LYNCHBURG, VA, September 7, 2022 – Innovative Wireless Technologies, Inc. (IWT) announced today the release of a diesel emission configuration for the SENTINEL™ Wireless Gas Monitor (WGM). The MSHA-approved sensor monitors oxides of nitrogen (NOx) to ensure miners are not exposed to hazardous levels from exhaust emissions of diesel powered equipment.
“IWT continues to innovate by adding diesel emissions monitoring to our product portfolio, providing operators the ability to improve miner safety and regulatory compliance in their operations,” said IWT’s Director of Marketing, Jeremiah Colling.
In addition to MSHA regulatory ruling around exposure of miners to diesel exhaust, there has also been the following state actions, according to the govinfo.gov website:
West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio require diesel-powered equipment used in underground coal mines to include an exhaust emissions control and conditioning system that meets the following MSHA requirements:
- DPM emissions that do not exceed an average concentration of 0.12 milligrams of DPM per cubic meter of air (mg/m3) when diluted by 100 percent (West Virginia and Ohio) or by 50 percent (Pennsylvania) of the MSHA Part 7 approved ventilation rate for that diesel engine.
- An oxidation catalyst or other gaseous emissions control device capable of reducing undiluted carbon monoxide (CO) emissions to 100 parts per million (ppm) or less under all conditions of operation within the normal engine operating temperature range.
- A DPM filter capable of reducing DPM concentrations by at least 75 percent (West Virginia) or by an average of 95 percent (Pennsylvania) or to a level that does not exceed an average concentration of 0.12 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3) of air when diluted by 100 percent of the MSHA Part 7 approved ventilation rate for that diesel engine (Ohio).
In addition, West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania limit ambient concentrations of exhaust gases to a ceiling of 35 parts per million (ppm) for carbon monoxide (CO) and 3 ppm for nitrogen dioxide (NO2). West Virginia and Pennsylvania also limit ambient concentrations of nitric oxide (NO) to 25 ppm. If the concentrations of these emissions exceed 75 percent of these limits, these states require mine operators to make changes to the use of diesel equipment, mine ventilation, or other modifications to the mining process.
All three states require mine operators to keep written records of emissions tests, pre-operational examinations, and maintenance and repairs for all diesel equipment operated underground. These states also require specific information to be recorded that MSHA does not require, e.g., the results of testing the engine at full throttle against the brakes with loaded hydraulics (engine speed tests), operating hour meter hours, total intake restriction, total exhaust back pressure, cooled exhaust gas temperature, coolant temperature, engine oil pressure, and engine oil temperature.
IWT’s easy-to-use SENTINEL WGM enables mine operators the ability to monitor diesel emission levels displayed underground on the WGM unit, above ground at the dispatch station, and send alerts directly to users in the mine.
Mine operators interested in more information on SENTINEL™ Wireless Gas Monitors for diesel emissions should contact [email protected].
About IWT:
Innovative Wireless Technologies, Inc. (IWT) is a full-service engineering solutions provider specializing in wireless solutions for commercial, industrial, public safety and defense markets. IWT is a leading supplier of wireless communication, tracking and data systems for underground mining and tunneling operations, and provides engineering and technical consultation to several governmental defense agencies and public safety equipment manufacturers.
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