Steven Schafrik, associate professor in the Department of Mining Engineering at the University of Kentucky, has been awarded a $375,000 grant by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
Schafrik's project seeks to commercialize an efficient maintenance-free filter for continuous miner scrubber systems. New designs of screens that fit in the fibrous screen compartment of the flooded-bed dust scrubbers based on existing University of Kentucky designed maintenance-free screens. Computer models would be produced to predict the airflow patterns, pressure drops, and cleaning efficiency. Designs would be refined and prototypes manufactured for testing in partner mines. The final design will meet the power requirements and cleaning efficiency trends would be proposed as the suitable non-clogging alternative to the existing filters.
Schafrik joined the mining engineering department faculty in 2017.