The funding was granted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to a group of investigators led by mining department assistant professor Kray Luxbacher.

Other academics on the team include engineering sciences and mechanics professor Saad Ragab, research associate Robert Boggess and chemistry professor emeritus Harold McNair.

Both Boggess and McNair will bring gas chromatography and computational fluid mechanics expertise to the project, called Development of a Method for the Remote Characterization of Underground Mine Ventilation Controls by Multiple Tracer Gases.

The project will use gas tracers to remotely collect data from mine ventilation systems following an explosion or collapse.

The group will use both scaled models as well as real working mines, and establish tracer gas collection profiles under normal operating conditions as well as during simulated emergencies underground.

"This project has the potential to provide insight into the status of a mine ventilation system following a serious incident, when information is limited and decisions impacting the safety of mine rescue personnel and miners must be made," Luxbacher said.

The school added, “It is hoped that the new process, using computational fluid mechanics, can determine the state of ventilation controls, including the nature and general location of damage, by comparing collected and simulated tracer gas profiles.”

The NIOSH grant is spread over the five years at $250,000 each year. The first phase will encompass the development of the project’s tools, such as a computational fluid dynamics modeling computer program and an experimental apparatus for testing tracer gases.

The VA Tech researchers noted that a tracer gas other than the industry’s standard of sulfur hexafluoride would be selected for the project and tested both in the field and in the laboratory.

"The average age of people employed in the mining industry is fairly high and the exodus of experienced personnel is affecting research and higher education," Luxbacher said.

"This grant is a proactive step by NIOSH to increase expertise in mine ventilation, which is key to maintaining safe mines and advancing mine safety and health."