Annual Meeting Preliminary Program - Full Brochure (PDF) - SME

TECHNICAL PROGRAM
Mining & exploration:
operations: Ventilation I:
Planning and case Studies
2:00 PM • Monday, February 25
chairs: A. Martikainen, NIOSH, Pittsburgh, PA
G. Goodman, NIOSH, Pittsburgh, PA
2:00 PM
Introductions
2:05 PM
Ventilation on Demand Study for Room and Pillar Mining in
Flat Seams
H. Mischo and S. Noll; Department of Mining Engineering, Technical
University Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg, Germany
Ventilation is a neccessary part of underground mining operations in order to
provide fresh air for workers and machinery, keep up adequate mine climate and
dilute and dissipate noxious gases. Possible changing of circumstances in the future,
e.g. increasing energy costs or the expected lowering of occupational health
and safety limits are pressing for the optimization of distribution of air flow
within a mine. This can be one approach to reduce the concentration of noxious
gases at the working area of underground miners. This paper discusses the behavior
and influence of parameters of ventilation according to level of concentration
of noxious gases and under consideration of technical possible set up for
mine fans. This study was accomplished by a test series in an underground potash
mine with a flat seam room and pillar mining system.
2:25 PM
Comprehensive Pressure Quantity Survey for Investigating the
Effect of Booster Fans in a Metal/Non Metal Mine
A. Habibi 1 , R. Kramer 2 , J. Rowland 3 and S. Gillies 1 ; 1 Mining and
Nuclear, Missouri S&T, Rolla, MO; 2 Engineering department, FMC
Corporation, Green River, WY and 3 Dallas Mining Technology, Pty
Ltd, Green River, NSW, Australia
The ventilation survey has been conducted in an underground longwall Trona
mine. The ventilation system consists of nine shafts (three intakes and six exhausts).
Three axial surface fans are ventilating the mine in a blowing system.
During the ventilation survey airflow quantity, frictional pressure losses and air
psychrometric characteristics have been measured and quantified. The accurate
resistance survey has been conducted to calculate the pressure drop with regard
to moving the cage and skids in the shafts. This paper discusses the benefits of utilizing
highly accurate pressure transducers and digital psychrometers in a
leapfrogging survey to build the computer ventilation model. Two underground
booster fans with variable frequency drives are available at the mine. The model
has been used to determine the optimal location of the booster fans to decrease
the operating cost by reducing the load carried by the main fans. The leakage
study has been conducted to evaluate the effect of additional pressure by a
booster fan. The study follows by preparing the future ventilation model for the
next fifteen years of the mine and investigating the effect of booster fans.
2:45 PM
Numerical Modeling of Adsorption of Contaminant Gases
in an Underground Mine Opening
P. Rostami; Mining Engineering, UNR, Reno, NV
Adhesion of molecules or biomolecules of gas, liquid or dissolved solid to a surface
is known as adsorption. This phenomenon occurs due to the attraction
forces between solid adsorbent and adsorbate. The goal of this study is to propose
the best theoretical solution for simulating the adsorption of contaminants in
mines. Collected data from Barrik Goldstrik mine were used in this transient
study. Introduction of contaminants is achieved by bursting a plug of desired gas
trapped in a weather balloon at one point of the drift. Concentration values are
measured against the background readings, for further analysis of the arrival
time, dispersion coefficient and calculating the best safe distances at which mixing
is complete in the air flow. Adsorption coefficients were later determined by
fitting the numerical concentration variation model with unknown adsorption coefficient
to measured data.
3:05 PM
Thermal Displacement Ventilation in Metals Refining Operations
to Control Metallic Dust and Fume Exposures
W. Mele, C. Strode, D. Hall and R. Strode; Chemistry & Industrial
Hygiene, Inc., Wheat Ridge, CO
The first priority in controlling airborne contaminants in industrial settings is the
institution of engineering controls. These typically include local exhaust ventilation
(LEV) utilizing low volumes of exhaust air with high velocity entrainment
and capture, and, when the application does not lend itself to LEV, general dilution
ventilation (GDV). GDV usually requires large volumes of exhaust air and
tempered make-up air to dilute contaminants making GDV both costly to furnish
and install, and expensive to operate. An alternative to GDV is thermal displacement
ventilation (TDV), which utilizes lower volumes of air to reduce worker exposures.
In TDV, make-up air is delivered to the space at the floor level at a low
temperature and velocity, allowing the air to naturally rise toward the ceiling in a
piston flow manner. This air movement effectively pushes contaminants upward
and away from the workers breathing zone, exhausting contaminants at the upper
levels of the space. The discussion will present the application of TDV in metals
refining to reduce employee exposures while minimizing total exhaust flow rates,
and will discuss the possible uses and pitfalls of this technique.
3:25 PM
A Case Study Discussing Analysis of DPM Data for Underground
Barrick Mines in Nevada
A. Rai; Barrick Turquoise Ridge Inc., Winnemucca, NV
This paper provides an overview of the current use of DPM filters for Barrick underground
metal mines in Nevada and understand the requirement for diesel exhaust
gas dilution to justify permitted diesel equipment underground. The statistical
analysis supported by modelling is highlighted using equipment hours and
horse power. Overall equipment utilization factors were obtained from existing
mine data or extrapolated from data at other similar Barrick operations. These
factors were used to determine the overall mine air volume requirements. The impact
of installing DPM filters and using Biodisel on the Haulage Trucks and
LHDs was also investigated for each option.
3:45 PM
A Case Study Discussing Analysis of DPM Data for Underground
Barrick Mines in Nevada
A. Rai; Barrick Turquoise Ridge Inc., Winnemucca, NV
This paper provides an overview of the current use of DPM filters for Barrick underground
metal mines in Nevada and understand the requirement for diesel exhaust
gas dilution to justify permitted diesel equipment underground. The statistical
analysis supported by modelling is highlighted using equipment hours and
horse power. Overall equipment utilization factors were obtained from existing
mine data or extrapolated from data at other similar Barrick operations. These
factors were used to determine the overall mine air volume requirements. The impact
of installing DPM filters and using Biodisel on the Haulage Trucks and
LHDs was also investigated for each option.
4:05 PM
Design and Construction of the 3,700 kW (5,000 HP) No. 5 Shaft
Main Exhaust Fans at Henderson Mine
D. Loring 1 and J. Gillon 2 ; 1 formerly of Freeport McMoRan Copper
and Gold, Lakewood, CO and 2 Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold,
Empire, CO
The Climax Molybdenum Companys Henderson Mine, owned by Freeport
McMoRan Copper & Gold, is a large panel caving molybdenum mine located 69
km west of Denver, Colorado, currently producing approximately 31,750 tonnes
per day. In late 2010, the mine commissioned two parallel vane-axial 3,700 kW
(5,000 HP) surface exhaust fans as part of a major main mine ventilation upgrade.
The fans, provided by TLT Babcock, included features such as sound attenuators
to reduce noise, VFDs and design modifications to reduce energy consumption
and minimize the risk of stall. Construction of the foundation was
completed in 2008, while the majority of the fan construction and final commissioning
was completed in 2010. This paper describes the design, features, and
construction of the mine fans that now provide main exhaust ventilation to
Henderson Mine, as well as the final conversion sequence to the new fan system.
This is the Technical Program as of September 1, 2012. IT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
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Please see the Onsite Program for final details.