Potassium superoxide oxygen generation rate and carbon dioxide absorption rate in coal mine refuge chambers

The effects of the molding pressure of a KO2 oxygen plate and the initial concentration of CO2 on the oxygen generation rate, the oxygen generation efficiency, and the carbon dioxide absorption rate were studied using a YES-300 hydraulic press to alter the pressure when forming the oxygen plate used in a coal mine refuge chamber. In addition, changes in the initial concentration of CO2 used in the closed-box model were made by adjusting the CO2 supply system, and a CD-7 multi-function parameter instrument was employed to monitor and record the changes of O2 and CO2 concentration in the closed-box model. Results indicate that the oxygen generation rate of KO2 oxygen plates, the oxygen generation efficiency, and the carbon dioxide absorption rate decrease when there is an increase in the pressure used to mold the oxygen plates, but those values increase when the initial CO2 concentration increases. When the initial concentration of CO2 in the closed-box model is 3.5% and the forming pressure is 10 kN, the average oxygen generation rate of 15 g KO2 oxygen plate is 11.88 × 10−3 L/min, the oxygen generation efficiency is 80.3%, and the average CO2 absorption rate is 11.0 × 10−3 L/min. Compared with the condition where the initial CO2 concentration is 1.5%, the results show that average oxygen generation rate of oxygen plates increases by 88.9%, the oxygen generation efficiency increases by 88.9%, and the CO2 absorption rate increases by 100%.