Mining Institute, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Perm, Russia:

D. S. Kormshchikov, Researcher, Candidate of Engineering Sciences, dkormshchikov@gmail.com
A. V. Zaitsev, Head of Sector, Candidate of Engineering Sciences
A. S. Kiryakov, Leading Engineer

The article is devoted to the problem which is of the current concern in the mining industry, namely, efficient ventilation in deep mines. Ventilation systems in underground mines use main fan installations. Traditionally, these plants are arranged on the surface at the mouth of shafts. Also, main fans can be placed underground. The authors describe the experience of using underground fans of main ventilation in salt mines with indicated advantages and disadvantages of such installation diagram. The article presents the experience of introduction of main fan installations. Examples of construction of the underground auxiliary fan of main ventilation in Berezniki Mine 2 of Uralkali, replacement of the surface fan installation by the underground plant in the Iletsksol Mine of Russol and introduction of two compounded underground fans with automated control in Mine 4 of Belaruskali are adduced. Based on the modeling results, rational conditions of operation of underground fans are determined, and the requirement of selecting modes of joint operation for a fan group with their automated control by the individually set algorithms is demonstrated. Furthermore, the article points at the difficulties of introduction of underground fan plants at the stage of a new mine construction and emphasize the importance of selecting a location mode for the main fan installation with regard to the future expansion of the mine. The problem of ventilation in mines advancing to deeper levels is described. The problem consists in the fact that an underground fan supports airing only on the fan installation horizon while at the bottom of the ventilation shaft and on the lower horizons the air stream is inverted. A few possible solutions to this problem are proposed. Finally, it is specified that the use of the underground fan plants is only expedient with developed ventilation network and in case of considerable depth of mining.

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