5.8 Ventilation and Exploitation Method
189
decreasing its ability to renew the air. The W system, on the other hand, requires
more line brattices to be executed and the pressure losses are greater.
Another pillar-supported method is the sublevel stoping. In this method, the ventilation is achieved by injecting air through the production level
9 where the gases from
the Load Haul Dump (LHD) diesel chargers accumulate (Fig. 5.10). This air ascends
R
Raise
Sublevel
Production level
Upper level
R
Door
Regulator
Fragmented ore
Fig. 5.10 Ventilation air circulation in the sublevel stoping method
mainly through the raises which connect to the upper level and are drifted to the
different sublevels where the blasting fumes accumulate. From the sublevels, the air
enters the stope and after sweeping, it finally reaches the upper level.
As far as artificially supported methods are concerned, cut and fill and shrinkage
stoping
10 are some of the most characteristic.
Multiple configurations come under the category of cut and fill. In any case, its
general layout is very similar to that of the sublevel stoping method. Thus, fresh air is
injected from the transport level to the stopes via raises, and from there it reaches the
upper level from where it is incorporated into the general mine ventilation (Fig. 5.11).
Regarding shrinkage stoping, the ventilation is also very similar to that of the
previous methods. The stope is flanked by pillars, which, in turn, are surrounded by
two raises: one for access and the other for evacuation. The air ascends from the
transport level through the access raise and sweeps the stope (Fig. 5.12). The foul
air comes out through the evacuation raise and is conducted towards the upper level
where it is incorporated into the general circulation of the mine.
With regard to the cave mining methods, as is the case of panel caving, we will
focus on its current variant: block caving, of analogue ventilation system. In order
to ensure the significant amounts of precise ventilation flow at the production level,
9 The general principle of ascensional ventilation for the stopes is followed.
10 This method uses pillars or filled material as a support.
189
decreasing its ability to renew the air. The W system, on the other hand, requires
more line brattices to be executed and the pressure losses are greater.
Another pillar-supported method is the sublevel stoping. In this method, the ventilation is achieved by injecting air through the production level
9 where the gases from
the Load Haul Dump (LHD) diesel chargers accumulate (Fig. 5.10). This air ascends
R
Raise
Sublevel
Production level
Upper level
R
Door
Regulator
Fragmented ore
Fig. 5.10 Ventilation air circulation in the sublevel stoping method
mainly through the raises which connect to the upper level and are drifted to the
different sublevels where the blasting fumes accumulate. From the sublevels, the air
enters the stope and after sweeping, it finally reaches the upper level.
As far as artificially supported methods are concerned, cut and fill and shrinkage
stoping
10 are some of the most characteristic.
Multiple configurations come under the category of cut and fill. In any case, its
general layout is very similar to that of the sublevel stoping method. Thus, fresh air is
injected from the transport level to the stopes via raises, and from there it reaches the
upper level from where it is incorporated into the general mine ventilation (Fig. 5.11).
Regarding shrinkage stoping, the ventilation is also very similar to that of the
previous methods. The stope is flanked by pillars, which, in turn, are surrounded by
two raises: one for access and the other for evacuation. The air ascends from the
transport level through the access raise and sweeps the stope (Fig. 5.12). The foul
air comes out through the evacuation raise and is conducted towards the upper level
where it is incorporated into the general circulation of the mine.
With regard to the cave mining methods, as is the case of panel caving, we will
focus on its current variant: block caving, of analogue ventilation system. In order
to ensure the significant amounts of precise ventilation flow at the production level,
9 The general principle of ascensional ventilation for the stopes is followed.
10 This method uses pillars or filled material as a support.