Cost reduction and better air circulation within the deposit are some of its benefits.
The execution of mining works requires an adequate ventilation system and our institution promotes the application of simulation programs to reduce costs and optimize air circulation inside the mines.
To avoid economic problems, the correct development of the internal combustion process of diesel equipment must be ensured and health of workers must be preserved.
The implementation of this system represents high investment; therefore, to ensure that fans, ventilation hoses and other equipment effectively meet the real needs of the field, simulation programs are used. These allow the reduction of costs and optimization of air circulation in the deposit.
Traditionally, the design of a mine’s ventilation system was based on empirical criteria, which did not guarantee the total effectiveness of its application, generated problems due to poor operation and ended up increasing the investment.
Nowadays, with the existence of multiple software, ventilation models are carried out following scientific criteria. For example, comparing alternatives and selecting the most appropriate options, taking into account the characteristics of the project.
Dr. Felipe Calizaya, specialist of the Chamber of Mine of Peru refers to these systems. «This way of evaluating designs almost simultaneously allows the operator to analyze all alternatives, and design a flexible, safe and economical system. Thus, unnecessary expenses such as the installation of chimneys with inadequate diameters or the use of fans with lower capacity are avoided.»
Therefore, the Chamber of Mines of Peru supports the dissemination of knowledge on this subject, since the correct use of simulation systems allows cost reduction. This aspect is fundamental for project profitability. In addition, it generates a series of benefits such as characterizing concentrations of particulate material, reviewing the recirculation circuits inside the mine or showing an analysis of contaminants.
These programs allow the simulation of designs and the obtaining of accurate and fast results, so that the engineer has the ability to predict future events and, if necessary, modify his design to achieve better results and meet the air demands in the deposit.
Among these programs, we can mention the Vnet-PC software. This program allows the creation of own models of the mine and, once calibrated, to make projections to determine the number and size of fans.
Once the ventilation network is implemented, the software requires physical data of the deposit, as well as the air requirements to generate a model, in addition to calculating the pressure drop, direction and amount of airflow in each ventilation duct. These results are very useful for the design of the ventilation circuit. This type of software is also important when planning to execute new works, either horizontal works or deepening of the mine.
These programs are also useful for introducing improvements in ventilation systems. For example, the Canadian company B2Gold, in November 2015, decided to implement a modern ventilation system in the underground operation Mina El Limón (Nicaragua) in order to provide better working conditions and higher productivity in the ore extraction process.
«We are building a new chimney using state-of-the-art technology to extract hot air from the operation,» explained Melvin Burgalín, Nicaraguan engineer and manager of the underground ventilation project at B2Gold Mina El Limón.
All improvements in the ventilation process in the underground mine are monitored through a software called Ventsim. This software is considered one of the best in the world as it allows you to know what will happen with the technical changes. In addition, this program allows you to observe the deposit in 3D with all its elements.
Finally, it is concluded that simulation programs reduce costs. For that reason, our institution, through its training programs, promotes the ventilation simulation in mines.
The use of appropriate equipment will cover the real needs of mining projects. Likewise, a healthy work atmosphere will be consolidated for human resources, and there will be a better performance of equipment.
