Diesel engine emission deterioration - a preliminary study

Abstract

The objective of this study was to find a parameter in diesel and oil analysis of underground mining vehicles that can be correlated with personal diesel particulate matter (DPM) exposure and used as part of an engine maintenance programme. A number of engines were monitored over a period of a few months. Diesel and oil samples were taken from selected engines and the personal DPM exposures of the operators were measured. Eight oil contaminants were chosen and compared with the DPM exposure results. It was found that as the oil contaminant concentrations increased, the DPM exposure of the machine operators increased. When remedial actions were taken on an engine during maintenance, the DPM exposure of the operator reduced. The preliminary study results show that the oil and diesel parameters can be used as an indicator of how the DPM emitted by the engine deteriorates (i.e. worsens) over time. This information can be used to enforce better maintenance regimes to reduce mine employee exposure to DPM.