Application of the diesel discriminating fire sensor to the measurement of respirable coal dust

A novel detector which can distinguish fire smoke from diesel particulates was tested to determine its response to respirable dusts in the concentration range of 0 to 7 mg/m/sup 3/. The test results indicated that the detector response was linear over this dust concentration range for respirable coal dusts and nonlinear for respirable rock dust. The response to respirable coal dust was also found to vary directly with the volatile fraction of the coal dust. Based upon these results, the use of this detector as a continuous monitor of respirable dust in underground coal mines has significant potential.<>