Modeling The Ventilation Network For An Old Coal Mine

Prediction of ventilation needs in long range mining projections requires serious consideration when formulating those projections. Predicting the behavior of the ventilation system of an old, complex mine poses an especially provocative problem. Air-flow around and through mined-out areas via bleeder systems, leakage flows through stoppings or other air control devices, and the use of multiple fans all add to the basic complexity of a ventilation system and make predictions of ventilation changes very difficult. Fortunately, the task of making ventilation decisions can be greatly assisted by ventilation surveying and computer simulation. The Nemacolin Mine of Jones and Laughlin Steel Corporation, located in Southwestern Pennsylvania, is one such old mine which used the computerized approach successfully. A mine-wide pressure-quantity survey was used to obtain realistic values for airway resistance factors. These values, together with network topology, formed the basic input for computer simulation. Results from this simulation indicated that air quantities generated at critical airways by the model were generally within a couple of percent of those measured in the actual survey. It was then concluded that the model was acceptable for practical application, and it was used immediately for studying the effects on the ventilation system of changing the blade settings of fans. Additionally, the model was modified to incorporate projected mine development and used to predict future ventilation.