Abstract
A Computational fluid dynamic (CFD) model was developed considering three geometries for primary parallel fan stations that have already been developed, implemented, and are currently in operation within Chilean mines. To standardize the comparison, the same primary fan was used in all the simulations with a unique set of settings (speed, blade angle, and density). The CFD representation was used to determine the operating point per configuration and compare the performances in terms of airflow and pressure delivered. This approach allowed ranking primary fan station geometry based on resistance curve and energy consumption of the fan. This paper presents the results obtained through the CFD simulations and the corresponding primary fans operating points of each configuration: symmetrical branches (SB), overlap branches (OB), and run around (RA) bypass. The RA configuration was identified as the best-performing station geometry on the lowest frictional and shock pressure losses, highest airflow delivery, and lowest energy cost. The results are discussed, considering pressure, velocity, and vector contours to understand the fluid dynamics phenomena occurring inside the station. The capital cost involved in the development of each primary parallel station was considered in the analysis in addition to the energy cost to determine the economic configuration over time.
Highlights
Operators of underground mines are looking for options to increase production rates and improve the competitiveness of the business by offsetting increased costs from the depletion of surface deposits and the greater depth of new deposits
Based on the results obtained for these three studied geometries, new questions develop, such as: What is the adequate balance between the development length and the energy consumption that a parallel ventilation station will have? The authors expect that further work in this research avenue will hopefully lead to a design optimization methodology for parallel fan stations, which will consider the overall cost and the development cost as it might have been the case in the past
The results presented in this study suggest that the initial theoretical recommendation of constructing two-fan parallel stations as symmetrically as possible should be reviewed on a case-by-case basis
Summary
Operators of underground mines are looking for options to increase production rates and improve the competitiveness of the business by offsetting increased costs from the depletion of surface deposits and the greater depth of new deposits This can lead to the use of a larger or bigger diesel equipment fleet working underground or a combination of both. ]. CFD simulation has been applied to ventilation shock losses in production drifts and parallel fan stations [? The study of the parallel fan ventilation stations developed in this paper considers three different geometries, all of them currently in use for underground mining in Chile. This paper presents guidelines for the geometry characteristics that need to be considered for three particular parallel ventilation station designs containing two fans. The analysis is extended considering the capital expenditure required for developing these geometric designs and estimating the net present value generated over additional time to only considering the energy cost
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