a PAPR on airflow and dust particle concentration in the vicinity of a miner. These results show that donning PAPRs can lower the miners’ exposure to respirable coal dust in their workplace.

Original language	English (US)
State	Published - 2025
Event	MINEXCHANGE 2025 SME Annual Conference and Expo and the CMA 127th National Western Mining Conference - Denver, United States Duration: Feb 23 2025 → Feb 26 2025

Conference

Conference	MINEXCHANGE 2025 SME Annual Conference and Expo and the CMA 127th National Western Mining Conference
Country/Territory	United States
City	Denver
Period	2/23/25 → 2/26/25

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology

Cite this

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title = "Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Study of the Impact of Powered Air-Purifying Respirators (PAPR) in Underground Mining Operations",

abstract = "Mining operations adopt a variety of measures to combat dust underground. These include ventilation systems, water sprays, physical barriers, and personal protective equipment (PPE). Respirators are a class of PPE that can provide clean particulate- free air to the users. Powered Air-Purifying Respirators (PAPRs), used commonly in medical and other sectors, are not prevalent in the mining industry. PAPRs use P100 filters that have 99.97% dust capture efficiency. We present our results from computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations performed to understand the impact of a PAPR on airflow and dust particle concentration in the vicinity of a miner. These results show that donning PAPRs can lower the miners{\textquoteright} exposure to respirable coal dust in their workplace.",

author = "Gonzalez, {Luis Sanchez} and Kumar, {Ashish Ranjan} and Barbara Arnold",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration Inc.; MINEXCHANGE 2025 SME Annual Conference and Expo and the CMA 127th National Western Mining Conference ; Conference date: 23-02-2025 Through 26-02-2025",

year = "2025",

language = "English (US)",

}

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Study of the Impact of Powered Air-Purifying Respirators (PAPR) in Underground Mining Operations. / Gonzalez, Luis Sanchez; Kumar, Ashish Ranjan ; Arnold, Barbara.
2025. Paper presented at MINEXCHANGE 2025 SME Annual Conference and Expo and the CMA 127th National Western Mining Conference, Denver, United States.

Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review

TY - CONF

T1 - Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Study of the Impact of Powered Air-Purifying Respirators (PAPR) in Underground Mining Operations

AU - Gonzalez, Luis Sanchez

AU - Kumar, Ashish Ranjan

AU - Arnold, Barbara

PY - 2025

Y1 - 2025

N2 - Mining operations adopt a variety of measures to combat dust underground. These include ventilation systems, water sprays, physical barriers, and personal protective equipment (PPE). Respirators are a class of PPE that can provide clean particulate- free air to the users. Powered Air-Purifying Respirators (PAPRs), used commonly in medical and other sectors, are not prevalent in the mining industry. PAPRs use P100 filters that have 99.97% dust capture efficiency. We present our results from computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations performed to understand the impact of a PAPR on airflow and dust particle concentration in the vicinity of a miner. These results show that donning PAPRs can lower the miners’ exposure to respirable coal dust in their workplace.

AB - Mining operations adopt a variety of measures to combat dust underground. These include ventilation systems, water sprays, physical barriers, and personal protective equipment (PPE). Respirators are a class of PPE that can provide clean particulate- free air to the users. Powered Air-Purifying Respirators (PAPRs), used commonly in medical and other sectors, are not prevalent in the mining industry. PAPRs use P100 filters that have 99.97% dust capture efficiency. We present our results from computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations performed to understand the impact of a PAPR on airflow and dust particle concentration in the vicinity of a miner. These results show that donning PAPRs can lower the miners’ exposure to respirable coal dust in their workplace.

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M3 - Paper

AN - SCOPUS:105002141903

T2 - MINEXCHANGE 2025 SME Annual Conference and Expo and the CMA 127th National Western Mining Conference

Y2 - 23 February 2025 through 26 February 2025

ER -

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Study of the Impact of Powered Air-Purifying Respirators (PAPR) in Underground Mining Operations

Abstract

Conference

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

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