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Oxygen Depletion

Oxygen depletion occurs when the oxygen content of air declines for various reasons. Common causes of oxygen depletion include dilution by other gases from engines, fires, or oxidation of materials. Effects of low oxygen range from dizziness to loss of consciousness or death depending on level of oxygen and exposure time. While human respiration reduces oxygen and increases carbon dioxide slightly, the overall impact on air quality in a mine is very small compared to other factors like equipment and oxidation processes. Proper ventilation is needed to prevent dangerous oxygen depletion.

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Ahsan Ali
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148 views

Oxygen Depletion

Oxygen depletion occurs when the oxygen content of air declines for various reasons. Common causes of oxygen depletion include dilution by other gases from engines, fires, or oxidation of materials. Effects of low oxygen range from dizziness to loss of consciousness or death depending on level of oxygen and exposure time. While human respiration reduces oxygen and increases carbon dioxide slightly, the overall impact on air quality in a mine is very small compared to other factors like equipment and oxidation processes. Proper ventilation is needed to prevent dangerous oxygen depletion.

Uploaded by

Ahsan Ali
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Oxygen Depletion

Introduction

• Unlike the other gases that will be considered, oxygen under normal conditions is not a
contaminant.

• It is the only gas that must be maintained at as high a concentration as possible.

• The process in which the oxygen content of the air declines, for any of several reasons, is
termed oxygen depletion, and the environment is said to be oxygen-deficient.
The processes by which the oxygen content of the air is reduced as
it travels through a mine are many and are usually associated with
the presence of one or more other gases.

These processes include dilution by other gases, high-temperature


oxidation such as internal-combustion engines and open flames,
and low-temperature oxidation of wood and minerals.

Usually associated with oxidation processes is the liberation of


other gases such as carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide.
Percentage of Effect
Oxygen in Air
17 Faster, deep breathing

• The physiological effects of an 16 Flame lamp extinguished.


oxygen-deficient environment 15 Dizziness, buzzing in ears, rapid
heartbeat
vary from individual to individual
13 Possible loss of consciousness with
and with the length of exposure.
prolonged exposure
• However, the following effects 9 Fainting, unconsciousness
have been observed: 7 Life endangerment
6 Convulsive movements, death
Example: Assuming vigorous activity, an oxygen content of 21%, and a
carbon dioxide content of 0.03% in the intake air, find the quantity of
air Q in cfm that must be supplied per individual if the downstream air
current is to be maintained at acceptable levels (i.e., 19.5% O2 and
0.5% C02).
Solution:
Required 02 = 0.1 cfm (4.7 x 10"5 m3/s) (Table).
Respiratory Quotient = 1.0 (Table)
Oxygen
(02 in intake) - (02 consumed) = (02 downstream)
0.21 Q -0.1 = 0.195 Q
Q = 6.7 cfm (3.2 x 10"3 m3/s)
Carbon Di Oxide
(C02 in intake) + (C02 produced) = (C02 downstream)
0.0003 Q + 1.0 (0.1) = 0.005 Q
Q = 21.3 cfm (0.01 m3/s)
Carbon dioxide thus governs, and a minimum quantity of 21.3 cfm (0.01
m3/s) per individual must be supplied.
Respiratory Requirements

Type of Respiratory rate Air Air Inhaled O2 Respiratory


Activity (Breaths/min) Inhaled/Respiration (inch3/min Consumed Quotient
inch3/min ) (cfm)
At Rest 12-18 23-43 300-800 0.01 0.75
Moderate 30 90-120 2800-3600 0.07 0.9
Very 40 150 6000 0.10 1
Vigorous
• As indicated by the preceding example, the quantity of air required to
meet respiratory requirements is quite small compared to the
quantity of air normally circulated through a mine.

• In this example, however, the only source of oxygen depletion is the


respiratory process, which is seldom if ever the case.
Example:

Air is supplied at a rate of 5m3 /s to ten persons working at a


moderate rate in a mine heading. The intake air contains 20.6 percent
oxygen and 0.1 percent carbon dioxide. Determine the changes in
concentrations of these gases caused by respiration.
Solution:

For a moderate rate of activity, Table indicates an individual


consumption rate of some 0.03 liters/s for oxygen and a production
rate of about 0.027 liters/s for carbon dioxide. Hence, for ten persons:

Oxygen depletion = 10 x 0.03 x 10-3 = 0.0003 m3/s

Carbon dioxide added = 10 x 0.027 x 10-3 = 0.00027 m3/s


• In the intake air:
Oxygen flow = 5 x 0.206 (20.6% given) = 1.03 m3/s
Carbon dioxide flow = 5 x 0.001 (0.1% given= 0.005 m3 /s
Therefore,
• In the exit air:
Oxygen flow = 1.03 - 0.0003 = 1.0297 m3/s
Carbon dioxide flow = 0.005 + 0.00027 = 0.00527 m3/s

Oxygen concentration= ×100 = 20.594%

Carbon dioxide concentration= ×100 = 0.1054%


• This example illustrates the very limited effect of respiration on the
concentrations of oxygen and carbon dioxide in a mine ventilation
system. Indeed, the ventilating air necessary for breathing is
negligible compared with other airflow requirements in the
subsurface.

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