The Soko Banja Mine has extreme methane concentrations which often exceed the lower explosive limit (5%). SVECOM, an engineering company based in Belgrade and the Trolex agent in Serbia, was able to find the right gas sensing solutions from the Trolex range for this very gassy coalmine.

The mine has a history of many methane explosions in 1974, 1975, 1989 and 1998 due to high levels of gas within the mine.

Trolex’s infrared gas sensing technology delivers long-term stability with minimum signal drift, so reducing calibration and maintenance costs, the company said.

Its TX6363 responds to specific gases and features characterised ambient pressure and temperature compensation. The response of the sensor is linear across the complete sensing range making it equally suitable for operation in the high concentration range.

Bogdan Djoric of SVECOM said: “The frequent and rapidly appearing methane concentrations reach a lower explosion limit of 5% and present a big challenge in choice of equipment and concept of the system.

“TX6363 infrared gas detectors from Trolex have a measuring range of 0-5% and 0-100% in locations where extreme methane concentrations are likely. The TX6383 flammable gas detector based on catalytic principle has also been used for methane detection in other areas of the mine."

Established in 1908, the mine has been using gas detection and domestic data transmission systems since 1978. Trolex was awarded the contract to deliver fixed detectors for CH4, CO, O2 and temperature, as well as power supplies, power-down systems and controllers.

Trolex had previously supplied the TX6373 Toxic Gas Sensor, TX5922 Vortex Air Flow Sensor, TX6143 Differential Pressure Sensor and TX6274 Temperature Sensor to the mine.