VENTILATION ON DEMAND OVERVIEW
Operators of underground mines must ensure that the working environment is properly ventilated. Personnel should not be exposed to excessive levels of CO2, Dust, Humidity, Temperature, Toxic Blasting, Strata Gases, and chiefly, Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) emissions from diesel vehicles.
To mitigate the costs of Ventilation, the company must ensure workers receive clean air where and when they need it and manage constraints in mines and companies are turning to digital technologies that enable the supply of ventilation to be brought in line with actual demand. This is Ventilation on Demand (VoD).
Ventilation on Demand is a system that provides full control over airflow within the mining site. This advanced mine ventilation system has vehicle detection, gas detection, air quality sensors and scheduling possibilities that optimizes the airflow underground. It employs sensors around the mine that transmit real-time data on key parameters such as vehicle use, personnel, and information from gas, flow, and temperature sensors to a central control system, enabling mine-wide control of fans and air regulators. The sensors enable scheduled ventilation that is required.
VoD systems learn and adapt over time with more data available, intelligently adjusting and optimizing air flow to maximize air quality and minimize consumption. In addition, potential problems are identified more quickly, and blast gases are evacuated faster, decreasing downtime. By controlling mine ventilation in this way, annual energy savings of up to 50% are possible.
VoD ensures a ventilation solution that fits different operational & organizational demands. At Airflow Environmental Solutions, we do Baseline Studies to determine your Mine requirements, and we model and simulate the requirements and needs.
BENEFITS OF VoD
1. Save money – reduce costs by controlling the fans to only run when needed, (using sensors for detection) you will use less power and your fans will have a longer service life and less damage.
2. Safe work environment – Use of scheduled fan operation to flush out toxic gases after blasting etc.
3. Compatibility – with most fans and ventilation systems (If existing
ventilation systems and fans are already installed in the mine).
4. Low initial investment – Each fan control unit is autonomous; it can be tested in one area before full or progressive installation throughout the mine.
5. Autonomous operation – Each fan control unit can operate on its own if communication does not exist or fails. Automated ventilation doors can also be employed.
6. Quick and easy support – we offer support, in most cases, without having to leave or home office. That means support becomes cheaper and faster and makes the downtime minimal.
