Document re311VNOK0eVry8bO0mDMQ8Lv

anglogold EVALUATION OF THE SCORPION DUST FILTER GREAT NOLIGWA MINE 28 August 2003 JJ Dekker O-ESH Manager Occupational Hygiene South African Region Central O-ESH Team PURPOSE To evaluate the dust particle filtering efficiency of the Scorpion dust filter unit. Both dust mass filtering efficiency and dust particle filtering efficiency was evaluated. METHODOLOGY Project was conducted at the Scorpion dust filter installation on Great Noligwa Mine. This unit is currently installed at the 76 Level station tips. Two AEROCET 531 particle mass and count instruments were utilised to determine the filtering efficiency of the Scorpion dust filter unit. Samples were collected at: The intake to the dust filter, The return of the dust filter, and The return of the side extraction bag. The pressure over the filtration unit was also measured before the dust filtrating efficiency tests commenced and on completion of the dust filtrating efficiency tests. FINDINGS The detailed results of the tests are depicted in Appendix A. Particle filtrating efficiency The overall particle filtrating efficiency ranged from 25,2% to 92,0% (average of 71,7%). The highest efficiency occurred in the > 5 pm category (66,4% to 98,0% with an average of 83,3% filtrating efficiency). The filtrating efficiencies in the in the >0,5 pm category ranged from 24,7% to 91,9 %, with an average filtrating efficiency of 71,5%. The particle filtrating efficiencies for the side extraction bag ranged from 77,0% to 82,0% with an overall particle efficiency of 78,0%. Dust mass filtrating efficiency The overall dust mass filtrating efficiency ranged from 57,0% to 85,0% (average of 78,0%). The highest efficiency occurred in the PM1 category (94 to 99% with an average of 98% filtering efficiency). Pressure The pressure over the Scorpion Dust Filter increased with 16,0% (from 105 Pa at start of tests to 125 Pa at end of tests). CONCLUSION This filter unit was previously known as the "Bona dust filter". The previous recommendations (report dated 7 March 2003) has been satisfactory addressed, i.e: The sealing material must be replaced with a more robust material that could withstand the forces present inside the Bona Dust Filter. Areas that are not properly sealed (as demonstrated to the Universal Engineering Representative who accompanied us during the visit) must be rectified. The tertiary envelope filter must be replaced with a more efficient filter. This is required to improve the large variation in the > 0.5 pm category. RECOMMENDATIONS The supplier must forward the dust filtrating efficiency and dust holding capacity tests results for the secondary and tertiary filters to Great Noligwa Mine O-ESH Department. The entire test must be repeated, once the recommendation (as indicated above) has been completed. APPENDIX A - Test Results Location Scorpion Dust Filter Unit Scorpion Dust Filter Unit Scorpion Dust Filter Unit Scorpion Dust Filter Unit Average Side Extraction Bag INTAKE >0.5 pm >5.0 pm /Liter /Liter 51574 375 19305 16 15522 24 71101 152 39376 142 RETURN >0.5 pm >5.0 pm /Liter /Liter 38838 126 1556 3 1522 3 14796 3 14178 34 EFFICIE NCY >0.5 pm >5.0 pm /Liter /Liter Overall /Liter 24.7 66.4 25 91.9 81.3 92 90.2 87.5 90 79.2 98.0 79 72 83 72 39376 142 8870 25 77.5 82.4 78 Location Scorpion Dust Filter Unit Scorpion Dust Filter Unit Average SCORPION FILTER UNIT (Particle Mass Evaluation) INTAKE RETURN PM 1.0 mg/m3 0.094 PM 2.5 mg/m3 0.113 PM 7.0 PM TSP PM 1.0 PM 2.5 PM 7.0 PM mg/m3 10.0 mg/m3 mg/m3 mg/m3 mg/m3 10.0 mg/m3 mg/m3 0.114 0.114 0.115 0.001 0.005 0.013 0.015 TSP mg/m3 0.017 PM 1.0 99 EFFICIENCY (%) PM PM PM TSP 2.5 7.0 10.0 96 89 87 85 0.017 0.029 0.042 0.042 0.042 0.001 0.005 0.016 0.018 0.018 94 83 62 57 57 0.056 0.071 0.078 0.078 0.079 0.001 0.005 0.015 0.017 0.018 98 93 81 79 78 Pressure over Scorpion Dust Filter Unit: Start of tests = 105 Pa End of tests = 125 Pa 3 Ventilating air quantity through Scorpion Dust Filter Unit = 7,1 m /s Number of filtration units inside Bona dust Filter = 9 units SCORPION DUST FILTER EVALUATION (Particle Filtrating Efficiency) Scorpion Dust Filter Unit 120 Side Extraction Bag 100 91.9 i 98.0 92.0 80 NU CN S' 60 o 1 cn 1 83.3 82 77 78 1 71.7 66.4 40 1 24.7 20 1 25.5 0 0.5 u > 5.0 u > Ove5rall 0.5 u > Max Mir Average 5.0 u > Overall