MALAWI UNIVERSITY OF BUSINESS AND
APPLIED SCIENCES
MINE VENTILATION
INTRODUCTION
MAYESO CYDRECK
mayesocydreck@gmail.com
0997770074 / 0886021095
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, DEPARTMENT OF MINING ENGINEERING
DEFINITION
•MINE VENTILATION refers to the application of the principles of fluid
dynamics to the flow of air in mine openings.
•Ventilation is responsible for the circulation of air in both amount
and direction throughout the Mine.
•Without a ventilation system, no underground facility that requires
personnel to enter it can operate safely.
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, DEPARTMENT OF MINING ENGINEERING
OBJECTIVES OF MINE VENTILATION
❑To provide an adequate amount of fresh air currents in roadways
and working places where persons are to pass or work to maintain
their health, safety and comfort.
❑To dilute and remove noxious and inflammable gases.
❑To cool working places in deep mines.
❑To remove and dilute dust generated during extraction.
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, DEPARTMENT OF MINING ENGINEERING
TOTAL AIR CONDITIONING IN MINES
AIR CONDITIONING
❑This is a term applied to temperature-humidity control, generally
cooling and heating.
❑Air conditioning consists of all the processes that are designed to
regulate sensible and latent heat of air.
❑The heat content of mine air must be maintained within prescribed
limits for the comfort, safety and working efficiency of human
beings.
❑ Temperature-humidity control is employed when Ventilation
alone is inadequate to maintain acceptable atmospheric heat
standards.
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, DEPARTMENT OF MINING ENGINEERING
TOTAL AIR CONDITIONING IN MINES
❑Total Mine Air conditioning encompasses all the functions of
environmental control.
❑The functions of Total Air Conditioning include the following;
1. Quality Control
2. Quantity Control
3. Temperature-Humidity Control
❑Individual air conditioning processes are employed to
achieve each of these objectives.
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, DEPARTMENT OF MINING ENGINEERING
TOTAL AIR CONDITIONING IN MINES
QUALITY CONTROL
▪Purifying air and removing contaminants
1. Gas control: vapors and gaseous matter
2. Dust Control: particulate matter
QUANTITY CONTROL
▪Regulating the magnitude and direction of airflow
1. Ventilation
2. Auxiliary or Face Ventilation
3. Local Exhaust
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, DEPARTMENT OF MINING ENGINEERING
TOTAL AIR CONDITIONING IN MINES
Temperature-Humidity Control
▪Controlling sensible heat and latent heat
1. Cooling
2. Heating
3. Humidification
4. Dehumidification
❑These control processes can be applied individually or jointly.
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, DEPARTMENT OF MINING ENGINEERING
TOTAL AIR CONDITIONING IN MINES
❑Contaminants consist mainly of gases and dust but can also
include heat and humidity.
❑Engineering principles are fundamental and applicable to the
control of these contaminants;
1. Prevention or Avoidance
2. Removal or Elimination
3. Suppression or Absorption
4. Containment or Isolation
5. Dilution or Reduction
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, DEPARTMENT OF MINING ENGINEERING
