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Ventilation and cooling on demand – is it possible?



South African mining houses are extending the
ventilation and cooling infrastructure that is crucial to their activities
as they move deeper underground.CSIR Miningtek environmental
control technical consultant Marco Biffi explains that, in the short term,
stretching this infrastructure eliminates the need to sink new shafts,
which is a capital-intensive exercise.Recent developments on the
subject of ventilation and cooling at the mining research body focus on
making the most efficient use of air and cooling systems available
underground.�śOur efforts are aimed towards air-reconditioning,
air-reuse and controlled recirculation,” Biffi states.The research
organisation has been evaluating the possibility of supplying ventilation
and cooling on demand.To make effective use of the ventilation and
cooling infrastructure and limit losses in these systems, Miningtek is
investigating a system that would allow areas where there is no mining
activity to be isolated from ventilation and cooling systems, and
reactivated when mining activity resumes in those areas.�śThe
philosophy of our research is based on the concept of switching off the
lights when you walk out of the room,” Biffi explains.The benefits
of implementing this kind of system include reduced energy
consumption.�śVentilation, cooling and refrigeration systems
already account for about 20% of a mine’s total energy consumption,” Biffi
notes.Running these systems will become increasingly expensive as
the cost of energy escalates, without considering the cost implications of
extending ventilation and cooling systems.�śWhen looking at
cyclical cooling and ventilation of air underground, we have to consider
the transient effects on the underground environment,” Biffi
emphasises.�śIf you shut off cooling to an area of a mine, it will
become very hot.�śConsequently, you will need ad-vanced cooling or
a boost to the cooling system before you can return to that part of the
mine,” he explains.He stresses that these philosophies are
relatively new and have implications for the management of ventilation and
cooling systems.Increasing mechanisation of South Africa’s mines
is another subject that has implications for ventilation and cooling
systems.On the one hand, mechanisation will reduce the extent and
nature of workers’ exposure to health hazards underground.However,
if this should result in an increase of diesel-powered machinery, it will
add to the pollution and heat generated underground.Introducing
mechanised technology will thus necessitate the improvement of dilution
and filtration systems.�śIn the past, systems were designed for
dilution rates generic to a mine,” Biffi explains.Introducing
mechanisation underground will obviously complicate the control and
management of dilution factors.Another factor that needs to be
considered is the fact that, as mines expand, their ventilation and
cooling infrastructure will also be extended, increasing the propensity
for increased leakage, reducing the availability of cool air at the
workface. In the coal-mining sector, coal-dust generation is an area on
which Miningtek has focused its attention for a number of years, through
the Safety in Mines Research Advisory Committee (Simrac) and the Coaltech
2020 initiative.Currently, the research body is measuring dust
generation by machines in high-seam coal-mines, with the view of
developing adequate control systems.Simulation technology and
observations are being used to quantify and assess the dust
produced.Biffi explains that water curtains are used to control
dust and to aid the dilution of flammable gas underground to prevent
coal-dust explosions.�śWater brings down dust in suspension, thus
curbing explosions, and water movement helps to mix air with flammable
gas,” he elaborates.Miningtek and mining equip-ment manufacturers
have already developed systems for the abate-ment of dust on road-headers
and continuous miners.Biffi hopes that, by trying to understand
the nature of dust, how it is generated and how it is dispersed, the
environmental control division will be able to design a system to control
and manage it at the source.To effect this, Biffi and his
associates are evaluating instrumentation or checking systems for
dust.Miningtek, in collaboration with mining equip-ment
manufacturers has already developed systems for the abatement of dust on
road-headers and continuous miners.The role of ventilation
engineering within Mining-tek’s environmental control division complements
the occupational health and hygiene research area within this
division.�śThere is a commonality in our work,” Biffi
notes.Developing ventilation and cooling technology is crucial to
abating airborne hazards and physical stressors that affect mineworkers’
health.Miningtek already has labs designed to assist developments
in heat and ventilation and for the evaluation of heat
exchangers.Together with industry partners, the environmental
control division is in the process of developing a heat-exchanger unit in
the stopes for stope cooling.These units can be handled by two
people.The Simrac, Coaltech 2020, DeepMine and FutureMine
initiatives in which the research body is involved have created a platform
for benchmarking and enhancing technology for the coal-, platinum- and
gold-mining industries.�śWe are, however, nearing the end of the
cycle and so we have to look at creating new technologies, develop new
approaches, focus on research and innovation to ensure that the equipment
we develop will suit its purpose as the South African mining industry
evolves,” Biffi states.These changes are all dictated by the
health, safety and economic requirements of the mining
industry.�śWe need to look at more extensive,
practically-orientated research, while opening new avenues of research,”
Biffi notes.Commenting on developments in the last five years, he
notes that research and development often have had to be smart and not
creative, to deliver practical and realistic results.�śIt is time
now to combine these imperatives with fresh, innovative thinking,” Biffi
concludes.










E-mail the article: Published: 2003/10/24
Printer friendly: B2B Coupon No: MW24-10-2003E42145

Author: candice
haasePortfolio: Staff
WriterE-mail:
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23 December 2005




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