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Airflow Basics

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Airflow Basics

Uploaded by

kutgoveka
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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MINE VENTILATION

CUEE515
AIRFLOW BASICS
Principles of Airflow
• Air will always flow from a region of high pressure to a region of low
pressure.

• The greater the pressure difference, the greater the airflow quantity
holding other factors constant.

• The greater the resistance in an airway, the low the amount of airflow.
Causes of resistance in an airway
• Obstructions
• Change in directions – bends
• Airway lining – roughness of the airway
• Geometry of the airway – size, shape and length
Formulae
• Area of a circle = (m)
• Circumference = D (m)
• Underground barometric pressure = Surface BP + (depth/100) (kPa)
• Total Pressure (TP) = Static Pressure (SP) + Velocity Pressure (VP)
• To measure: TP – use facing gauge
• SP – use side gauge
• VP – use facing gauge connected to a side gauge or use Pitot Tube
• Quantity of airflow (Q) = Area (A) X Velocity (V)
• Air power (W) = Pressure (P) x Quantity (Q) (Watts)
Example
• Measured velocity in a duct with a diameter of 570 mm is 2 m/s.
Calculate the volume of air traveling in that duct? (5 marks)

• Airflows at 3 m/s along a circular duct which is 50m long and has a
circumference of 3.5m. Calculate the radius of the duct. (5 marks)
Resistance (R)
Atkinson’s Formula
Atkinson Factor (K) or Friction Factor
Pressure required to overcome
frictional resistance
Example
• 50 m3/s flows in a duct which is 200m long and of diameter 610mm.
The measured air density is 0.96 kg/m3 and the friction factor k =
0.037. Calculate the pressure drop or the pressure required to move
air.
Velocity pressure (VP)
Analytical Methods – 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.
Analytical Methods – Equivalent
Resistances
• In order to determine an expression for a series circuit, consider:
Analytical Methods – Equivalent
Resistances
• The frictional pressure drops are given by as
Analytical Methods – Equivalent
Resistances
• 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
Analytical Methods – Equivalent
Resistances
Analytical Methods – Equivalent
Resistances
Example
• Figure below illustrates nine airways that form part of a ventilation
network. Find the equivalent resistance of the system.
Example 2
1) Three airways are connected in parallel and their resistances are as follows:
(i) 0.085 Ns2/m8

(ii) 0.162 Ns2/m8

(iii) 0.024 Ns2/m8

• The total quantity of air flowing through the whole system is 242.5 m 3/s.

• Calculate the drop over each airway and the quantity of air flowing in each airway
Fans – increase the pressure of air
lost due to resistance
Fan Efficiency
Example 3
1. A fan with an 82% efficient belt drive handles 82.2 m 3/s at a pressure of 2340 Pa. The fan is 76% efficient
and the motor is 95% efficient.
• Determine:
a) The input to the motor [7]

• The overall efficiency (3)


Standards expected in Mines
• Minimum air velocity = 0.25 m/s
• Air temperature: Wet Bulb = 27.5 Dry bulb = 32.5 degrees Celsius
• Relative humidity =< 84%
• Development end airflow quantity = 0.15 m3/s/m2
Example
• Calculate Q for development end with dimensions 7 x 3.5 m.
Airflow Requirement
• Air tonnage ratio = 2.5 m3/s/kt/month

• Diesel dilution ratio per kW = 0.12m3/s/kW


Example
• A gold mine produces 6000t of broken rock per day. What is the total
airflow requirement?

• Calculate the airflow requirement for a section using the following


machines: LHD 205kW, DT 240kW, UV 94 kW, Rig 105 kW and RB
105kW.
Cooling power of air
• It is determined by the wet kata

• Wet kata (k) = 0.7θ + θ θ = 36.5 – Wet Bulb Temperature


Example
• Along a T way in a deep gold mine, v = 2.70 m/s WB = 24.3 degrees
Celsius and associated DB = 27.8 degrees Celsius. Calculate the wet
kata reading at the point of measurement.

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