Practical Mine Ventilation Engineering

Excerpt fro Chap. 4: Airflow in Mines pp. 56-58

5 . Determination of Airway K-Factor

The only accurate way to determine the K-Factor for a given airway is to compute using the
Atkinson Equation from actual pressure drop and air quantity measured underground. For estima-
tion or projection purposes, K-Factors may be selected from previously determined data in the
same area or published values for similar types of airways. Although developed over half a century
ago, the McElroy table (Table 4-1) is still the most widely used K-factor in ventilation planning.

Tables 4-2 and 4-3 display friction factors based on studies conducted in both the United States
and Great Britain. Tables 4-4 and 4-5 are results from Australian coal mines. For Table 4-2, the
format, similar to McElroy's: Smooth Lined, corresponds to openings driven by boring-type con-
tinuous miners and Unlined to openings produced by conventional methods. Openings not speci-
fied timbered are assumed to be roof bolted.

Table 4-2. Friction factor K x 1010 for coal mine airways and openings.

Straight Curved
Slightly Moderately Slightly Moderately
Type of Airway Clean Obstructed Obstructed Clean Obstructed Obstructed

Smooth Lined 25 28 34 31 30 43
Unlined (Bolted) 43 49 61 62 68 74
Timbered
67 75 82 85 87 90

Table 4-3. K values for circular airways§ (NCB, 1979) .

Shafts K Values
Smooth, concrete-lined, unobstructed 16
Brick-lined, unobstructed 20
Smooth, concrete-lined, with rope guides and
pipe ranges on buntons 34
Brick-lined, with rope guides and pipe ranges on buntons 39
Tubbing-lined, with no guides or cages 73
Timber-lined, no middle buntons 88
Brick-lined, two lines of side buntons, without tie girders 93
Brick-lined, two lines of side buntons, one tie girder to
each bunton 117
Timber-lined, with middle buntons 117
Steal-arched roadways
Smooth concrete all round 20
Concrete slabs or timber lagging between flanges all round 39
Concrete slabs or timber lagging between flanges to spring 49
Lagged behind arches, good condition 64
Rough conditions with irregular roof, sides and floor 83

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Chapter 4: Airflow in Mines

Rectangular roadways K values

Smooth, concrete line 20
Girders on brick or concrete walls 49
Unlined airways with uniform sides 64
Unlined airways irregular conditions 83
Girders or bars on timber props 98

§ For airways of other shapes, the value of the friction factor from the table is to be
multiplied by the shape factor below:

Table 4-4. K values for airshaft (Australasian Inst. Min. & Metall. 1993).

Shafts and furniture (x 10-4 Ns 2 /m4 ) (x 10-4 lb.min2 /ft4 )

Concrete, unobstructed 30 16
Brick lined, unobstructed 35 19
Concrete with rope guide 65 ~ 600 35 ~ 324
Tubbing lined 140 76
Concrete lined steel guides & buntons 75 ~ 600 40 ~ 342
Timber, rectangular 450 ~ 900 243 ~ 486
Raw stone 180 ~ 200 97 ~ 108
Smooth bored 50 27

Table 4-5. K values for airways (Australasian Inst. Min. & Metall. 1993).

Type of drift and support (x 10 -4 Ns2 /m4 ) (x 10-4 lb.min2 /ft4 )

Raw stone (bolts) transport 80 ~ 120 43 ~ 65
Belt drift (raw stone) 230 124
Gunnited transport 95 51
Raw stone combined belt and track 180 97
Raw stone (timber supported belt & track) 150 ~ 220 81 ~ 119
Arched and lagged (transport) 50 27

Table 4-6. K values for circular airways (NCB, 1979).

Shape of Roadway/Shaft Factor

Circular 1.00
Arched, straight legs 1.08
Arched, splayed legs 1.09
Square 1.11
Rectangular
width:height = 1.5:1 1.13
= 2.0:1 1.16
= 3.0:1 1.23

K Factor for Vent Pipe

Friction factors for different types of ventilation pipe or tubing vary with the material and its condi-
tion. The following figures are compiled based on w = 0.075 lb/ft3 and are acceptable for routine
calculations (Table 4-7):

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Chapter 4: Airflow in Mines

Table 4-7. K values for different types of vent tubing.

Friction Factor, K x 10-10

Pipe or Tubing Good, New Average, Used
Steel, wood, fiberglass (rigid) 15 20
Jute, canvas, plastic (flexible) 20 25
Spiral-type canvas 22.5 27.5

Example 4-7: Determine the friction loss in mine vent tubing under the following conditions:
plastic tubing, average condition; D = 48-in., L = 3,000 ft, Q = 48,000 cfm, and w = 0.075
lb/ft3 .

Solution : Select K = 25 from table

A = 12.566 ft , O = 12.566 ft

Using Equation (4-10),

25x12.566x(0.48)2
H= = 21.04 in. W.G.
5.2x(12.566)3

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