Why isn’t Mark Parcell the Queensland creator of these scale model methane explosions on a longwall face, asked to give evidence at the Grosvenor Inquiry? He has given them in person demonstrations

Today at the Grosvenor Mining Inquiry we had James Munday – (Founder and Senior Fire Investigator Fire Forensics Pty Ltd Explosion and fire investigation) gave evidence about methane explosions.

Mr Munday acknowledges that he has no underground coal mining expertise.

While the general principles he talked about are sound, using videos of methane explosions from England in the 1990’s are not really relevant to what we are talking about at the Grosvenor Mine Inquiry

Please watch the 5 or so minutes of video done by Mark Parcell in his front yard in suburban Brisbane using a scale model longwall and his methane explosion demonstration chamber.

 

After watching that video why hasn’t Mark Parcell invited to give evidence?

I have also included the links to a number of other methane explosion demonstrations Mark has on you-tube.

I have been very fortunate to watch Mark do a series of demonstrations over some 2 hours in person one night with a few others at his house.

As have I believe the Inquiry Panel, the Counsel Assisting and the Mines Inspectorate.

The Penguins and Loader image I frequently use is a still photo from his video. that he kindly allowed me to use.

 

If the Inquiry wanted people to understand the principles of methane explosions why haven’t they called Mark?

In my opinion he is the most knowledgeable person in the world when it concerns the behavior of a methane explosion in an underground coal mine.

Every time I look at one of his scale methane explosions it makes me envious.

I wish I had one of my own scale model methane explosion chamber.

 

In the last 4 to 5 years Mark  has built his own scale methane explosion demonstration chamber.

Mark wanted to understand for his own curiosity about what happens when methane explodes.

Not many people are capable to build their very own explosion chambers they can use at night, in their front yard in a city suburb.

I can say that he has over the years spent un-measurable time and very substantial amounts of his own money in his pursuit of helping the industry learn from the mistakes of the past and not continually repeat them.

 

Mark Parcell has been building a Website and Data Base for a number of years.

If I am ever looking for Mining Disaster Information from anywhere in the world over the last 300 years or finding any Reference Material, First I always go to http://mineaccidents.com.au/,

I always amazed by the depth of information he has collected.

Over the last 3 years I have learned untold information from his Website.

Many of the historical information and Reports I refer to and publish I get directly from his website.

Mining Accidents and Disasters should be compulsory for all of us Students of Mining Disasters and how to avoid them.

Mark is an ex Mine Deputy and Undermanager.

 

http://mineaccidents.com.au/

For instance this video from the USA Bureau of Mines which talks and demonstrates methane and how it explodes at different concentrations.

Also how flameproofing of electrical enclosures work and are tested.

From the 1960’s or 1970’s but best 19 minutes video I have seen about methane explosions and underground coal mines and flameproof principles and testing regime.

This video also describes the sounds of a methane deflagration explosion at various concentrations.

As Sir Humphrey noted in 1815 it creates a whistling sound at the right concentration at around 15%