TY - THES

T1 - Mine ventilation optimisation of a room and pillar platinum mine, case study Mimosa Mine

AU - Mabika, Kudzai Henry

N1 - no embargo

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - A mine’s ventilation system is an important component of an underground mining system and it provides a sufficient quantity of air to maintain a suitable working environment (Cheng et al, 2019). Mine ventilation systems have to be controlled and optimized regarding the general requirement of mine safety and health of the miners as well as the costs (Muller et al, 2015). Continuous improvement of the ventilation system is essential to ensure compliance with the health and safety regulations as per state requirements. Increased mechanization and productivity, has led to a greater contaminant load being placed on the mine's ventilation system. At the same time increased mechanization results in more heat from equipment, hence more air for dilution of pollutants produced on niveau of production and higher demand in cooling the heat produced. In some cases, these problems have increased to such an extent that conventional ventilation systems are reaching their maximum limits and increase in temperature due to shortage of adequate fresh air on the workplace face. Hence the status of mine ventilation should be tracked and monitored at a timely matter. Based on findings and in-depth analysis of mine ventilation systems and safety at Mimosa Mine, this project will discuss and propose on the way to improve the ventilation system in relation to changes in the mining industry by implementing energy-efficient ventilation and cooling systems. The investigated Mimosa mine uses room and pillar mine method that produces ore utilizing conventional drill and blast method. The mine is serviced by a main decline which operates as the main intake airway. Ventilation at Mimosa accounts for more than 42% of the total energy consumption hence the need for optimisation to reduce the percentage especially considering the new energy costs and the continual changes in government regulations in respect to conditions of manpower and diesel engines underground. In the findings it was noted the shortfalls in the two bottom quadrants were excessively large and this was due to high leakages and increase in the angle of elevation on the deposit. It was then concluded that high resistance was causing face quantities not to be met by downcasts on the production areas. Recommendations to ameliorate the ventilation network system were proposed according to results from the case study of the current ventilation system.

AB - A mine’s ventilation system is an important component of an underground mining system and it provides a sufficient quantity of air to maintain a suitable working environment (Cheng et al, 2019). Mine ventilation systems have to be controlled and optimized regarding the general requirement of mine safety and health of the miners as well as the costs (Muller et al, 2015). Continuous improvement of the ventilation system is essential to ensure compliance with the health and safety regulations as per state requirements. Increased mechanization and productivity, has led to a greater contaminant load being placed on the mine's ventilation system. At the same time increased mechanization results in more heat from equipment, hence more air for dilution of pollutants produced on niveau of production and higher demand in cooling the heat produced. In some cases, these problems have increased to such an extent that conventional ventilation systems are reaching their maximum limits and increase in temperature due to shortage of adequate fresh air on the workplace face. Hence the status of mine ventilation should be tracked and monitored at a timely matter. Based on findings and in-depth analysis of mine ventilation systems and safety at Mimosa Mine, this project will discuss and propose on the way to improve the ventilation system in relation to changes in the mining industry by implementing energy-efficient ventilation and cooling systems. The investigated Mimosa mine uses room and pillar mine method that produces ore utilizing conventional drill and blast method. The mine is serviced by a main decline which operates as the main intake airway. Ventilation at Mimosa accounts for more than 42% of the total energy consumption hence the need for optimisation to reduce the percentage especially considering the new energy costs and the continual changes in government regulations in respect to conditions of manpower and diesel engines underground. In the findings it was noted the shortfalls in the two bottom quadrants were excessively large and this was due to high leakages and increase in the angle of elevation on the deposit. It was then concluded that high resistance was causing face quantities not to be met by downcasts on the production areas. Recommendations to ameliorate the ventilation network system were proposed according to results from the case study of the current ventilation system.

KW - Mimosa Mine

KW - Mimosa Mine

M3 - Master's Thesis

ER -