MineARC Systems
Standard (Aus)
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The standard Australian/New Zealand CoalSAFE Refuge Chamber model has been designed specifically for the Aus/NZ underground coal industry - providing a long-term safety option where personnel can gather and await extraction. The CoalSAFE should only be used as a last resort in situations where evacuating the mine is no-longer safe or practical.
Fires, floods, rock-falls, explosions and the release of smoke and other forms of toxic gas (such as methane) can block escape routes and leave personnel injured or simply overwhelmed.
MineARC CoalSAFE Refuge Chambers are blast proof to 15 PSI overpressure, can withstand primary and secondary blasts, extreme temperatures and flash fires, and can support life for several days standalone – even when cut off from mine air and power supply.
Through innovative design, the CoalSAFE is currently the only refuge model on the market to incorporate both a powerless carbon dioxide/carbon monoxide (CO2/CO) scrubber as well as an intrinsically safe air conditioning system (refrigerant R744).
This standalone unit, dubbed the MARCis (MineARC Air Refuge Chamber - Intrinsically Safe), runs on liquid CO2, and is the first of its kind anywhere in the world.
The CoalSAFE is manufactured and tested to the highest industry regulations and guidelines: Approved by the West Virginian Office of Miners Health and Safety and currently the only refuge model in the world built to United States Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA) 'Final Rule' 2009 (30CFR §7.503).
5MM (1/4") STEEL CONSTRUCTION
The Refuge's shell is built from 5mm (1/4") steel plate TO ALL SIDES, comprising pressed sections to minimise joints. The shell is then reinforced with 100mm (4") PFC steel for extra strength and protection. For additional protection, rubber bolsters can be added to all four corners.
The Refuge is fitted with a skid base, IT fork slots, lifting lugs and towing points for easy transportation.
CHAMBER FLOOD PROTECTION
MineARC’s refuge chamber flood protection valve is suitable for all MineARC refuge chamber models, and is designed to prevent water from entering the chamber via the compressed (mine) air intake.
Flooding of the refuge chamber in this manner occurs either by accidently connecting water supply to the compressed air intake, or when water infiltrates the mine air supply.
The flood protection valve is situated at the end of the standard mine air filter kit - a three stage air filtration process that filters all air entering the refuge chamber.
Each filter housing includes a standard auto-drain for relieving compressed (mine) air condensation as it passes through the filter. The flood protection valve however is designed for sudden rushes of significant water flow – sealing the intake shut once water pressure reaches 8BAR.
CHEMICAL TOILET
A chemical toilet is installed in every refuge, situated in a separate compartment, complete with privacy screen. The chemical toilet has a capacity of 5 gallons (18 litres).
POWERLESS AIR CONDITIONING
MineARC recognises that artificially cooling the refuge's interior is essential. Aside from the effects of ambient (external) mine temperatures effecting the flow of transient heat in and out of the refuge, occupants themselves will generate between 120-180W of metabolic heat every hour. Independent testing has proved that without cooling, temperatures inside an occupied refuge can reach potentially fatal levels within just a few hours.
The MARCis™ is the world's first non-electrically powered (intrinsically safe) CO/CO2 scrubber with integrated air conditioning capabilities; representing a breakthrough in safe refuge technology.
Under normal circumstances the refuge is connected to mine/tunnel 'mains' air supply. Whilst connected, mains air cools the refuge as it passes through a special vortex within the refuge. However, should mains air supply be lost, The MARCis™ is activated - cooling and dehumidifying the refuge whilst also scrubbing the air of harmful CO/CO2. The MARCis™ is easy to operate and features four levels of scrubbing/cooling capacity.
Many industry Guidelines/Regulations around the world now state that the internal (apparent) temperature of a refuge must not rise above 30°C / 86°F, even at prolonged ambient (external) temperatures as high as 60°C / 140°F. Refuges fitted with The MARCis™ unit have been successfully tested to meet and exceed these standards
POWERLESS CO/CO2 SCRUBBING
MineARC’s 'Powerless' carbon dioxide (CO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) scrubbing system - The MARCis™, requires no electrical power to operate, and is instead powered by liquid CO2.
The active scrubbing system is designed to remove the build up of these potentially harmful gases from the air inside the refuge. The build up in CO/CO2 is caused by the occupants themselves - as they exhaust oxygen (O2) and replace with CO/CO2. Gas levels inside the refuge are measured as a percentage (%) and in PPM (Parts Per Million). Without scrubbing, the levels of CO/CO2 inside an occupied refuge can prove potentially fatal in just a matter of hours.
MineARC developed The MARCis™ to provide occupants with ease of use, extended time periods between chemical change outs, and varying levels of scrubbing capacity.
MARCISORB 1000 (CO) and MARCISORB 1500 (CO2) pre-filled chemical cartridges provide proven absorbing capabilities and are easy to handle and install into The MARCis™. Sealed in a barrier film bag the cartridges will store efficiently for long periods of time without degradation or requiring any maintenance.
TOXIC GAS SOS
Suitable for all MineARC refuge chamber models, the Toxic Gas Shut Off System (SOS) enables the automatic shut off of compressed air if toxic gas levels are detected in excessive amounts. The SOS system is designed to protect occupants from potentially fatal gases which can be pumped into the chamber if the compressed air supply is compromised.
The system is pre-programmed to shut off the compressed air supply if toxic gas levels greater than 30 PPM is detected.
The unit will not allow the mine supplied compressed air to be reset until the toxic gas level falls below the nominated threshold. The LED screen located on the front of the control unit gives the toxic gas readings in real time.
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