COMPUTER APPLICATIONS FOR HENDERSON MINE VENTILATION PLANNING
Chapter 17
Tribhawan N. S r i v a s t a v a
Engineer
C l i m a x Molybdenum Company, Amax I n c .
Empire, C o l o r a d o
ABSTRACT
The Henderson M i n e s t a r t e d p r o d u c t i o n i n 1976 u t i -
l i z i n g a u n i q u e , p u s h - p u l l , mine v e n t i l a t i o n p l a n .
As t h e m i n e expands i n s i z e , t h e m i n e v e n t i l a t i o n r e -
q u i r e m e n t s w i l l i n c r e a s e and a more c o m p r e h e n s i v e
s y s t e m f o r m a i n t a i n i n g v e n t i l a t i o n w i l l be needed. A
c o m p u t e r s i m u l a t i o n s t u d y was c o m p l e t e d and has r e -
s u l t e d i n a r e v i s e d , s y s t e m a t i c , mine v e n t i l a t i o n
p l a n w h i c h i s b e i n g implemented as m i n e development
proceeds.
Based on t h e computer s i m u l a t i o n s t u d y , t h e new
v e n t i l a t i o n p l a n takes i n t o account m i n i n g o f t h e
o r e b o d y s i m u l t a n e o u s l y f r o m b o t h t h e 8100 and 7700
p r o d u c t i o n 1 e v e l s. P r e s e n t e x p e r i e n c e and e m p i r i c a l
d a t a i n d i c a t e t h a t volumes o f a i r needed t o a d e q u a t e l y
v e n t i l a t e b o t h p r o d u c t i o n l e v e l s c a n n o t be o b t a i n e d
u t i l i z i n g t h e e x i s t i n g m i n e l a y o u t . The t o t a l volume
o f a i r needed f o r t h e m i n e e x c l u d i n g h a u l a g e t u n n e l
w i l l i n c r e a s e f r o m 708 m3/s ( 1 500 000 c f m ) t o 1652
m3/s ( 3 500 000 c f m ) , t h u s a new No. 5 e x h a u s t s h a f t
and c o n n e c t i n g d r i f t s a r e b e i n g d e v e l o p e d t o expand
t h e mine v e n t i l a t i o n system t o s e r v i c e both pro-
duction levels.
'The o r i g i n a l v e n t i l a t i o n p l a n f o r t h e 7500 h a u l a g e
l e v e l was t o b r i n g a i r f r o m t h e No. 2 and No. 3 i n t a k e
s h a f t s and e x h a u s t i t t h r o u g h t h e 94X r a i s e t o t h e
8035 e x h a u s t l e v e l and t h e n t h r o u g h t h e No. 1 e x h a u s t
s h a f t t o s u r f a c e . C o n t r o l o f a i r volumes i n l o a d i n g
d r i f t s was i n i t i a l l y p l a n n e d t o be a c h i e v e d b y a i r
d o o r s and a i r c u r t a i n s . A i r d o o r s on t h e 7500 l e v e l
r e q u i r e l a r g e cutouts, expensive i n s t a l l a t i o n s and
constant maintenance.
The computer s i m u l a t i o n s t u d y i n d i c a t e s t h a t a i r -
f l o w i n t h e 7 5 0 0 - l e v e l p r o d u c t i o n d r i f t s c a n be con-
t r o l l e d e x c l u s i v e l y by a i r c u r t a i n s w h i c h a r e l e s s
e x p e n s i v e t o i n s t a l l and more e f f e c t i v e i n r e g u l a t i n g
a i r f l o w s t h a n a i r d o o r s . A i r f r o m t h e 7500 l e v e l can
be e x h a u s t e d t h r o u g h a new r a i s e t o t h e new 7635
e x h a u s t l e v e l and t h e n t h r o u g h t h e new No. 5 e x h a u s t
shaft.
INTRODUCTION
E v e r y mine has i t s own u n i q u e problems and t h e
Henderson mine i s no e x c e p t i o n . The 1976 m i n e ven-
t i l a t i o n p l a n had t o be upgraded and p l a n n e d a i r
volumes i n c r e a s e d t o be a b l e t o v e n t i l a t e t h e new
7700 p r o d u c t i o n l e v e l i n t h e e a r l y 1 9 9 0 ' s . I n re-
v i e w i n g s t u d i e s o f t h e v e n t i l a t i o n p l a n , i t appeared
t h a t a new v e n t i l a t i o n e x h a u s t s h a f t a n d a d d i t i o n a l
i n t a k e and e x h a u s t access d r i f t i n g w o u l d be r e q u i r e d .
S e v e r a l c o m p u t e r s i m u l a t i o n s t u d i e s were c o m p l e t e d .
The p u r p o s e o f t h e f i r s t s t u d y was t o d e t e r m i n e t h e
d i a m e t e r o f t h e p r o p o s e d e x h a u s t s h a f t , t h e number and
s i z e o f a d d i t i o n a l r e t u r n a i r w a y s , and t h e o v e r a l l
p r e s s u r e l o s s i n the-.proposed v e n t i l a t i o n system.
The purpose o f t h e second c o m p u t e r s t u d y was t o
develop a procedure t o c o n t r o l t h e haulage v e n t i -
l a t i o n system u t i l i z i n g a i r c u r t a i n s .
EXISTING HENDERSON MINE VENTILATION SYSTEM
The Henderson m i n e v e n t i l a t i o n system i s d i v i d e d
i n t o two m a j o r i n t e g r a t e d systems, namely, t h e m i n e
v e n t i l a t i o n system and t h e r a i l r o a d h a u l a q e - t u n n e l
v e n t i l a t i o n system. The No. 4 e x h a u s t s h a f t i s
l o c a t e d midway i n t n e 1513 km ( 9 . 4 m i l e s ) h a u l a g e
t u n n e l . The two e x h a u s t f a n s a t No. 4 s h a f t p u l l
f r e s h i n t a k e a i r f r o m t h e t u n n e l p o r t a l and a l s o f r o m
t h e m i n e and e x h a u s t i t t h r o u g h t h e v e r t i c a l s h a f t t o
s u r f a c e . A t t h e mine, f r e s h a i r i s pushed down No. 3
i n t a k e s h a f t by t w o s u r f a c e i n t a k e f a n s and p u l l e d up
No. 1 e x h a u s t s h a f t by t h r e e i d e n t i c a l s u r f a c e f a n s .
The No. 2 s e r v i c e s h a f t s u p p l i e s a l i m i t e d amount o f
f r e s h a i r t o b o t h t h e 8100 p r o d u c t i o n and 7500 r a i l -
r o a d h a u l a g e l e v e l s . The a i r f l o w a t No. 2 s h a f t i s
p r o d u c e d by t h e d i f f e r e n t i a l i n a i r volume between
t h e fanned i n t a k e s and e x h a u s t s . S p e c i f i c a t i o n s f o r
t h e e x h a u s t and i n t a k e f a n s and t h e d i f f e r e n t s h a f t s
a r e shown i n T a b l e 1.
W i t h i n t h e mine, t h e c o n c e p t o f f r e s h - a i r d i s t r i b -
u t o r and e x h a u s t c o l l e c t o r l e v e l s i s used f o r each
p r o d u c t i o n l e v e l . The 8050 f r e s h - a i r l e v e l r e c e i v e s
a i r d i r e c t l y f r o m t h e No. 3 s h a f t v i a f r e s h - a i r w a y
d r i f t s and d i s t r i b u t e s i t t o p r o d u c t i o n as w e l l as
development 1 e v e l s t h r o u g h v e r t i c a l r a i s e s . The 8035
exhaust col l e c t o r l e v e l along w i t h completed p o r t i o n s
o f t h e 7635 e x h a u s t l e v e l r e c e i v e e x h a u s t e d a i r f r o m
t h e v a r i o u s l e v e l s and r e t u r n i t d i r e c t l y t o No. 1
s h a f t by t h r e e e x h a u s t a i r w a y d r i f t s on 8035 l e v e l
and t w o e x h a u s t d r i f t s on 7635 l e v e l ( s e e F i g . 1 and
2).
I n t h e p r o d u c t i o n o p e r a t i o n o n 8100 l e v e l , 3.82 m3
( 5 c u y d ) , 126.77 Id4 ( 1 7 0 hp) LHD u n i t s g a t h e r o r e
f r o m d r a w p o i n t s and dump i t i n t o 2.44 m ( 8 f t ) d i a m
o r e passes a t an a v e r a g e r a t e o f 250 b u c k e t s p e r
s h i f t p e r l o a d e r . Dust generated d u r i n g t h i s opera-
t i o n i s c a p t u r e d a t t h e o r e passes b y e x h a u s t i n g them
t o t h e 8035 l e v e l . The o r e passes each c a r r y 9.44
m3/s ( 2 0 000 c f m ) o f a i r u n d e r ne a t i v e p r e s s u r e ,
w h i c h i s p r o d u c e d b y 1 . 8 3 m ( 6 f t f diam, 74.57 k4.I
( 1 0 0 h p ) f a n s l o c a t e d i n t h e 8035 e x h a u s t v e n t i l a t i o n
l a t e r a l s . Makeup a i r i s s u p p l i e d t o t h e 8100 l e v e l
f r o m t h e 8050 l e v e l t h r o u g h a s e r i e s o f 1.52 m ( 5 f t )
diam r e g u l a t e d r a i s e s each c a r r y i n g a volume o f 9.44
m3/s ( 2 0 000 c f m ) . P o s i t i v e p r e s s u r e i s p r o d u c e d b y
1.83 m ( 6 f t ) diam, 44.742 kM ( 6 0 h p ) f a n s l o c a t e d i n
t h e 8050 l a t e r a l s . The s y s t e m r e s u l t s i n a p a r t i a l
exchange o f a i r e v e r y 97.54 m ( 3 2 0 f t ) a l o n g each p r o -
d u c t i o n d r i f t . The 8050 and 8035 v e n t i l a t i o n l a t e r a l s
a r e d r i v e n p e r p e n d i c u l a r t o and below t h e 81 0 0 - l e v e l
p r o d u c t i o n d r i f t s . V e n t i l a t i o n i n t a k e r a i s e s and o r e
passes a r e l o c a t e d e v e r y 97.54 m ( 3 2 0 f t ) a l o n g each
o f t h e 8100-level production d r i f t s .
134 PROCEEDINGS OF 'THE 1st MINE VENTILA'I'ION SYMPOSIUM

TABLE 1

SHAFT DESCRIPTIONS FAN DESCRIPTIONS

Number Air
Number Diameter Depth of Type Diameter Power Location Volume Pressure

1 7 rn 799 m 3 Vane 3.05 rn 932 k 8 ! l Surface 283 m3/s 2488 Pa

(23 f t ) (2556 f t ) axial (10 f t ) (1250 hp) ( 6 0 0 000 ( 1 0 i n . wg)
c f m each) at altitude

2 8.5 m 946 m None - -

(28 f t ) (3105 f t )

I 2 3.05 m 932 k W Surface 378 rn3/s 747 Pa

3 7 m 698 rn Vane
i (23 f t ) (2291 f t ) axial (10 f t ) (1250 hp) (800000 ( 3 . 0 i n . wg)

I
j
cfrn each) at altitude

,
1 4 3.35m 483111 2 Vane 2.13m 373kW Under- 94rn3/s 1120Pa
(11 f t ) (1585 f t ) axial (7 ft) (500 hp) ground ( 2 0 0 000 (4.5 i n . wg)
cfm each) a t a1 t i t u d e
136 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 1st MINE VENTILATION SYMPOSIUM
 COMPUTER APPLICATIONS FOR HENDERSON MINE VENTILATION 137

During t h e w i n t e r , t h e f r e s h - a i r temperature i s 4. P r i n t s a t a b l e o f natural v e n t i l a t i o n pres-

r a i s e d t o make t h e mine e n v i r o n m e n t c o m f o r t a b l e and s u r e s i f a n y have been s p e c i f i e d .
p r e v e n t i c e b u i l d u p i n t h e No. 2 a n d 3 s h a f t s . A t
No. 3 s h a f t , t h i s i s done by u t i l i z i n g t h e w a s t e h e a t 5. P r i n t s t h e mesh t a b l e , s i m u l t a n e o u s l y com-
f r o m t w o s o u r c e s . A h e a t exchange s y s t e m t r a p s t h e p u t i n g t h e natural v e n t i l a t i o n pressures.
h e a t f r o m t h e m i n e d i s c h a r g e w a t e r a t 2 6 - 320C ( 8 0 -
90F) a n d a s u p p l e m e n t a l w a s t e - o i l - f i r e d b o i l e r . To 6. Reads f a n c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s and computes f a n
r a i s e t h e temperature o f fresh i n t a k e a i r through t h e curves.
No. 2 s h a f t , o u t g o i n g c o o l i n g w a t e r from t h e m i n e a i r
compressors i s f u r t h e r h e a t e d b y an e x t e r n a l g a s - f i r e d 7. Performs Hardy-Cross i t e r a t i o n s .
b o i l e r and t h e h e a t e d w a t e r i s passed t h r o u g h a h e a t
exchanger. 8. Computes p r e s s u r e l o s s .

COMPUTER SIMULATION 9. Generates a l i s t i n g o f each b r a n c h w i t h c o r -

r e s p o n d i n g p r e s s u r e , q u a n t i t y , and r e s i s t a n c e .
I n s t e a d o f d e v e l o p i n g a new m i n e v e n t i l a t i o n p r o -
T o t a l p r e s s u r e s and f a n p r e s s u r e s a r e a1 so
gram, an e f f o r t was made t o u s e e x i s t i n g c o m p u t e r
printed.
programs. One such p r o g r a m c a l l e d t h e ' P e n n s y l v a n i a
S t a t e Mine V e n t i l a t i o n S i m u l a t i o n ' d e v e l o p e d b y t h e
A number o f a s s u m p t i o n s a r e made by t h i s s i m u l a -
P e n n s y l v a n i a S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y was f o u n d t o be s u i t -
t i o n package:
a b l e . T h i s p r o g r a m e v a l u a t e s t h e p r e s s u r e l o s s and
a i r f l o w i n each b r a n c h o f t h e n e t w o r k and, a l s o , t h e
1. The i n p u t must d e s c r i b e a n e t w o r k w h i c h i s
o v e r a l l p r e s s u r e l o s s o f t h e v e n t i l a t i o n system.
c l o s e d , i.e. t h e r e m u s t be N i n d e p e n d e n t l o o p s
The v e n t i l a t i o n s i m u l a t i o n package c o n s i s t s o f t w o (meshes ) where :
FORTRAN programs, o p e r a t i n g o n a Decsystem-20 com-
p u t e r . The f i r s t p r o g r a m a l l o w s t h e u s e r t o e n t e r N = ( # o f branches) - ( # o f junctions) t 1.
n e t w o r k d a t a i n t e r a c t i v e l y a t a v i d e o t e r m i n a l and
b u i l d s an i n p u t f i l e i n NAMELIST f o r m a t f o r t h e second 2. E v e r y f i x e d - q u a n t i t y b r a n c h and e v e r y f a n
program which performs t h e a n a l y s i s o f t h e v e n t i l a t i o n b r a n c h must a p p e a r i n a l o o p w h i c h c o n t a i n s ,
s y s t e m and p r i n t s t h e r e s u l t s o f t h e s i m u l a t i o n . A t i n a d d i t i o n t o t h a t f i x e d - q u a n t i t y o r fan
t h e u s e r ' s request, t h e i n p u t program w i l l d i s p l a y t h e branch, o n l y g e n e r a l branches, i . e . no o t h e r
d a t a i n s m a l l segments and a l l o w l i m i t e d changes t o f i x e d - q u a n t i t y o r f a n branches.
the file.
The f i r s t ( i n p u t ) p r o g r a m a l l o w s t h r e e methods f o r 3. The t o t a l number o f f i x e d - q u a n t i t y and f a n
t h e i n p u t o f resistance values: branches c a n n o t exceed N d e f i n e d above.

1. To e n t e r t h e r e s i s t a n c e o f each b r a n c h 4. A l l branches i n t o a s i n g l e j u n c t i o n c a n n o t be
f i x e d - q u a n t i t y branches.
2. To compute r e s i s t a n c e s f r o m t w o a b s o l u t e p r e s -
s u r e o r t e m p e r a t u r e s and q u a n t i t y f o r each A t t h e Henderson Mine, t h e r e s i s t a n c e f a c t o r o f
branch. each b r a n c h was c a l c u l a t e d f r o m t h e common p r e s s u r e -
l o s s f o r m u l a f o r m i n e v e n t i l a t i o n and e n t e r e d i n t o
3. To compute r e s i s t a n c e s f r o m a f r i c t i o n f a c t o r the input f i l e with the fixed quantities o f airflow,
b y g i v i n g h e i g h t , w i d t h , and l e n g t h o f each i f any.
branch.
The common p r e s s u r e - l o s s f o r m u l a f o r mine v e n t i -
A number o f methods a r e a l s o a v a i l a b l e f o r com- lation is:
p u t i n g fan curves:

1. Newton's f i n i t e d i v i d e d - d i f f e r e n c e s method w i t h
interpolation.
"=% a t s t a n d a r d d e n s i t y o f 0.075 l b p e r c u ft

where H i s t h e p r e s s u r e l o s s i n i n c h e s w a t e r ,
2. The o r i g i n a l ' P e n n s y l v a n i a S t a t e ' t e c h n i q u e . K i s airway f r i c t i o n f a c t o r expressed i n whole
number,
3. The o r i g i n a l ' P e n n s y l v a n i a S t a t e ' t e c h n i q u e L i s the length of airway i n feet,
w i t h i n p u t s c a l e d b y 100. 0 i s t h e perimeter o f t h e airway i n feet,
Q i s t h e q u a n t i t y o f a i r f l o w , c u ft p e r m i n u t e
4. Least squares fit. e x p r e s s e d i n u n i t s o f 100 000,
A i s t h e cross-sectional area o f t h e a i r w a y i n
The second ( o u t o u t ) p r o g r a m w h i c h p e r f o r m s t h e s q ft
a n a l y s i s uses t h e i t e r a t i v e p r o c e s s known as t h e
Hardy Cross method t o d e t e r m i n e t h e f l o w r a t e s . The
p r o g r a m f o l l o w s a sequence o f s t e p s as f o l l o w s :
substituting R for KLO - the resistance factor o f
5.2~3 t h e airway.
1. Reads t h e i n p u t f i l e c r e a t e d b y t h e f i r s t p r o - The f o r m u l a becomes H = R Q ~ ,
gram a n d l i s t s t h e d a t a .

2. A r r a n g e s t h e branches i n o r d e r o f r e s i s t a n c e FIRST COMPUTER SIMULATION STUDY

( h i g h t o l o w ) and d e t e r m i n e s w h i c h branches
t o u s e as s t a r t i n g p o i n t s f o r g e n e r a t i n g t h e
meshes.
3. Generates ,the meshes r e q u i r e d f o r t h e a n a l y s i s .
A r e e v a l u a t i o n o f t h e 1976 v e n t i l a t i o n p l a n i n
l i g h t o f b o t h o u r o p e r a t i n g e x p e r i e n c e and t h e 1980
a n d 1981 l o n g - r a n g e m i n i n g p l a n s r e s u l t e d i n formu-
l a t i n g t h e f o l l o w i n g parameters:
138 PROCEEDINGS OF THE I st MINE VENTILATION SYMPOSIUM
1. The o r i g i n a l c o n c e p t o f e x h a u s t and i n t a k e
d i s t r i b u t o r l e v e l s s h o u l d be r e t a i n e d i n t h e
plan.
2. The o r i g i n a l c o n c e p t o f a changeout o f a i r i n
t h e p r o d u c t i o n d r i f t s s h o u l d be r e t a i n e d , b u t
t h e a i r volume p e r exchange s h o u l d be i n c r e a s e d .
3. The p r o d u c t i o n w o u l d be s c h e d u l e d f r o m t h e
81 00 and 7700 p r o d u c t i o n 1 e v e l s s i m u l t a n e o u s l y .
Although mine tonnage would n o t nece5;arily
i n c r e a s e , t h e e x t e n t o f t h e a r e a t o be v e n t i -
1 a t e d w o u l d e s s e n t i a l 1 y d o u b l e and, t h e r e f o r e ,
t h e volume o f a i r r e q u i r e d w o u l d a l s o n e a r l y
doubl e.
Based on t h e s e p a r a m e t e r s , t h e f u t u r e m i n e v e n t i -
l a t i o n r e q u i r e m e n t was d e t e r m i n e d t o be 1652 m3/s
( 3 500 0 0 0 c f m ) d i s t r i b u t e d as f o l l o w s : 3100 p r o -
d u c t i o n and s u b l e v e l s - 708 m3/s ( 1 500 000 c f m ) ;
7700 p r o d u c t i o n and sub1 e v e l s - 779 m3/s ( 1 650 0 0 0
cfm); and 7500 r a i l h a u l a g e 1 e v e l - 165 m3/s ( 3 5 0 000
cfm). By s i m u l a t i n g t h e o r i g i n a l v e n t i l a t i o n system
u s i n g t h e P e n n s y l v a n i a S t a t e v e n t i l a t i o n program, i t
was p o s s i b l e t o v e r i f y t h e need f o r a new v e n t i l a t i o n
s h a f t as w e l l as d e t e r m i n e t h e s i z e r e q u i r e m e n t s o f
t h e s h a f t and t h e a i r w a y d r i f t i n g c o n n e c t i n g i t t o t h e
mine. F u r t h e r m o r e , i n s c h e d u l i n g t h e No. 5 s h a f t
v e n t i l a t i o n program, i t was d e t e r m i n e d what s t e p s
c o u l d be t a k e n e a r l y i n t h e p r o g r a m t o i n c r e a s e m i n e
v e n t i l a t i o n w i t h o u r e x i s t i n g s h a f t s and fans. These
s t e p s i n c l uded d e e p e n i n g No. 1 s h a f t , c o m p l e t i n g
p o r t i o n s o f t h e 7635 e x h a u s t c o l l e c t o r l e v e l and ( , s i n g
i t t o p a r a l l e l t h e 8 0 3 5 - l e v e l e x h a u s t system. The
p r e d i c t e d r e s u l t s o f t h e s e s t e p s compared w i t h a c t u a l
measured mine volume i n c r e a s e s were as f o l l o w s .
DEEPENING NO. 1 SHAFT (8XA a i r w a y d r i f t c o m p l e t e d ) :
Predicted - 37 - 42 m3/s ( 8 0 - 90 000 cfm)
8x6 AIRWAY DRIFT COMPLETED:
Predicted - 33 - 37 m3/s ( 7 0 - 80 000 cfm)
Actual - 4 2 m3/s (90 000 c f m )
USING THE 7635 LEVEL TO PARALLEL 8035 LEVEL:
Predicted - 37 - 42 m3/s ( 8 0 - 90 000 c f m )
Actual - work i n p r o g r e s s
Based o n t h e a n t i c i p a t e d f u t u r e v e n t i l a t i o n r e -
q u i r e m e n t s , t h e computer s i m u l a t i o n r e s u l t e d i n a
f u t u r e v e n t i l a t i o n system as f o l l o w s .
1. The Nos. 1 , 2 and 3 s h a f t s w i l l a l l become
i n t a k e s h a f t s and t h e new No. 5 s h a f t w i l l
s e r v e as t h e s i n g l e e x h a u s t s h a f t .
2. The h a u l a g e t u n n e l e x h a u s t w i l l r e m a i n un-
a1 t e r e d .
3. The No. 3 s h a f t w i l l e v e n t u a l l y be c o n n e c t e d
t o t h e 7700 l e v e l v i a 7N d r i f t .
4. The 8100 p r o d u c t i o n - l e v e l i n t a k e w i l l n o t
change.
5. The a i r f r o m t h e 8035 e x h a u s t l e v e l w i l l go
t h r o u g h t h r e e 5.18 m ( 1 7 f t ) w i d e by 5.18 m
( 1 7 f t ) h i g h d r i f t s (4XA, 4XR and 4XC) t o t h e
No. 5 e x h a u s t s h a f t .
6. The a i r from t h e 7635 e x h a u s t l e v e l w i l l be
r e t u r n e d t h r o u g h t h r e e 4.88 m ( 1 6 f t ) w i d e b y
4.88 n ( 1 6 f t ) h i g h l d t e r a l d r i f t s (838, 858
and 878) c o n n e c t e d t o t h r e e r e t u r n e x h a u s t
d r i f t s ( ~ x C , 8XD and 8xE) 5.18 m ( 1 7 f t ) w i d e
b y 5.18 m ( 1 7 f t ) h i g h and t h e n t o No. 5 s h a f t .
7. The n e t e x h a u s t - a i r r e t u r n f r o m a l l l e v e l s
w i l l be p u l l e d up t h e No. 5 s h a f t .
8. The No. 5 s h a f t , w h i c h i s c u r r e n t l y b e i n g
developed, i s 9.75 m ( 3 2 f t ) i n d i a m e t e r ,
smooth l i n e d w i t h c o n c r e t e .
9. The p r e d i c t e d m i n e s t a t i c head was 30 X 102pa
( 1 2 i n c h e s w a t e r ) a t s t a n d a r d c o n d i t i o n s . Four
3.66 m ( 1 2 f t ) d i a . , 1305 k W ( 1 7 5 0 hp) vane
a x i a l fans w i t h c o n t i n u o u s l y a d j u s t a b l e blades
were chosen f o r t h e p r o j e c t .
SECOND COMPUTER SIMLILATION STUDY
A l l o r e i s t r a n s p o r t e d f r o m t h e 7500 o r e c o l l e c t i o n
l e v e l t o t h e m i l l t h r o u g h a 1 5 . 1 3 k n (9.4 m i l e ) h a u l -
age t u n n e l u s i n g an e l e c t r i f i e d r a i l h a u l a g e system.
L o c o m o t i v e s a r e powered from an o v e r h e a d t r o l l e y
w h i c h i s m a i n t a i n e d a t 1400 V ( d c ) i n tt-,? t u n n e l and
600 V ( d c ) w i t h i n t h e 7500 l e v e l . The t y p i c a l 2 2 - c a r
t r a i n w i t h t h r e e 45 359 k g ( 5 0 s h n r t - t o n ) l o c o m o t i v e s
i s continuously loaded from t h e side-loading chutes
i n t h e 7500-level l o a d i n g d r i f t s (LD's). The c h u t e s
a r e c o n n e c t e d t o 1 8 3 m ( 6 0 0 f t ) l o n g , 2.44 n ( 8 f t )
d i a m o r e passes c o n i n g f r o m t h e 8100 p r o d u c t i o n l e v e l
above.
O p e r a t i n g ex e r i e n c e t o d a t e has shown t h a t an
5
a i r f l o w o f 1 9 m / s ( 4 0 000 cfm) p e r l o a d i n g d r i f t
w i l l c o n t r o l d u s t d u r i n g t h e c h u t e - p u l l i n g / c a r - 1 oad-
i n g p o r t i o n o f t h e h a u l a g e c y c l e as w e l l as p r o v i d e
adequate c o o l i n g f o r t h e l o c o m o t i v e s . The B e r r y - t y p e
a i r c u r t a i n s have been used i n t h e l o a d i n g d r i f t s on
a l i m i t e d b a s i s and have been s u c c e s s f u l i n r e g u -
l a t i n g a i r f l o w s . The u s e o f a i r c u r t a i n s i s e f f e c t i v e
a t Henderson because problems a s s o c i a t e d w i t h a i r
d o o r s such as t r o l l e y i n t e r f e r e n c e , damage caused b y
m o v i n g t r a i n s , and s i z e a b l e e r c a v a t i o n s a r e e l i m i -
n a t e d . The use o f a i r d o o r s i n c r o s s c u t s between
l o a d i n g d r i f t s i s , however, v i a b l e .
The purpose o f t h e computer s i m u l a t i o n was t o
determine:
1. I f a i r c u r t a i n s w o u l d p r o v i d e an o p e r a b l e
r e g u l a t i o n system when 7500 l e v e l was com-
p l e t e l y developed.
2. The number o f a i r c u r t a i n s and a i r d o o r s
required.
3. The l o c a t i o n o f t h e a i r c u r t a i n s and a i r d o o r s .
S e v e r a l s i m u l a t i o n s were r u n t o answer t h e s e ques-
t i o n s . The r e s u l t s a r e shown o n F i g u r e 3. F i r s t ,
t h e a i r d i s t , r i b u t i o n w i t h no r e g u l a t o r s i n t h e l o a d i n g
d r i f t s was e s t a b l i s h e d . Then, r e q u i r e d a i r f l o w v a l u e s
were a s s i g n e d t o t h e l o a d i n g d r i f t s west o f t h e 9X
c r o s s c u t and a i r d o o r s a r b i t r a r i l y l o c 3 t e d i n t h e
c r o s s c u t s . The model was m o d i f i e d by c h a n g i n g a i r -
door l o c a t i o n s u n t i l simulated flows i n t h e l o a d i n g
 7 5 0 0 LEVEL
UNREGULATED / REGULATED AIR FLOW IN m'/s X- - DYNAMIC RESISTANCE OR ASSISTANCE
- C R E A T E D BY AC
0 - AIR CURTAIN (AC)
+ -INDUCING FLOW
A D -AIR DOORS
- - RETARDING FLOW
a - FAN
FIG. 3
 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 1st MINE VENTILATION SYMPOSIUM

d r i f t s e a s t o f 9X b a l a n c e d . The d i f f e r e n c e i n p r e s -
s u r e s between t h e u n r e g u l a t e d c o n d i t i o n and t h e
balanced c o n d i t i o n i s t h e pressure t h a t t h e a i r cur-
t a i n must s u p p l y . The v a l u e s d e t e r m i n e d a r e w i t h i n
t h e c a p a b i l i t y o f o u r c u r t a i n s and, t h e r e f o r e , i t
s h o u l d be p o s s i b l e t o a d e q u a t e l y b a l a n c e l o a d i n g -
d r i f t a i r f l o w s w i t h o u t u s i n g a i r d o o r s i n them.

A d i s a d v a n t a g e o f t h e system caused by t h e l o c a -
t i o n o f t h e e x i s t i n g 94X e x h a u s t v e n t r a i s e i s t h a t
t h e p o r t i o n s o f 93L0, 94LD and 95LD west o f 9X a r e i n
s e r i e s w i t h o t h e r l o a d i n g d r i f t s on t h e l e v e l . An
a d d i t i o n a l s e r i e s o f s i m u l a t i o n s were r u n t o d e t e r m i n e
t h e e f f e c t o f r e p l a c i n g 94X e x h a u s t r a i s e w i t h a new
93X e x h a u s t r a i s e as shown i n F i g u r e 4. The simu-
l a t i o n shows t h a t u n d e r t h e new c o n d i t i o n , D r e s s u r e s
t h a t must be p r o d u c e d by t h e a i r c u r t a i n : a r e r e d u c e d
b u t t h e number o f a i r d o o r s r e q u i r e d i n t h e c r o s s c u t s
d o u b l e s . The f i n a l d e c i s i o n c o n c e r n i n g t h e c h o i c e g f
systems w i l l be based on t h e a n t i c i p a t e d d u s t l e v e l s
i n the series-oriented loading drifts.

CONCLUSIONS

The improvement o f an e x i s t i n g m i n e v e n t i l a t i o n
s y s t e m t o accommodate a second p r o d u c t i o n 1 eve1 i s a
m u l t i d e c i s i o n p r a c e s s . D i f f e r e n t a l t e r n a t i v e s must be
e v a l u a t e d b e f o r e d e t e r m i n i n g w h i c h s y s t e m w i l l be most
c o s t e f f e c t i v e i n a p a r t i c u l a r m i n e s i t u a t i o n . Manual
c a l c u l a t i o n s a r e extreme1 y compl ex t o w a r d r e s o l v i n g
mu1 t i n e t w o r k p r o b l e m s . Computer s i m u l a t i o n p r o v i d e s
q u i c k and r e l i a b l e s o l u t i o n s f r o m w h i c h v a r i o u s param-
e t e r s c a n be e a s i l y e v a l u a t e d f o r t h e i r c r i t i c a l i t y
and e f f e c t i v e n e s s .

Computer s i m u l a t i o n o f t h e v e n t i l a t i o n s y s t e m a t
Henderson Mine has p r o v i d e d a h e l p f u l t o o l i n e v a l u -
a t i n g f u t u r e v e n t i l a t i o n p l a n s and o p t i m i z i n g t h e
p e r f o r m a n c e o f o u r p r e s e n t system.

REFERENCES

S t e i n h o f f , J., 1981, "The Henderson Mine V e n t i l a t i o n

System," D e s i g n and O p e r a t i o n o f C a v i n g and Sub-
l e v e l S t o p i n g Mines", S t e w a r t , D.R., ed., AIME.
New York, pp. 821-824.

S a d i k , W.A., and Jensen, E.B., 1979, " A i r Q u a l i t y

C o n t r o l i n D i e s e l Equipment O p e r a t i o n s a t t h e
Henderson Mine," Second I n t e r n a t i o n a l Mine
V e n t i l a t i o n Congress, Mousset-Jones, P., ed.,
AIME, New York, pp. 195-200.
 COMPUTER APPI-ICATIONS FOR HENDERSON MINE VENTILATION

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