Abstract
A booster fan is an underground mechanical ventilation equipment installed in series with a main surface fan that is used to boost the air pressure provided by the surface main fan passing through it. As mining continues to expand and go deeper, the need for improved and efficient ventilation increases. This has led to the use of booster fans and other auxiliary ventilation devices in underground mines. This paper details experiments and results carried out at Missouri S&T Experimental Mine that investigated air leakage and recirculation caused by the use of booster fans. The results were compared with the situations where booster fans are used and not used. The variables considered were the booster fan blade angle and the fan combinations. Air quantity measurements were taken at each individual stopping under a number of scenarios and across four blade angle settings. The first set of situations examined were; the main surface Joy fan only running, the main Joy, and the west booster fan running, and the main Joy fan and east booster fan running. Observations were made which lead to the conclusion from the experimental analysis that booster fans affect the behavior of leakage and recirculation. The locations of the booster fan and the blade angle setting have the most effect on leakage and recirculation. To limit the potential for system leakage and recirculation, the location and size of a booster fan in a ventilation system should be thoroughly evaluated.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | 2015 SME Annual Conference and Expo and CMA 117th National Western Mining Conference - Mining: Navigating the Global Waters |
Publisher | Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration |
Pages | 116-119 |
Number of pages | 4 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9781510801240 |
Publication status | Published - 2015 |
Event | 2015 SME Annual Conference and Expo and CMA 117th National Western Mining Conference - Mining: Navigating the Global Waters - Denver, United States Duration: Feb 15 2015 → Feb 18 2015 |
Other
Other | 2015 SME Annual Conference and Expo and CMA 117th National Western Mining Conference - Mining: Navigating the Global Waters |
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Country | United States |
City | Denver |
Period | 2/15/15 → 2/18/15 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology