Reduced explosion risks and improve safety and health conditions by better ventilations practices in mechanical miner headings.

Abstract

This report describes the number of investigation done in attempt to improve ventilating conditions in the face area where mechanical miners are executing bord-and-pillar developments. The first concentrated on the effective use of jet flow fans are used. Use was made on both CFD modelling and underground tests to get to know more about the use of jet fans. It became evident that the interior design and performance of the fan determine the angle at which the air enters the heading, which in turn determines the penetration distance, which in turn determines the air flow pattern inside the heading. The use of controlled recirculation to ventilate a bord-and-pillar heading was also investigated. A thorough literature search was conducted on the methods used and the rationale behind the concept of reuse of air as an effective means of ventilating headings.