Portable coal dust analyser

July 2001 Analytical Instrumentation & Environmental Monitoring

Said to be a world-first, the SafeDust portable stonedust analyser, developed by NECSA, is to be marketed in future by suitably qualified distributors, following a decision by NTP management to confine in-house marketing activities to the core nuclear technology business of the decision.

SafeDust is a fully commercialised product that has undergone all testing and approval processes required of products used in the mining industry. It has the official approval of the Department of Minerals and Energy and is included in their code of practice.

It is a unique product aimed at assisting underground coal mining operations to more effectively manage the risk of coal dust explosions which have claimed many lives and caused immense losses in the past.

Several of South Africa's foremost coal mining operations have used the SafeDust analyser to routinely measure stonedust concentrations in samples from underground workings. Instrument precision, accuracy and repeatability have been shown to be excellent and the ease of use and cost-effectiveness of the instrument has been established beyond doubt.

SafeDust is a reliable device for rapidly and accurately making measurements that were previously done using time-consuming and costly laboratory methods. The instrument is safe to use and does not require the services of highly skilled personnel or special facilities. A literate person and periodic access to mains electricity supply to recharge the on-board battery are all that are needed.

Data is automatically recorded into files and transferred to client-customised reports and all recorded data is tamper-proof and stored on nonvolatile media.

As a portable and intrinsically safe stonedust concentration analyser, the SafeDust analyser has no known competitors and promises to revolutionise stonedust sampling and analysis procedures in underground coal mining around the world. SafeDust offers mine management great opportunities to minimise the risk of dust explosions in so-called 'fiery' mines.

Micron Scientific

(011) 422 4303

[email protected]

www.micronscientific.co.za

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