Research Statement
The design of ventilation systems for underground mines is becoming increasingly more important with the health concerns of diesel particulate matter. Mine ventilation systems all use some form of barriers to direct the air flow in the desired direction. The most common barrier is mason block stoppings. Depending on the design of the stopping, the contact of the stoppings to the surrounding rocks and the overall perfornce of the stopping as the mine structure deforms over time, the integrety of the stopping to prevent air leakage varies considerably. This task will investigate the leakage characteristics of the mine stoppings both in operating undergorund mines as well as laboratory modelling.
Another related topic is the utilization of booster fans in underground coal mines. A booster fan is an underground ventilation device installed in the main airstream (intake or return) to handle the quantity of air circulated by one or more working districts. Currently, booster fans are used in several coal mining countries, but they are not allowed in U.S. coal mines. This study will investigate the conditions under which booster fans can be used safely and efficiently in underground coal mines.
Publications
- This study presents the results of a set of sound level measurements carried out in three underground mines where auxiliary fans are used regularly. Sound levels as high as 100 dB(A) by the workings and 115 dB(A) by the fans were measured in these mines. These levels are quite high even for intermittent noise. Ventilation layouts and best practices used to overcome potential problems related to overexposure to fan noise in underground hard-rock mines are presented here. Factors such as fan type, rotational speed, and silencer-duct arrangements and their effects on noise attenuation are discussed. Published, 05/06/2019.