Chapter 4
Mine Ventilation Networks
4.1 Introduction
Mining ventilation networks are made up of the galleries and ducts through which
the air is distributed inside the exploitations. The ultimate aim in these calculations
is the dimensioning of the main fan which will supply fresh air to the mine. Here
two aspects should be taken into account: the quantity of air to be supplied and the
overall resistance of the mine. The first should be sufficient to guarantee people can
breathe, the operation of diesel machines, the dilution of fumes and dust, as well as
the correct environmental conditions of temperature and humidity for the miners’
work. The overall air flow rate requirements for a modern block caving mine are
usually about 600 m
3 s
−1 , while the highest are usually about 3000 m
3 s
−1 .
Once the quantity has been estimated, the overall resistance of the mine must be
estimated. For this purpose, laws similar to those used in the resolution of electrical
circuits are applied. Their application requires the use of a large number of equations
which are solved using numerical methods, thus computer programs to avoid tedious
manual calculation are employed. The bases for the informed management of these
computer tools are set out in this chapter.
4.2 Friction Losses: Atkinson Expression
If we start from the Darcy–Weisbach equation (Eq. 1.21):
H f =
f L
D
v
2
2g
(1.21)
where
© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license
to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
C. Sierra, Mine Ventilation, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-49803-0_4
87
Mine Ventilation Networks
4.1 Introduction
Mining ventilation networks are made up of the galleries and ducts through which
the air is distributed inside the exploitations. The ultimate aim in these calculations
is the dimensioning of the main fan which will supply fresh air to the mine. Here
two aspects should be taken into account: the quantity of air to be supplied and the
overall resistance of the mine. The first should be sufficient to guarantee people can
breathe, the operation of diesel machines, the dilution of fumes and dust, as well as
the correct environmental conditions of temperature and humidity for the miners’
work. The overall air flow rate requirements for a modern block caving mine are
usually about 600 m
3 s
−1 , while the highest are usually about 3000 m
3 s
−1 .
Once the quantity has been estimated, the overall resistance of the mine must be
estimated. For this purpose, laws similar to those used in the resolution of electrical
circuits are applied. Their application requires the use of a large number of equations
which are solved using numerical methods, thus computer programs to avoid tedious
manual calculation are employed. The bases for the informed management of these
computer tools are set out in this chapter.
4.2 Friction Losses: Atkinson Expression
If we start from the Darcy–Weisbach equation (Eq. 1.21):
H f =
f L
D
v
2
2g
(1.21)
where
© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license
to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
C. Sierra, Mine Ventilation, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-49803-0_4
87