Mine Engineering and Ventilation Problems Unique to the Control of Radon Daughters

摘要

Control of radon daughters in radioactive mines is sometimes considered to be basically a ventilation problem. The problem is, however, of such a nature that control over the amount of contamination released into the mine environment plus control over the manner in which that contamination is removed from the mine environment relative to occupied mine areas are of major importance in determining the difficulty of ventilation. In many respects, radon-daughter control involves different considerations than are involved in more conventional mine contaminants. One reason this is true is because of the rapid growth of the hazard (radon daughters) following contamination of the air with the parent radon. Another reason is that so few atoms of radon emanating from so many different sources can be involved in total mine contamination difficulties. Having worked on ventilation problems involving dust, blasting gases, diesel exhaust gases, and methane, the author can state that solutions to high radon-daughter concentrations often require more finesse than the aforementioned problems. The best method for providing practical solutions to radon-daughter control difficulties is to first make a detailed assessment of contamination sources relative to existing air distribution. Detection of subtle contamination causes may require highly trained personnel using specialized equipment. Usually the mine must be considered in its entirety during the contamination assessment program. Answers sought are: where and why major contamination problems are occurring; how beneficial changes may be affected without causing harmful effects in other active mine areas; and what major changes, such as increased primary airflow, are necessary to assure long-range environmental control over radon-daughter concentrations. (ERA citation 08:048626)