SME Annual Meeting

Feb. 19 - 22, 2012, Seattle, WA

Preprint 12-138

COMPARISON OF MINE VENTILATION SIMULATION SOFTWARE

Y. Zhang, Missouri Univ. of Science and Tech., Rolla, MO

X. Zhang, Missouri Univ. of Science and Tech., Rolla, MO
A. Habibi, Missouri Univ. of Science and Tech., Rolla, MO
J. C. Tien, Missouri Univ. of Science and Tech., Rolla, MO

ABSTRACT still remains the most widely used ventilation simulation software on
the market (Figure 1).
Ventilation network modeling in mine planning dates back at least
three decades, but it is not widely accepted and/or practiced until the With resistance values either computed from field survey or from
last decade, thanks to the advent of modern computers with their existing values with similar geometry and dimension of the mine
increase d speed and storage space. There are at least half a dozen network, and the location and fan characteristic curves, the software
such modeling software packages available on the market each with will provide users with the following information in detailed listings
different features and acceptance. This paper compares five popular and/or graphical representations.
software packages,–– VnetPC Pro, MineVent, VentSIM Visual,
VentGraph and MFIRE 3.0. A case study using Missouri S&T’s • Branch airflows
Experimental Mine is conducted to compare the five software • Airway resistance and Pressure drops for each airway
packages in features, interface, output display and user-friendliness.
• Air power losses in airways.
INTRODUCTION • Ventilation cost of each airway.
To provide adequate ventilation has always been a major • Fan operating points (pressures and airflows).
challenge in underground mining operations. Prior to the introduction of • Duties of required regulators and booster fans.
computerized network analysis, engineers had to perform ventilation • Contaminants information
design and planning by manual calculations supplemented with
experience. The advent of powerful, reliable and affordable modern
computers and network software have significantly taken the
guesswork out of design.
Ventilation network simulation using computers dates back to the
mid-1960s (Gibbs, 2002). Some early ventilation simulation software
packages are Penn State program (1965), Michigan Tech Network
Simulation Program (1969), MFIRE (1970s, evolved from earlier
Michigan Tech network program) and others developed by government
organizations, such as CANMET (Canada), Ineris (Cerchar, France),
COMRO(South Africa) and CSIRO (Australia). Early programs were
under DOS environment and the network modeling was mostly
performed on limited basis.
Fast advances in computing technology since the late 1980s
enabled new and more powerful modeling software to be developed in
major mining countries afterwards. This new generation of software
took advantage of modern computer speed, increasingly large storage Figure 1. The Interface of VnetPC Pro.
capacities and graphics interface that make today’s package more
powerful, user-friendlier as well as more affordable. Today, mine Model Construction and Data Output
network modeling has been becoming more and more common in the After the mine schematic is constructed either manually or use
field. VnetPC Pro’s built-in drawing tool, data can be inputted in any one of
the combination of three ways:
Although based on the same Kirchhoff’s two laws, all ventilation
simulation software packages vary in interface, graphics capabilities 1. Input normal information (title, average fan efficiency, cost of
and functions depending on specific tasks performed. This paper power, air density, units) followed by junction data, branch
attempts to provide some observations and comparisons on various data, fan data then executive simulation.
features for some of the commonly available software, from a user’s 2. Numerically enter the coordinate data in tabular form, or
perspective. copy the coordinate data from a spreadsheet and paste into
the Junction Data View.
VNETPC PRO
Or
Interface and Features
VnetPC is a popular ventilation network simulation package 3. Draw the schematic in CAD or other planning program and
originally developed by Dr. Malcolm McPherson. It was first released in save it as DXF file, import the schematic into VnetPC Pro
November, 1985 (Anon., 1985) and its current version, VentPC Pro, is and input/modify the information for each brunch directly
a 32-bit and 64-bit compatible format and can be operated under from the model. All junction and branch numbers will be
Windows 7 and earlier operating systems. VnetPC Pro is powerful automatically added to the model and networks will be
network modeling program designed to help engineers with the developed as Lines, Polylines, and Text, and to be imported
planning of underground short- and long-range ventilation planning and into VnetPC Pro as levels/groups of data, or as an entire
1 Copyright © 2012 by SME

mine. This method is best adopted when the user wants to
drape/overlay the ventilation network on a mine plan.
Depending on user preferences, other input methods are also
available.
• Both Schematic View and tabular view are available in
VnetPC Pro, the former allows the user to develop and
manipulate networks entirely from this view, while the latter
facilitates rapid data entry, and allow the user to copy and
paste data between Windows applications.
• Visualize airways in 3D.
• Default network size limit is 10,000 branches, 4,000
junctions, and 600 fans.
• VnetPC Pro allows users to apply an existing branch to
create a template which can be used to quickly modify other
branches rather than manually entering data into each
branch individually.
• VnetPC Pro allows users to import fan curves created in the
DuctSIM program.
• VnetPC Pro provides a Shock Loss Calculator which
enables the user to implement shock losses into any branch
in the ventilation model.
The output data is saved to a database as the information is
entered, which allows data to be saved as changes are made. Output
lists such useful information as fan operating points and pressure and
air quantity in each airway. It also allows users to print or plot the entire
output and color the schematic in terms of different parameters.
Depending on specific modules, cost of VnetPC Pro ranges from
$1,500 for a single copy to $2,500 for a five-user package. It also has
an academic package at $250.
For more information, contact Mine Ventilation Services, Inc.
Address: 1625 Shaw Ave #103, Clovis, CA 93611. Phone: 559 452
0182. Fax: 559 452 0184. E-mail: support@mvsengineering.com.
Website: http://www.mvsengineering.com/index.cfm.
MINEVENT
Interface and features
ICAMPS MineVent was developed by Ohio Automation in Ohio,
USA. Its module uses expanded versions of the Penn State University
PENVENT and US Bureau of Mines MFIRE ventilation programs.
MineVent can be installed in Windows 98/NT/2000 /XP/7 and is
compatible with both 32 bit and 64 bit. In addition, since MineVent is
embedded into AutoCAD, the latter needs to be installed prior to
running MineVent. At present, the newest version of MineVent is
MineVent R18 for AutoCAD 2010-2012. The interface of MineVent is
shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2. An Interface of MineVent.
As-mined and projected timing maps serve as the basis for
drawing to-scale mine ventilation schematic diagrams. With necessary
input data, MineVent can provide users a lot of useful information
commonly required in the field, such as the natural ventilation pressure,
2 Copyright © 2012 by SME
SME Annual Meeting
Feb. 19 - 22, 2012, Seattle, WA
air pressure & quality in each airway, contaminants simulation, fan
sizing and so forth. The price information of MineVent is shown below
(Anon.(a), 2011).
Table 1. Price of MineVent
License No. Site License /$ Single User /$
1 1,500 1,200
2 1,250 1,000
3 1,000 800
4 or more 750 600
Model Construction and Data Output
Unlike other network modeling programs, the ventilation model
construction is done within AutoCAD and imported into MineVent.
Using AutoCAD’s snap feature, users can designate all nodes in the
network. Except for the atmospheric nodes, each node must be
assigned a unique number, followed by inputting fan curves using H
and Q values. Airway resistance values can be calculated using a built-
in feature or they can be computed manually and inputted individually
before execution.
MineVent accepts up to 4,000 branches (and with similar number
of nodes), other built-in features include a function that can help users
check for duplicate nodes and branches, support multi-seam model
construction, allow for three to ten sets of fan data to simulate different
fans and 12 formulas for resistances calculation. Another useful
feature is that each branch polyline has an associated attribute block
that contains airway properties (such as size, perimeter and surface
roughness factor).
Output for MineVent is similar to the other simulation packages:
computed absolute pressure, pressure drops and air quantity for each
note and airways can be plotted on the schematic with airflow in
opposite to that assumed in negative values; schematic can be plotted
in specific in colors with each color representing different values in
pressure, quantity, horsepower, resistance values or contaminants.
Result can also be displayed in a spreadsheet format and air quantities
and pressure drops for each airway can be plotted.
For more information, contact Ohio Automation. Address: 62971
Siverly Creek Road, McArthur, Ohio 45651. Phone: 740 596 1023. E-
mail: ohioauto@ directv.net. Website: http://www.oa-mining.com/mine
vent.htm.
VENTSIM VISUAL
Interfaces and Features
VentSIM, developed by Chasm Consulting in Queensland,
Australia, was the first ventilation package to integrate an easy-to-use
Windows graphical design with a 3D graphics interface. The software
is currently used by over 400 mines, universities, consultants and
research organizations world-wide (Anon. (b), 2011).
The newest version of this software is VentSIM Visual (Figure 3),
a technical successor to VentSIM Classic 3.9 which was first
developed and released in 1993. This program requires Windows XP,
VISTA or Windows 7 operating system. It can also work on later model
Macs with Windows Dual Boot software. Before running this software,
users are required to install Microsoft NET 2.0 and the latest Direct X
9.0c, as well as accelerated graphics card. Actually, most modern
computers and laptops with Windows XP/VISTA/7 systems will already
have these capabilities.
At present, two versions of VentSIM Visual are available: the
standard version and the advanced version. The former one comes
with full 3D interface, animation and dynamic coloring, approximately
35 simulated data types, but can only conduct incompressible flow
simulation. Besides the functions in the standard version, the
advanced version has extra capacities to manage thermodynamic
environmental simulation, compressible airflows, self-adjusting fan
curves, financial simulation, dynamic tracking or blasting fumes and
dust, recirculation prediction and diesel particulate matter spreading.
Like other simulation packages, advanced VentSIM Visual can
perform network simulation, modeling dissipation of smoke, dust or
 SME Annual Meeting
Feb. 19 - 22, 2012, Seattle, WA

gases for emergency planning, simulating heat (from combustion of
diesel engines, rock strata, electrically powered mining equipment and
blasting), humidity and refrigeration essential in a cooling system
design for deep mining operations.
simulation packages that are capable of simulating a mine fire. The
package was first released in 1988 (Anon. (c), 2011) and today,
VentGraph package consists of four components: EDTXT, EDRYS,
GRAS and FIRE. A ventilation network model will first be constructed
in EDRYS environment and data inputted using its EDTXT function.
Simulation is performed in a steady state in GRAS with fire simulation
performed in its FIRE feature. The simple network schematic within
VentGraph is shown in Figure 4.

Figure 3. The Interface of VentSIM Visual

The package is user-friendly, can assist in fan selection and Figure 4. The interface of VentGraph.
performing “what if” scenario, and its financial analysis feature can
provide users with operating and total cost of an airway or a network Model Construction and Data Output
by taking into considering of the time-value-of-money. In addition to performing normal ventilation network simulation,
VentGraph can also be used to simulate emergency situations, for
The price of VentSIM Visual is shown below. example, a mine fire or gases (CH4, CO) outburst or both. It can
Table 2. Pricing List of VentSIM Visual-International. graphically display the propagation of a mine fire, the interaction
Standard VentSIM Advanced VentSIM between a fire and ventilation, injection of inert gases and the spread
Visual Visual of smoke, temperature and gas products in selected time increments.
Pricing (Jan. 2010) USD $2495* USD $3995* The package supports up to 3,500 branches and 2,000 nodes
License Type Per PC or Individual Per PC or Individual (junctions) with data inputted in several methods at users’ choice,
Optional Annual either manually inputting calculated resistance value or values be
$499 $799
Maintenance** calculated using built-in features by inputting airway physical
Rental Option characteristics (height, width, length, K values). When drawing the
$399 $599
(Per 3 months) schematic, a pop-up table with previous input data can greatly assist
Additional Site Licenses 25% discount 25% discount users in model construction.
* includes 3 month warranty/maintenance subscription, excludes any
applicable regional taxes To accurately characterize a mine fire, fire location, the type of
** optional annual maintenance is applied after the initial 3 month available combustibles, methane emission rate, expected fire intensity,
maintenance period. gas sensor locations are used in the simulation. VentGraph can be
paused anytime during simulation, allowing for changes of ventilation
Model Construction and Data Output parameters such as fire intensity, ventilation structure adjustment, and
Schematic can be either drawn directly using drawing tools fan operation.
withinVentSIM Visual or imported from AutoCAD or other mine
All simulation results (airflow and pressure redistribution, heat,
planning packages in a DXF file. With the schematic, users can easily
input or modify parameters of each airway (coordinate, airway temperature distribution) can be displayed either by plotting, exported
dimension, resistance and type). Users can also import airway data into an Excel spreadsheet, or in a tabular format in PDF. The
from a formatted spreadsheet using the TXT import function. explosivity triangle can also be plotted if needed.

VentSIM Visual supports up to 30,000 individual airways and the For more information, contact Mine Ventilation Laboratory in
ventilation networks are created true to scale in 3D. If schematic is built Strata Mechanics Research Institute of Polish Academy of Sciences,
Cracow, Poland. Address: Reymonta Str.27, 30-059 Cracow, Poland.
in different layers, users can selectively import specific layers or turn
Phone: +48126376200. Fax: +48126372884. E-mail: ligeza@img-
on/off specific layers for display.
pan.krakow.pl. Website: http://www.img-pan.krakow.pl/index_en.php.
For output, users can either plot the simulating results (pressure,
air quantity or other specific contaminants) on the schematics or export MFIRE 3.0
portion of the interested results in a spreadsheet format. When plotted Interface and Features
on a schematic, a user can choose different color to represent MFIRE is a very useful tool for ventilation planning, fire control,
parameters (for example, pressure, quantity, contaminant and mine rescue training in case of a fire underground. It was initially
concentrations and temperature) with different values. developed in the mid-1970s by Michigan Technological University
For more information, contact Chasm Consulting, Queensland, (Anon., 2010).Since then, several versions (1.27, 1.29, 1.30, 2.0, 2.10,
Australia. Phone: +61 7 4728 5730. Fax: +61 7 47753323. E-mail: and 2.20) were developed. NIOSH resurrected the program by writing
admin@chasm.com.au or admin@ventsim.com. Website: an interface with an object-oriented C++ approach. The newest version
http://www.ventsim.com. is MFIRE 3.0 (beta version Figure 6).

VENTGRAPH Besides the basic ventilation network simulation to model

pressure and air quantity redistribution, MFIRE 3.0 can perform fire
Interface and Features and contaminants simulation in real time.The output results include
VentGraph, developed by Strata Mechanics Research Institute of temperature redistribution and propagation of smoke and gas
Polish Academy of Sciences, Cracow, Poland, is one of the few contaminants.
3 Copyright © 2012 by SME
 SME Annual Meeting
Feb. 19 - 22, 2012, Seattle, WA

Figure 5. The Interface of MFIRE 3.0.

Model Construction and Data Output
MFIRE 3.0 supports up to 5,000 branches and 3,500 junctions
with over 400 fans. To model a mine fire, junction properties (elevation,
temperature, gas emission etc.) and fire and/or contaminant
characteristicsin addition to ordinary airway resistances and fan curve
in a TXT or XML format are needed; reference manual provides format
details.
Four MFIRE 3.0 output types are available: Log (displays running
statusduring simulation), Verbose (displays detailed output), Data
(displays raw output) and Monitor (allows users to monitor interested
parameter changes during simulation). A fifth output “Model
Configuration Snapshot” is also available. The snapshot is taken once
when the configuration is initially loaded or the dynamic simulation is
run multiple times and when the simulation is completed.
For more information, contact Alex C. Smith (E-mail:
AOS6@cdc.gov ) or the Health Communications Coordinator (E-mail:
OMSHR@cdc.gov). Address: NIOSH Office of Mine Safety and Health
Research, P.O. Box 18070, Pittsburgh, PA 15236-0070.
VENTILATION SIMULATION CASE STUDY
To properly compare all five software packages, simulations using
actual ventilation survey data taken at MST’s Experimental Mine were
performed. The Mine is an underground dolomite operation accessed Figure 7. Outside and Inside Views of Missouri S&T Experimental
by two adits and ventilated using a Joy 42-in Axivane blowing fan. Mine.
Fresh air enters the mine through a 40ft intake shaft and comes out
primarily through the main portal. The mine schematic along with a Table 3. Simulating Results from Five Software Packages.
typical airway underground are shown in Figures 6 and 7. VnetPC VentSIM MFIRE
MineVent VentGraph
Pro Visual 3.0
3
Intake Q/ m /s 18.08 18.18 18.1 18.1 21.93
Fan P/ Pa 186.7 225.67 187.28 188.8 92.39
Relative Error
0 0.6 0.1 0.1 21.3
for Intake Q/%
Relative Error
0 17.3 0.3 1.1 102.1
for Fan P/%

From Table 3, except for MFIRE 3.0, other four soft-ware

Figure 6. Schematic of Experimental Mine in Missouri S&T.
The simulating results of the five software packages are shown in
Table 3. For the purpose of comparison, VnetPC Pro is chosen as a
reference.
4 Copyright © 2012 by SME
packages almost have the same result about the intake air quantity
and MFIRE 3.0’s result is a about 21% larger than others. With respect
to fan pressure, VentPC, VentSIM Visual and VentGraph have similar
results. By comparison, the simulating pressure from MineVent is
roughly 17% larger and that from MFIRE 3.0 is just half of the value
from those three.
OVERALL COMPARISON AND COMMENTS
Table 4 lists major features for all five packages for comparison.
As shown in Table 4, four packages support dual units with the
exception of VentGraph which only supports metric unit. Both VnetPC
Pro and VentSIM Visual provide powerful graphics interface while only
MFIRE and VentGraph are capable of simulating mine fires and smoke
propagation in addition to basic ventilation and contaminants
simulation. MFIRE 3.0 can support more nodes and branches thus
 SME Annual Meeting
Feb. 19 - 22, 2012, Seattle, WA

larger network than VentGraph but lacks a functional graphics interface 7. NIOSH Technology News (2010) “MFIRE 3.0 - NIOSH Brings
which has slowly become a norm in recent years (Table 5). MFIRE into 21st Century”, 2 pp.
Table 4. Overall Comparisons of the Fire Ventilation Software 8. Zhou, L and Smith, A. C. (2011), “Improvement of a mine fire
Packages. simulation program — incorporation of smoke rollback into MFIRE
Software
Max. # of Max. # of Max. # of
Dual Units
Graphic Schematic P&Q&
Fire 3.0”. Journal of Fire Sciences, 10 pp.
Nodes Branches Fans Interface 2D 3D Contaminants
VnetPC Pro 4,000 10,000 600 Y Excellent Y Y Y N
MineVent 4,000 4,000 50 Y Good Y N Y N
VentSIM
- 30,000 1,000 Y Excellent Y Y Y N
Visual
N
VentGraph 2,000 3,500 - Good Y N Y Y
(Metric)
MFIRE 3.0 >3,500 >5,000 > 300 Y NO N N Y Y
Note: “Y” means yes and “N” means no.
Table 5. Overall Comments of the Five Software Packages.
Software Pros Cons
• Support 3D network
VnetPC
• Compatible with DXF file • Assume incompressible flow
Pro
• Shock Loss Calculator
• Cumbersome to build nodes
• Easy to usedrawing tools and branches
MineVent
• Compatible with DXF file • Require smooth fan curve (any
deviation will abort simulation)
• Support 3D network
• Compatible with DXF file
• Animated display of airflow
VentSIM direction and velocity
• A little expensive
Visual • Simulation of heat,
compressible airflows,
recirculation and DPM
• Financial function
• Less number # of nodes and
• Allow for pause/continue
branches
simulation during simulation
• Support only SI unit
• Provide escape routes during
• Difficult to use interface
VentGraph in case of emergency
• Cumbersome model
• Display propagation of smoke
construction
or contaminants on schematics
• Can’t simulate partial smoke
in real time
rollback
• Allow for pause/ continue
simulation during simulation
• Simulate partial smoke
rollback • Lack ofgraphics interface
MFIRE 3.0
• Warning of critical condition at • Doesn’t provide escape route
junctions and/or airways
• Show detailed evolution of the
parameters in the output

Ventilation network modeling to assist engineers in mine design

and planning has been gaining increasing acceptance in the mining
industry over the past two decades. Despite of the different interfaces
and graphing capabilities, the principles of these modeling programs
remain the same: the Kirchhoff’s two laws and the Hardy Cross
approximation. Since each package presents specific strengths and
weaknesses depending on specific features, package selection
depends on users’ specific application. However, it is only a tool to
facilitate planning and it is essential that users must understand the
fundamentals of ventilation to use the software most effectively.
REFERENCES
1. Anon. (1985), “Operation’s Manual,” Mine Ventilation Services,
Inc.; there are newer ones “VnetPC Ventilation Simulation
Program User’s Manual”, 107 pp.
2. Anon. (2010), “VnetPC Pro USER'S MANUAL &TUTORIAL Mine”,
Mine Ventilation Services, Inc., 85 pp.
3. Anon.(a) (2011),http://www.oa-mining.com/mining prices.htm.
4. Anon. (b)(2011),http://www.ventsim.com.
5. Anon. (c) (2011), http://www.img-pan.krakow.pl/
wentylacja/wentylacja_ventgraph_en.php.
6. Gibbs, B. (2002), “Summary of Mine Ventilation Analysis and
Simulation Software”. Gibbs Associates Monthly newsletter;
http://www.miningsoftware.com/swmine/swarticles/esJul02Vent.ht
ml. 6 pp.

5 Copyright © 2012 by SME