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Natural Ventilation in U/G Mine

Air flows in underground mines because of pressure differences. There are two forces
that can generate such pressure differences: mechanical and natural. Mine fans can
provide pressure difference mechanically, while natural air flow is caused by thermal
energy exchange and temperature difference between inside and outside.

Natural ventilation

Natural ventilation is the process of supplying air to and removing air from an U/G
mine without using mechanical systems. Natural ventilation depends on the difference
in elevation of the surface and the mine workings and the difference in air temperature
inside and outside the mine.

How Does NVP Work?

In NV, pressure difference is expressed in terms of temperature differences, which causes natural
ventilation.

For example, in the wintertime, it is colder outside than it is inside the mine. Warm air is lighter than cold,
so the warm air rises through the shaft(s) drawing in fresh (cool) air. In the summer the cool air in the
mine settles, drawing in warm air through openings.

Energy -- Temperature -- Density -- Air Movement

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In a mine, ventilated only by natural ventilation, greater differences in elevation and/or

temperature give greater heat energy transfer, greater pressure difference, and larger airflow. If
the temperature difference causing airflow becomes zero, then there will be no air movement.

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Mines in mountains or hilly terrain frequently have strong natural ventilation because of the
difference in elevation of the openings. Mines that are both deep and hot also have strong
natural ventilation. Natural ventilation should never be relied upon solely for mine air
conditioning. Natural ventilation may support or act against the mechanical energy source in
the ventilation system. Wherever possible, natural ventilation when it is strongest should be
utilized to work with the fan.

Effect of seasonal change on NPV

In practice, the natural ventilation pressure (NVP) undergoes seasonal changes,

which in some cases varies the amount of airflow direction. For example, in the
wintertime, it is colder outside than it is inside the mine. Warm air is lighter than
cold, so the warm air rises through the shaft(s) drawing in fresh (cool) air. In the
summer the cool air in the mine settles, drawing in warm air through openings.
Natural ventilation is usually strongest in winter, weakest in summer, and subject to
at least semiannual reversal in the spring and fall.

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Disadvantages/Drawbacks of Natural Ventilation

• Natural ventilation is usually poor,

• Fluctuates to a large extent, Unstable and unreliable,

• Is subject to reversal of direction,

• In some cases, such as U/G mine fires, natural ventilation can not be controlled.

The factors affecting natural ventilation are

• Temperature

• Moisture Content

• Barometric Pressure

• Addition of Gases

• Leakage

Sources of Heat in Mines

Auto-compression, Wall rock, Underground water, Machinery and lights,
Human metabolism, Oxidation, Blasting, Rock movement, etc.

Calculation of NVP

NPV =
.

NPV= Natural ventilation Pressure, KPa/Pa

𝑇 and 𝑇 are the average temperatures in the downcast and upcast shafts. K
g = Gravity constant, 9.81m/𝑠
D = Depth of the Shaft, m
B = Barometric readings, KPa/Pa

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Example
Calculate the NPV in a mine with the following data:
• Depth of mine = 300m
• Pit bottom barometric reading = 101.2 kPa
• Pit top barometric reading = 98.1 kPa
• Average temperature in DC shaft = 304 K
• Average temperature in UC shaft = 307 K
Solution:
. .
Here, Average barometric reading B = = 99.65KPa
NPV =
.
. × × .
= . ×
= 0.03284𝐾𝑃𝑎 = 32.84𝑃𝑎

Mechanical ventilation
Mechanical ventilation include all powered machines used to induce
airflow in mine openings or ducts. Fans are the most important and most
common of these machines, but compressors and injectors also have
application to ventilation.

The fan is a converter of energy supplying pressure to overcome the head

losses in airflow, and as such, must be considered as an energy source in
the Bernoulli equation for fluid flow.

There are two major categories of fans, namely, radial flow (centrifugal)
and axial flow. In centrifugal fans, the air is drawn into a rotating impeller
and discharged radially into an expanding scroll casing.