Abstract
ABSTRACT The total air volume requirements of underground mining operations are determined based on several factors, including mining method, ambient air temperature, rock type, and mobile equipment emissions. With the introduction of larger battery-electric mobile fleets (i.e., large trucks and scoops) to replace existing diesel fleets in underground hard-rock operations, mobile equipment emissions become mostly limited to the heat generated. Battery-electric mobile equipment has the potential to reduce the air volume needed to ventilate an underground mine. However, air velocity is an important factor to ensure that the air reaches the working areas of the mine economically while minimizing entrainment of large contaminant particles, maximizing dilution of fine particles, and maintaining a safe air velocity for human occupancy. This paper reviews key parameters to support air volume determination and, using an example, discusses the influence of battery-electric vehicles on determining the total air volume.
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