The Australian company claims its DA100 filter, used in wet scrubbers in many coal mines will remove more than 95% of diesel particulate matter (DPM) from the exhaust of diesel vehicles using either dry or wet systems.

 

MFF filters have traditionally come with pleats numbering up to 200. In a trial held at the BHP Billiton Elouera colliery in NSW in February, researcher Brian Davies, through the Victoria University of Technology, tested the efficacy of filters to identify the optimal number of pleats. He presented his findings at the Diesel Particulate Seminar held last week in NSW. (See related articles.)

 

The findings indicated that lower pleat numbers increases efficiency and reduces backpressure. It was found the 160 pleat filter with a glue line offered the best compromise in respect to these two parameters.

 

MFF currently supplies filters to roughly half the underground coal mines in NSW. The Queensland mines department is believed to be still considering whether the filters should be re-tested for use in Queensland mines or whether the NSW tests are acceptable for statutory purposes.

 

In recent years MFF has had growing success in the US, with several thousand filters sold into that market. Trials of the company’s DA100 filter have just been completed at the US based West Elk mine on underground diesel equipment. Trials at a South African bord and pillar operation are expected to begin soon.

 

In another development the US Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) released a safety alert instructing mines to use fire resistant filters, as opposed to combustible paper filters. This followed several reports on filter fires. The use of Micro Fresh Filters is recommended by MSHA, which the company hopes will boost acceptance in the US market.

 

“Now that the EPA in America has confirmed DPM is a carcinogen, management has a responsibility and an obligation to improve the working conditions,” said Michael Kon, director of MFF partner, Emission Reduction Products (ERP).

 

“This is why MSHA, the USA Department of Labour, recommends the DA100 as the only filter to be used in American coal mines.”

 

MFF has also just released a new dry system exhaust filtration system, developed in conjunction with ERP, which is most applicable to diesel powered equipment in metalliferous mines.

 

“New innovative technology has resulted in a unit containing only one moving part and a physical size a quarter that of conventional heat exchanger,” said MFF director, Ray de Jersey.

 

“Quick to recognise the improvement in working conditions and the operator’s health, Tom McCabe, National Transport Manager for BHP Steel has just taken delivery of their second forklift fitted with a dry system filter package,” he said.