INTRODUCTION TO VENTILATION ON DEMAND (VOD)
With rising energy prices and consequently stricter occupational exposure limits regarding gases and dust, mining companies are recently facing the question of how meet these changing demands in the future. A possible solution can be the adequate introduction of ventilation on demand (VOD) systems.
The new ventilation system will be beyond the ‘set-and-forget-mentality’ and operate
dynamically. The following questions are of major concern:
- Do all areas need to be ventilated?
- Do these areas require a constant volume?
- Are all auxiliary systems required at the same time?
- Is ventilation needed in non-active periods?
Ventilation on demand means supplying required amounts of fresh air to individual mining areas only at times they are needed
- Harris Rackham
VENTILATION ON DEMAND (VOD)
The performance of geometrically similar fans of different sizes or speeds can be predicted with reasonable accuracy for practical purposes using the fan laws.
A higher level of accuracy would require the effects of say, the viscosity of the gas, surface roughness of the fan, scale effect also be considered. However, depending on the level of accuracy required, for many fan calculations, this may not be necessary. Once we have a basic understanding of these laws, the performance of a fan can be calculated for various conditions
Therefore, reducing the fan speed is a much more energy-efficient approach to reduce airflow since less power will be required resulting in less energy consumption.
Assuming increasing numbers of diesel equipment, demanded air volumes will also increase to dilute diesel emissions and heat. In the case of diesel changing to electricity as an energy
source for motors, heat will still be of relevance.
Writers: Asante Chirano
Full article to be published soon.
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