Description of a Direct-Acting Steam Fan for the Better Ventilation of Coal Mines

Abstract

Mr. Nasmyth began by referring to the disastrous accidents which had arisen from defective ventilation,—within the last two years there having been 190 lives lost in the neighbourhood of Barnsley alone. This wholesale destruction of human life urgently called for an energetic effort to remove the evil. By increased means of ventilation, and thus getting rid of the accumulation of explosive gases, they would be striking at the root of the evil. This had been hitherto done by causing a rarefaction of air in one of the ascending shafts of the mine by means of a furnace burning below. It had, however, been proved that the furnace system of ventilation was deficient, disastrous accidents having occurred in mines so ventilated. Some more efficient means of sweeping away the accumulation of impure air was therefore called for, and Mr. Nasmyth recommended his direct-acting fan as supplying the desideratum. Economy was among its advantages: if one-tenth of the coal at present burnt in a furnace to produce direct rarefaction, were burnt under a boiler applied to a small engine for the purpose of working the fan, it would generally produce a much greater effect. Another important advantage possessed by this ventilating apparatus was, that it was above-ground and accessible, instead of being below-ground, as at present. In case of accident they would thus have full means of re-ventilating the mine. At present many hours had generally to elapse, in case of accident, before the mine could be sufficiently re-ventilated to render ...