David Humphreys (SkillPro), Julian Greenwood (SkillPro), Greg Collecutt (BMT WBM) and David Proud (BMT WBM) will be recognised at the event in Brisbane for their active explosion prototype.
The system to be awarded secured a critical breakthrough in Australian underground mine safety after it successfully suppressed a series of coal dust explosions at a testing facility in South Africa.
The result of an eight-year, $1.6 million commitment from the ACARP, the prototype has been designed to suppress the flame front of an underground mine explosion, limit the extent of the explosion as close as possible to the working face and minimise loss of life.
The prototype has a flame detector inbye of the explosion barrier, a pressurised vessel to store water and two metal spray bars with around 180 nozzles.
When the flame is detected, an electric signal opens a valve at the bottom of the pressurised vessel releasing up to 240 litres of water in a quarter of a second.
A fine water spray is injected at great speed into the roadway to stop combustion and suppress the flame front. The size of the water droplets – around 130 microns – is much smaller than those in a conventional water barrier and is more effective at absorbing heat.
In August 2012, the research team conducted six successful suppressions using different water quantities and dispersal times at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research’s 2.5m diameter, 200m long Kloppersbos explosion testing facility.
The system will continue to be tested and is expected to undergo substantial reconfiguration before it is a commercial product.
ACARP research coordinator Bevan Kathage said if the active explosion barrier saved just one life, the investment would have been worth it.
“In developed countries ignitions happen rarely but they are usually catastrophic,” he said.
“The explosion barrier puts another line of defence in the system in addition to stone dusting.
“It means we can contain an ignition to a face area and stop it from going through the mine. This allows other workers to escape and permits mine re-entry.
“This world-first, cutting-edge research has produced an explosion barrier that is so simple – it’s not reliant on a complicated set of elements working together at the same time.”
The awards ceremony on Thursday will be presented by ACARP chairman and New Hope Coal head Rob Neale.
The function will recognise the 20 years that the program has been resolving industry technical challenges.
