Overview Sheet

Course number: MN547

Course Name: Planning and design of mine ventilation systems

CREDITS: 9 (L-T-P: 3-0-0)

Name of the Teacher: Prof. S. Gupta & Dr. Tarun Verma

OBJECTIVE: Objective of the course is to disseminate the knowledge of the mine

ventilation systems to the students. Students will understand the fundamentals of the

planning and design of ventilation systems used in different mining conditions.

 OUTCOME OF THE COURSE: Students will come to know about different parameters

to be considered to plan and design a mine specific ventilation system. They will also learn

different methods and terminologies used to design a ventilation system for a mine.
 List of Books 

1. H. L. Hartman, "Mine Ventilation and air conditioning" Wiley

Interscience publication.

2. G. B. Mishra, "Mine Ventilation Planning", Lovely Prakashan.

3. Jan F. Kreider, “Handbook of heating, ventilation and air

conditioning” CRC Press, LLC

4. Malcolm J. McPherson, “Subsurface Ventilation and

Environmental Engineering”, Springer

Course contents
Ventilation Planning
Ventilation requirements in Mines. Various systems of mine ventilation.  Short-term and long-
term ventilation planning.
Ventilation Network Analysis
Computation of volume flow using equivalent resistance and direct analysis methods.
Application of Kirchhoff's laws to solve ventilation network. Linear graph theory – formation of
meshes, Hardy-Cross iteration method, convergence of network analysis algorithm. Concept of
compressibility of air in mine ventilation.
Heat Transfer
Heat transfer in mine airways due to conduction, convection and radiation, heat transfer at wet
surfaces, sources of heat in longwall working panels and computation of heat load in mines.
Mine Air-Conditioning Systems
Psychrometry, Refrigeration, Cooling Towers
Design of auxiliary ventilation system for long heading and longwall panel
Types, Multiple fans installation, Duct leakage
Recirculation of Mine Air
Concept of controlled recirculation, design of controlled recirculation system for long heading
and working panel. Application of tracer gas in mine ventilation system study – concept,
desirable properties, estimation of air quantity using tracer gas technique, application in leakage
and recirculation study.
Ventilation and its objective
Ventilation is the process of conducting an adequate flow of
pure fresh air along airways, working places and service
points underground. The main purpose is to provide oxygen
for mine workers; but it is also essential
 To dilute the concentration of the explosive and toxic
gases, fumes and radon to environmentally safe levels
and to remove from the mine;
 To dilute the concentration of the airborne dust to
physiologically acceptable levels and to remove from the
mine;
 To provide a thermally acceptable environment in which
persons can work without undue discomfort or any
danger of exhaustion from heat and to remove heat from
the mine as may be necessary.
Ventilation Requirements
First Degree: “gassy seam of the first degree” means a coal seam or part
thereof lying within the precincts of a mine not being an open cast
working whether or not inflammable gas is actually detected in the
general body of the air at any place in its workings below ground, or
when the percentage of the inflammable gas, if and when detected, in
such general body of air does not exceed 0.1 and the rate of emission of
such gas does not exceed one cubic meter per tonne of coal produced;
Second Degree: “gassy seam of the second degree” means a coal seam
or part thereof lying within the precincts of a mine not being an open
cast working in which the percentage of inflammable gas in the general
body of air at any place in the workings of the seam is more than 0.1 or
the rate of emission of inflammable gas per tonne of coal produced
exceeds one cubic meter but does not exceed ten cubic meters;
Third Degree: “gassy seam of the third degree” means a coal seam or
part thereof lying within the precincts of a mine not being an open cast
working in which the rate of emission of inflammable gas per tonne of
coal produced exceeds ten cubic meters;
Ventilation Requirements
Dust: For the purposes of this regulation, a place shall not be
deemed to be in a harmless state for person to work or pass or
remain therein if the eight hours time-weighted average
concentration of airborne respirable dust in milligrams per cubic
meter of air sampled by dust sampler of a type approved by and
determined in accordance with the procedure as specified by the
Chief Inspector by a general or special order, exceeds two, where
working is being made wholly in a coal seam or where free
respirable silica present is less than five per cent. and the value
arrived at by dividing the figures of ten with the percentage of free
respirable silica present in other cases.
Ventilation Requirements
Standard of ventilation: (1) It shall be the duty of the owner, agent or manager of every mine to
take such steps as are necessary to constantly provide in all parts of the mine belowground
which are not sealed off, adequate ventilation to clear away smoke, steam and dust, to dilute
gases that are inflammable or noxious so as to render them harmless, to provide air containing
sufficient oxygen and to prevent such excessive rise of temperature or humidity which may be
harmful to the health of persons.
(2) For the purposes of securing adequate ventilation as specified in sub-regulation (1), the
owner, agent and manager shall ensure that-
(a) in every ventilating district, not less than six cubic meters per minute of air per person
employed in the district on the largest shift or not less than 2.5 cubic meters per minute of
air per tonne of daily output, whichever is larger, passes along the last ventilation
connection in the district which means the in-bye most gallery in the district along which
the air passes; (
(b) at every place in the mine where persons are required to work or pass, the air does not
contain less than 19 per cent. of oxygen or more than 0.5 per cent. of carbon dioxide or any
noxious gas in quantity likely to affect the health of any person;
(c) the percentage of inflammable gas does not exceed 0.75 in the general body of the return
air of any ventilating district and 1.25 in any place in the mine;
(d) the wet bulb temperature in any working place does not exceed 33.5 degrees centigrade,
and where the wet bulb temperature exceeds 30.5 degrees centigrade, arrangements are
made to ventilate the same with a current of air moving at a speed of not less than one
meter per second.
Ventilation Requirements
Velocity of air current: The velocity of air current measured in meters
per minute at the place shown in column (2) shall be not less than that
shown in column (3) for the different seams shown in column (1) of the
Table given below:-
Definition: A substance which deforms
continuously when subjected to shear stress is
called a fluid. In fluid constituent molecules are
free to move relative to each other.
Types of Fluid: Compressible & Incompressible
Molecules of any substance exhibit at least two
types of forces; an attractive force that
diminishes with the square of the distance
between molecules, and a force of repulsion
that becomes strong when molecules come very
close together.
 Compressible & incompressible fluid
When pressure is applied to a liquid, then the
strong forces of repulsion at small intermolecular
distances offer such a high resistance that the
volume of the liquid changes very little. Most
liquids may be regarded as incompressible.

The far greater distances between molecules in a

gas allow the molecules to be more easily pushed
closer together when subjected to compression.
Gases, then, are compressible fluids. Air, a mixture
of gases and, therefore, compressible.
 Incompressible assumption of mine air
In majority of mines and other subsurface facilities, the
ranges of temperature and pressure are such that the
variation in air density is fairly limited. Airflow
measurements in mines are normally made to within 5%
accuracy. A 5% change in air density occurs by moving
through a vertical elevation of some 500 meters in the
gravitational field at the surface of the earth. Hence, the
assumption of incompressible flow with its simpler
analytical relationships gives acceptable accuracy in
most cases. For the deeper and (usually) hotter facilities,
the effects of pressure and temperature on air density
should be taken into account through thermodynamic
analyses if a good standard of accuracy is to be attained.
Pressure loss for laminar flow is proportional to
velocity. i.e., P = f .v, where f is the coefficient of
friction.
Pressure loss in turbulent flow, P α v2
In transition zone, a combination of turbulent
and viscous action exist. For this state,
P α vx where 1 < x < 2.
 Calculation for Head Losses

• contributes, in general, 70–90% of total

head loss, hence called major loss.
• contributes 10–30% of loss, hence called
minor loss.
 Frictional Pressure loss
Atkinson’s equation or ‘Square Law of Mine
Ventilation’

Frictional pressure drop

 Shock losses

Three sources of shock losses in mine

ventilation:
– Obstruction
– Change in direction (bend)
– Change in area of cross-section  
• Pr. drop due to shock loss varies with velocity
head or square of velocity.

where x is shock factor

 Shock loss due to obstruction
Two types of drag forces act on immersed body:
 Friction drag, and
 Form drag.
Friction drag occurs due to rubbing on the surface and form
drag occurs due to formation of wake zone behind the
obstruction. Depending on the position of the object,
combination of friction drag and form drag exhibit
simultaneously.
Therefore, Shock loss
= coefficient of drag
Coefficient of drag is a function of and the form of the body.
Coefficient of drag for various shape of cross-
section along with the direction of airflow
 Shock loss due to obstruction continued..

Streamlining of obstruction:
The objective of streamlining of an obstruction is to
minimize the form drag. However, there will be an
increase in friction drag by this process.
 
Hence, for streamlined obstructions, there will be an
optimum length for which the total drag would be
minimum.
At high values of ( > 2x104), is independent of .
And in mine application, is generally very high.
 Shock losses due to bend
Shock loss due to bend is given by:
where x is shock factor

For normal bend

For square bend
For right angle bend with square inner corner,
x = 1.2, which is normally met with in mine
ventilation network.
 Shock losses due to area change
Shock loss at area change is given by:

Where x is shock factor and depends on the

Reynolds number and the boundary geometry.
At high Reynolds number the value of is mostly
affected by the boundary geometry.
 Total pressure loss in a mine airway

Inclusion of shock losses by increasing K

Sometimes shock loses are included in the
friction loss by suitably increasing the value of k
by the amount ks which takes care of the shock
loss. In that case
 Inclusion of shock losses by equivalent length

Shock losses may be included in friction loss by

adding, additional length (Ls) that takes care of
the shock loss. In that case,

And known as ‘equivalent length

of the airway’
Average values of equivalent length for
routine calculation
 Example:
A mine airway, 2.1 m wide, 2.4 m high and 600 m
long, contains a normal bend with a deflection of
π/3 rad and a radius of curvature of 3 m. The
airway passes a quantity of 9.5 m3s-1. Calculate the
pressure loss in the airway as well as the resistance
of the airway. Also, calculate the equivalent length
of a straight airway of similar size and surface
which will cause the same pressure loss. Assume
the value of k to be equal to 0.0098 Ns2m-4.
 Splitting
Airways are said to be connected in parallel when total airflows
are divided among them. In mine ventilation, this practice is
termed as splitting and the branches are termed as splits. This
was first adopted by John Buddle in 1810 in the coal mines of UK.
There are two forms of splitting:----(i) Natural splitting and
(ii) Controlled splitting.
• Natural splitting: this occurs when the quantity of air is
divided among the parallel branches of its own accord without
regulation.
• Controlled splitting: this occurs when a prescribed quantity of
air is made to flow through each parallel branch by means of
regulation.
 Splitting cont….
Splitting is necessary for both economic and safety requirements.
Dividing the mine ventilating system into multiple splits provides
separating ventilating districts in the mine and permits better air
control. Air splits should be taken off as near the mine intake as
possible and brought together close to the return upcast shaft to
reduce air quantity and pressure losses by full use of parallel flow.
Advantage
• Decrease the resistance of the mine as a whole.
• Every district is supplied with fresh uncontaminated and cool air.
• In the event of outburst of gas or an explosion in one district, the
other parts of the mine need not necessarily be affected.
 Solution of simple network with natural splitting
The simple ventilation circuit
of a mine is shown in the
figure (a). The values of
resistance for the individual
airways have been
determined with R in units
of Ns2m-8
R1 = 0.0559 R2 = 0.1342 R3
= 0.1118 R4 = 0.0838
R5 = 0.1399 R6 = 0.1453
R7 = 0.1062 R8 = 0.1677 R9
= 0.1509 R10 = 0.0447
Determine the equivalent
resistance for the entire
mine and the mine static
head, if the fan is exhausting
air at the rate of 47.19m3s-1.
Graphical Solution of simple network
 Graphical Solution of simple network
1. Combine all series airways into equivalent airways, as in Fig. (b)
2. Plot the characteristic curve for the upper main split (airway D) and the
lower main split (airway B).
3. Plot the combined characteristic curve of the main split (airway E).
4. Determine the quantity flowing in each branch of the main split for the
mine quantity of 47.19 m3/s); read QD = 28.8 m3/s and QB = 18.4 m3/s.
5. Plot the characteristic curve for the upper secondary split (airway A) and
the lower secondary split (airway 3)
6. Plot the combined characteristic curve of the secondary split (airway C).
7. Determine the quantity flowing in each branch of the secondary split
based on the quantity flowing through D; read QA = 10.4 m3/s and Q3 =
18.4 m3/s.
The graphic approach is particularly advantageous for determining the
quantities through individual airways for variations in the total quantity.
Complex network
 Kirchhoff’s Laws
Two fundamental laws governing the behaviour of electrical circuits were developed by
the German physicist Gustav Robert Kirchhoff (1824-1887). They are extensively applied
in ventilation-circuit analysis.

Kirchhoff's First Law

This is a segment of a ventilation circuit where four airways meet
at a common point or a junction. According to Kirchhoff s first law,
also known as Kirchhoff s current law (KCL), the sum of the air
quantities leaving a junction must equal to zero.

If the quantity of air leaving a junction is defined as being positive,

and the quantity of air entering a junction as being negative then
quantity of air entering a junction; then,
Q1 + Q2 - Q3 - Q4 = 0
Kirchhoff’s Laws

Kirchhoffs Second Law

Kirchhoffs second law, also known as Kirchhoffs voltage law
(KVL), states that the sum of the pressure drops around any
closed path must he equal to zero, which can be expressed as

where the summation is over all airways in the closed path and
the Hl value for any airway is the algebraic sum of the friction
head, the natural ventilation head, and the fan head. Adoption
of a consistent sign convention is necessary for correct solution
to problems. Consider a closed path consisting of airways a, b,
c, and d, as indicated by the dashed line. If one sums the head
losses in a clockwise direction around this closed path, the
following equation can be written
+-
where , , and are positive, since the quantity Q1 flowing through
airways a, b, and c is flowing in the clockwise direction. Since
Q2 flows opposite to the direction of summation, there is a head
gain in d, or the head loss (is negative.
Kirchhoff’s Laws

This equation can also be expressed in terms of the

resistance and quantity for each airway. However, in
order to maintain the validity of the sign convention for
all cases, the Atkinson equation must be expressed as Hl
= R|Q|Q, where |Q| is the absolute value of Q.
Therefore, the equation is written as

Kirchhoff’s second law must also take into account any

pressure sources (fan or natural ventilation) that exist in
the closed path. Since a pressure source creates a pressure
rise, it must be considered as a negative pressure drop
(head loss). Thus a pressure source is assigned a negative
value if its airflow is in the direction of summation. It is
assigned a positive value if it creates an airflow opposite
to the direction of summation.
 Analysis of complex Networks
Networks are considered complex when the parallel circuits
constituting are overlapping or interconnected, and separate and
distinct circuits do not exist. In other words, the network cannot be
reduced to an equivalent airway. If natural splitting prevails, exact
algebraic solution is rendered impossible for all but the least
complicated complex networks.
The solution of the complex networks is based upon the Atkinson
equation and Kirchhoff’s laws. In order to apply these laws in some
logical fashions the following network terminology must first be
defined: 1) A junction is a point where three or more airways meet,
2) a branch is a segment of an airway between two junctions; and
3) a mesh is a closed loop or path.
 Analysis of complex Networks

Figure (a) is a elementary example of a complex network. It is considered to be complex

because it cannot be reduced to an equivalent airway by series parallel techniques. This
network consists of 6 branches and 4 junctions, with a fan located in branch 1 delivering air
in the direction indicated by the arrow. Therefore, for this case one can write, N b = 6, Nj = 4

Where Nb = the number of branches and Nj = No. of junctions

 Analysis of complex Networks
If total quantity Q1 and the resistances of the airways are known, the following is left to determine:

1) the head loss for each branch

2) the direction and quantity of airflow for each branch; except branch 1

3) the static head of the fan

In effect, there are 12 independent equations are needed. A set of equations is considered to be
independent if none of them can be derived from the remaining ones. In other words, each equation
must contain unique information, which cannot be obtained from the other equations. One half of the
required independent equations can be written from Atkinson’s equation, as follows:
 Analysis of complex Networks
• The remaining six equations can be obtained from the Kirchhoff’s laws.

• A theorem of network topology states that there are exactly Nj-1 independent equations that
can be derived from Kirchhoff’s first law. These are obtained by setting the algebraic sun of
the quantities that leave each of the Nj-1 junction equal to zero. Therefore from fig. 5 one can
obtain three independent equations by applying Kirchhoff’s first law to junctions A,B and C:

• Junction A: - Q1+Q2+Q3 = 0

• Junction B: - Q2 + Q4 + Q6= 0

• Junction C: - Q3 - Q6 + Q5 = 0

• It should be noted that applying Kirchhoff’s first law to junction D would yield an equation
that can be derived from the above three equations; thus it is not independent.
• The remaining three equations are now left to be determined by Kirchhoff’s second law.
Analysis of complex Networks

• Another theorem of network topology states that the minimum no.

of meshes Nm that must be selected to solve a network problem is
found as follows:-

• In fig. (b) one must apply Kirchhoff’s 2nd law to 3 meshes, hence
fulfilling the requirements of 12 independent equations. Selecting
the three meshes indicating in fig (b) and recalling that the fan
pressure must be included, yields the following equations:

• Mesh 1

• Mesh 2

• Mesh 3
 Analysis of complex Networks
• The above mesh equations can be expressed in terms of the resistance and quantity of each branch which are as
follows:

• Mesh 1:

• Mesh 2: =0

• Mesh 3:

• Since Q1 is given, one is left to determine five quantities and the fan pressure. However five quantities can be
expressed in terms of two unknown (Q3 & Q6) by using the equations of Kirchhoff’s first law which are as follows:-

• Q2 = Q1 - Q3

• Q4 = Q2 - Q6 = Q1 - Q3 - Q6

• Q5 = Q3 + Q6

• If the above expression for Q2, Q4 and Q5 are substituted into equations of 2nd law, one is left with 3 equations and 3
unknowns. However, it is apparent that the exact solution of these three nonlinear simultaneous equations is futile.
As a result, iterative techniques using methods have successive approximations for analysing complex networks
have been utilized as a necessary alternative to the exact solution.
 Some definitions of network
A mine ventilation system generally consists of a multiple
arrangement of airways to and from the surface and workplaces,
fans, and control devices, all interconnected to ensure air-quantity
and air-quality requirements throughout the mine. The term
ventilation network, analogous to electrical network, is often used to
describe the mine ventilation system. In considering ventilation
networks, it is often useful to have the following formal network
definitions that apply in analyzing complex ventilation networks
Node: A point where two or more segments (lines) or airways meet
or intersect. In a ventilation network, a node is called a junction.
Branch (arc): A connecting line between two nodes. In a ventilation
network, the connecting line or branch represents a mine airway or
a branch.
 Some definitions of network

Figure 1: Ventilation system consisting of Figure 2: Reduced complex network with six
two shafts and a raise connected on two branches and four nodes.
levels by drifts
 Some definitions of network
Graph: A set of nodes, with
certain pairs of the nodes
connected by branches.
Connecting graph: A graph in
which all the nodes are
connected together by branches.
Network: A graph with a flow of
some type associated with its
branches. A ventilation system is
normally a graph with airflows in Figure 2: Reduced complex network with six
its branches and is thus properly branches and four nodes.
referred to as a network.
 Some definitions of network
Connected network: A network in
which the branches connect every
node to every other node. The
network in Fig. 2 is a connected
network with six branches (indicated
by bracketed numbers) and four
nodes (indicated by encircled
numbers).
Directed network: A network in which
each branch has a sign or direction
associated with it. By convention, a
positive sign is assigned when
traveling from the starting node of a
branch and a negative sign otherwise.
 Some definitions of network
Degree of a node: The number
of branches that have that node
as an endpoint. For example, the
degree of node 2 in Fig. 2 is 3.
Mesh (cycle): A connected path
through the network in which
every node is of degree 2 with
respect to the path itself. For
example, in Fig. 2 the path
connecting nodes 1, 2, 3, 4, and
1 (branches 1-2, 2-3, 3-4, and 4-
1) is a mesh.
 Some definitions of network
Tree (or spanning tree): A connected
graph containing branches that
connect all the nodes (i.e., a set of
branches spanning the nodes) but
create no meshes.
Branch in a tree: A branch that is
contained in a spanning tree.
Chord (basic branch): A branch
contained in the network but not in a
given spanning tree.
Basic mesh: A basic or fundamental
mesh in a network is a mesh containing
only one chord and the unique path
formed by branches in the tree
between the two nodes of the chord.
 Some definitions of network
Chord set: A set containing all the chords of a
network. There is a unique set of chords for a
particular spanning tree.
Mesh base: A set containing all the basic meshes.
There is a unique set of basic meshes for a particular
spanning tree.
Network degree: For a connected network, the
network degree is equal to the number of chords.
 Spanning Tree Algorithm
A spanning tree of a network can be created using
the following algorithm:
• Step 1: Choose any node.
• Step 2: Considering only the nodes that are one
branch away from the chosen node, arbitrarily
connect another node to the chosen node. The
result is a connected set of nodes. Proceed to
step 3.
• Step 3: Considering only the nodes that are one
branch away from the connected set of nodes,
arbitrarily connect another node to the
connected set. Proceed to step 4.
• Step 4: If all nodes are in the connected set,
then stop. Otherwise, return to step 3.
The graph that results is one spanning tree of the
network.
 Minimum resistance spanning Tree
If the Hardy Cross iterative technique is to be used to solve
the network, the procedure will normally converge in fewer
iterations if the minimum resistance spanning tree is used as
the basis of the iterative method. The minimum-resistance
spanning tree is obtained by first calculating the resistance of
each airway in the network. If we consider the resistance of
each airway as a "distance," then we can find the minimum-
resistance spanning tree by utilizing the following procedure:
• Step 1: Choose any node arbitrarily, and then connect it
to the closest adjacent node.
• Step 2: Find the unconnected node nearest to a
connected node, and then connect the two nodes.
• Step 3: If all nodes are connected, stop. Otherwise,
repeat step 2.
The results of this procedure on the network in Fig. 2 are
shown in Fig. 3(b). The minimum-resistance spanning tree is
shown in bold lines. This tree will be identical regardless of
the node at which the branch selection is initiated unless ties
occur when the final branches are chosen.
 Representing network in Matrix
Incident Matrix:
The incident Matrix denoted by a Aa, of a
network is a matrix of order in nn × nb. If Aa
= [aij], then the values of aij are defined as
follows:
aij = +1 if branch j is incident at node i and
is directed away from node i.
aij = -1 if branch j is incident at node i and
is directed toward node i.
aij = 0 if branch j is not incident at node i.
Aa =
 Reduced Incident Matrix
Reduced Incident Matrix:
Observed that each column of Aa contains exactly two non-zero
elements, one +1 and one -1. Since the columns of A a have this
property, we may remove one of its rows without losing any
information. The (nn – 1) × nb matrix obtained by deleting a row
from Aa is denoted by A and is called the reduced incident matrix
or basis incident matrix. All rows of A are linearly independent and
hence its rank is nn – 1. The node corresponding to the deleted
row of Aa is referred to as the reference node of the network .
Aa =
 Fundamental mesh Matrix
The fundamental meshes of a network with respect to a tree are
the m meshes, each being formed by a chord and a unique chain
in the tree connecting to end points of the chord. The direction of
fundamental meshes is chosen to agree with that of the defining
chord. Each fundamental mesh contains only one chord is
contained in just one mesh. Mathematically, the fundamental
meshes of a network with respect to a tree can be represented by
the fundamental mesh matrix B. If B = [bij], then the elements are
defined as follows:
bij = +1 if branch j is contained in mesh i and has the same
direction
bij = -1 if branch j is contained in mesh i and has the opposite
direction
bij = 0 if branch j is NOT contained in mesh i
Fundamental mesh Matrix

B=
 Network Variables
The conventional analysis of mine ventilation networks is generally
based on the assumption of incompressibility of air involved with
steady-state flow and the following variables:
hLj : Head loss for branch j (Pa)
hRj : Head loss for regulator in branch j (Pa) [ hRj : may be included in
hLj as well ]
hFj : Head (Pr. rise) for fan in branch j (Pa)
hNj : NVP (Pr. rise) in branch j (Pa)
rj : Resistance for branch j (Ns2 m-8)
qj : Air quantity flow for branch j (m3s-1)
Assuming validity of Atkinson’s Equation for all branches in a network,

This form takes care for the proper sign for hLj when qj is -ve.
 Network Variables
Depending on the application, rj may include the components for
stock losses in the branch and/or at a node of the branch. If
desired, the velocity head at the exhaust end of the ventilation
system, which is proportional to the square of the air quantity,
can be converted into an eq equivalent resistance factor and
incorporated in rj for branch j, whose terminal node corresponds
to and exhaust.
NVP (hNj) will be considered as a given constant.
Fan head (hFj) is generally approximated by a second degree
polynomial.

Both hNj and hFj represent pr. rise, and their signs are based on the
direction of branch j.
 Kirchhoff’s First Law
Kirchoff’s current law for mine ventilation network
can be expressed as:

Node “1” has been choosen as the reference node

or datum node. The above equation can be written
as:

Where Q is a column matrix, given by

 Kirchhoff’s Second Law
Kirchoff’s voltage law for mine ventilation network
can be expressed as:

The above equation can be written as:

Where,

H is a column matrix, given by

 Network with natural splitting
Mine–ventilation–network problems are formulated in terms of three sets
of equations based on Kirchhoff’s current law, Kirchhoff’s voltage law and
Atkinson’s equation. In the problem of mine ventilation networks with
natural splitting of air, resistance factors rj for all branches are given.
Regulators are not treated separately, and their resistances are included in
rj. In addition, fan locations and fan heads or fan characteristic curves are
also given. The unknown to be solved are therefore nb quantities qj which
satisfy the following equations:

This is a system of nb simultaneous equation with nn-1 linear and m non-

linear equations. Among the numerical methods adopted in computer
programming, the method developed by Hardy Cross and Hinsley has been
the most popular.
 Hardy Cross Method
The Hardy cross method is an iterative technique, that is, and appropriate
solution is successively improved until the error is acceptably small. It
assumes that each equation is a function of only one variable and utilises
two terms of Taylor’s series in the derivation of the improvement formula.
Suppose all air quantities are initially given the values such that the
equation

is satisfied but not the equation

Assume that the kth equation in the above set of mesh equation can be
considered to be a function of qk only where qk is the air quantity for the
chord contained in mesh k. Thus
 Hardy Cross Method
The Hardy cross method is an iterative technique, that is, and appropriate
solution is successively improved until the error is acceptably small. It
assumes that each equation is a function of only one variable and utilises
two terms of Taylor’s series in the derivation of the improvement formula.
Suppose all air quantities are initially given the values such that the
equation

is satisfied but not the equation

Assume that the kth equation in the above set of mesh equation can be
considered to be a function of qk only where qk is the air quantity for the
chord contained in mesh k. Thus