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Fundamentals of Ventilation Network Analysis

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17 views

Fundamentals of Ventilation Network Analysis

Uploaded by

kutgoveka
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Introduction

• It is necessary to plan ahead in order that new fans, shafts or other airways are
available in a timely manner for the efficient ventilation of extensions to the
workings.
• As any operating mine is a dynamic system with new workings continually being
developed and older ones coming to the end of their productive life, ventilation
planning should be a continuous and routine process.
• Ventilation network analysis is concerned with the interactive behaviour of airflows
within the connected branches of a complete and integrated network.
• We shall introduce the basic laws that govern the distribution of airflow within a
network of interconnected branches.
• The analytical and numerical methods of predicting airflows will be examined
before proceeding to a discussion of network simulation packages.
FUNDAMENTALS OF VENTILATION NETWORK ANALYSIS

• Any integrated ventilation system can be represented as a schematic


diagram in which each line (branch) denotes either a single airway or
a group of openings that are connected such that they behave
effectively as a single airway.
• The points at which branches connect are known simply as junctions
or nodes.
Kirchhoff's Laws

• Kirchhoff's first law states that the mass flow entering a junction
equals the mass flow leaving that junction or, mathematically,

• where M are the mass flows, positive and negative, entering junction j
Kirchhoff’s law
• However, it will be recalled that

• Where Q = volume flow (m3/s)


Kirchhoff’s law

• In subsurface ventilation systems, the variation in air density around


any single junction is negligible, giving
Kirchhoff’s law
• This provides a means of checking the accuracy of airflow
measurements taken around a junction.
Kirchhoff’s second law
• The simplest statement of Kirchhoff's second law applied to
ventilation networks is that the algebraic sum of all pressure drops
around a closed path, or mesh, in the network must be zero, having
taken into account the effects of fans and ventilating pressures.
• This can be quantified by writing down the steady flow energy,
initially for a single airway.
Kirchhoff’s second law
Kirchhoff’s second law
• If we consider a number of such branches forming a closed loop or
mesh within the network then the algebraic sum of all ∆Z must be
zero and the sum of the changes in kinetic energy, ∆u/2, is negligible.
• Summing each of the remaining terms around the mesh, m, gives
Kirchhoff’s second law
• Now the summation of terms is the natural ventilating

energy, NVE, that originates from thermal additions to the air.


Hence, we can write
Kirchhoff’s law
• This may now be converted to pressure units by multiplying
throughout by a single value of air density ρ
Kirchhoff’s second law
• This is the relationship that is employed as a quality assurance check
on a pressure survey or as a means of determining a value for the
natural ventilating pressure.
METHODS OF SOLVING VENTILATION
NETWORKS
• There are essentially two means of approach to the analysis of fluid
networks.
• The analytical methods involve formulating the governing laws into
sets of equations that can be solved analytically to give exact
solutions.
• The numerical methods that have come to the fore with the
availability of electronic digital computers solve the equations
through iterative procedures of successive approximation until a
solution is found to within a specified accuracy.
Analytical Methods
1. Equivalent Resistances
• This is the most elementary of the methods of analyzing ventilation
networks.
• If two or more airways are connected either in series or in parallel
then each of those sets of resistances may be combined into a single
equivalent resistance.
• Although of fairly limited value in the analysis of complete networks,
the method of equivalent resistances allows considerable
simplification of the schematic representation of actual subsurface
ventilation systems.
Cntnue
• In order to determine an expression for a series circuit, consider:

• The frictional pressure drops are given by as


Cntnue
Cntnue
• In the case of a parallel circuit, each branch suffers from the same
frictional pressure drop, p, between the common “start” and “end"
junctions but passes differing airflows. Then
Example

• Figure below illustrates nine airways that form part of a ventilation


network. Find the equivalent resistance of the system. [0.548]
Cntnue
• If it is simply the total flow into this part of a larger network that is
required from a network analysis exercise then the nine individual
airways may be replaced by the single equivalent resistance.
• This will simplify the full network schematic and reduce the amount
of computation to be undertaken during the analysis.
• On the other hand, if it is necessary to determine the airflow in each
individual branch then the nine airways should remain as separate
resistances for the network analysis.
Direct Application of Kirchhoff's
Laws
• Kirchhoff's laws allow us to write down

for each independent junction in the network and

for each independent mesh.


• Solving these two sets of equations will give the branch airflows, Q,
that satisfy both laws simultaneously.
Cntnue
• If there are b branches in the network then there are b airflows to be
determined and, hence, we need b independent equations.
• Now, if the network contains j junctions, then we may write down Kirchhoff
I for each of them in turn.
• However, as each branch is assumed to be continuous with no intervening
junctions, a branch airflow denoted as Qi entering a junction will
automatically imply that Qi leaves at the junction at the other end of that
same branch.
• It follows that when we reach the last junction, all airflows will already have
been symbolized.
• The number of independent equations arising from Kirchhoff I is (j -1).
Cntnue
• This leaves b - (j - 1) or (b - j + 1) further equations to be established
from Kirchhoff II.
• We need to choose (b - j + 1) independent closed meshes around
which to sum the frictional pressure drops.
• The direct application of Kirchhoff's laws to full mine circuits may
result in several hundred equations to be solved simultaneously.
• This requires computer assistance.
• Manual solutions are limited to very small networks or sections of
networks.
Example
• Figure shows a simplified ventilation network served by a downcast
and an upcast shaft, each passing 100 m3/s. The resistance of each
subsurface branch is shown. A fan boosts the airflow in the central
branch to 40 m3/s. Determine the distribution of airflow and the total
pressure, p developed by the booster fan.

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