Author 1:

Name & Surname: Minin V. V.
Company: Uralmekhanobr JSC (Ekaterinburg, Russia)
Work Position: Head of Mine Roadway Ventilation Department, Corresponding Member of the International Academy of Sciences on Ecology and Safe Life Activity, Assistant Professor
Scientific Degree: Candidate of Engineering Sciences
Contacts: e-mail: minin_vv@umbr.ru

Author 2:

Name & Surname: Piankov D. A.
Company: Uralmekhanobr JSC (Ekaterinburg, Russia)
Work Position: Principal Engineer of Air-Gate Department
Contacts: e-mail: piankov_da@umbr.ru

Author 3:

Name & Surname: Kotenkov A. V.
Company: Uralmekhanobr JSC (Ekaterinburg, Russia)
Work Position: Deputy Head of Mining Science Department
Contacts: e-mail: gpgr@umbr.ru

The article illustrates intelligent use of ventilation air in stopes and development headings. The feasibility of partial re-use of air flow in mine ventilation network is demonstrated. The presented approach should be considered as one of the most significant and promising trends in energy-saving ventilation technologies for large mines with extensional goafs and ramified systems of roadways with low aerodynamic resistance. Based on the many-years experience of other researchers (over 60 years) and their own research findings, the authors have substantiated principles of partial air re-use that allows sustained, adjustable and safe gas, gas dispersoid, thermophysical and aerodynamic parameters of air and mine airing. Five proofs of the described theory and practice of mine design and construction are presented. The article describes the pilot test of the partial air re-use approach in terms of the Berezniki Mine-2, Uralkali JSC, and shows positions and elements of the pilot-plant equipment. Based on the test results, the hard-and-fast terms for unconditional fulfillment are set in the project documentation.