MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – Nett Technologies Inc. recently received authoritative recognition by the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) for its diesel particulate filter (DPF) technology. This technology is reported as being pivotal in assisting retrofit compliance with the newly adopted MSHA rules regarding diesel particulate matter (DPM) emissions in underground mines. It is the first legislation to control miners’ exposure to diesel particulates in U.S. mines. On May 21, a phase-in schedule began which saw coal mine rules prohibit heavy-duty diesel to emit levels exceeding 2.5 grams per hour of DPM. In metal/non-metal (i.e. non-coal) mine stringent DPM exposure limits were effective July 19, 2001. Thousands of diesel engines in underground mines will be retrofitted with DPF’s to comply with regulations.

Two Nett particulate filter technologies; cordierite, which performs in most heavy duty applications with high exhaust temperature, accommodating engines from 15 to 450 kW in a single exhaust configuration. SiC (silicon carbide) has higher maximum operating temperature limits, accommodating engines from 13 to 206 kW in a single exhaust configuration, comply with the new MSHA diesel regulations for underground mines.

The Nett particulate filters have been designed for heavy-duty mining equipment such as LHD loaders and haul trucks, which are the largest contributors to the total diesel particulate emissions in underground mines. The MSHA accepted filtration efficiency of Nett filters for reducing these emissions is 85 and 87 per cent for the cordierite and SiC technology respectively

Diesel particulates penetrate deep into human lungs because of their sub-micron particle size, contributing to numerous respiratory problems.

According to most experts, diesel particulate filters are a key solution open to operators to meet the stringent regulations. n