Mine Fans

Rini Novrianti Sutardjo Tui

Axial Flow Fan

Tube axial - The impeller is confined in a casing

Free air The impeller is not confined

Vane axial The impeller is fitted in a casing

Centrifugal Flow Fan

Fan Comparison
Characteristic
Size Reversibility Installation Cost Noise Mechanical Stability

Axial
Can be fairly compact Limited efficiency when operated in reverse direction. Simpler and cheaper. Major fans are about the same in cost. Axial flow fans noisier and at a higher pitch.

Centrifugal
Forward curved about same size as Axial, backward curved much larger. Centrifugal fans cannot be reversed. Complex airflow reversal arrangement may be necessary. U/G fans may need recessed areas for set-up. Underground centrifugal fans more expensive Centrifugal fans are more robust than axial fans. Forward curved draw excessive power near free air delivery (low pressures), backward curved have falling power characteristic. Maximum can be as much as 9000 Pa. Forward curved least efficient.

Power Characteristics

Falling power characteristic

Max for single stage, about 3000 Pa. Vane axial most efficient. Variable pitch axial flow most flexible.

Maximum Head Efficiency Flexibility

Fan Applications

Main Fan

Booster

Auxiliary

Fan

Fan

The principal fan used to produce general ventilation air current in mine. It is normally permanent in nature and large in capacity.

The fan which is usually installed to ventilate parts of the mine where the main fans may, by themselves, be inadequate.

The fan is usually of small size, portable, and temporarily installed to ventilate working place through which the general ventilating air may not otherwise pass.

Fan Stall
Input power amps show rapid oscillations or surging at a slower frequency

The fan makes unusual noises

The fan vibrates excessively

Stall Zone Signs

The quantity and pressure points alter considerably

A fan will stall if the resistance of the system is (or becomes) excessive and eventually, the pressure and quantity become unstable and fluctuate wildly.

Fan Performance Control

Increased resistance

Increased airflow requirements

Regulators

Power saving

Change in air density

Fan Arrangements
Parallel arrangement: in separate openings, draw air from the same common point, deliver it to the same destination

Qa

b parallel

Qa Qb

pa

b series

pa

pb

Series arrangement: on the same flow circuit, handling the same airflow, generating a part of total pressure required

Fan in Series

Two identical fans in series

Two different fans in series

Fan in Parallel

Two identical fans in parallel

Two different fans in parallel

Fan in Combination

Each fan shares a portion of the total mine resistance load, but retains its own specific zone of influence.

Fan Failure

Poor preventative maintenance including regular cleaning of guide vanes and impellers An accumulation of dust and salts on impellers may also cause the fan to run out of balance

Unrecognized increasing fan pressure caused by increasing mine resistance

Rocks and other foreign materials are often found in fan housings can become caught on an impeller

Fan Efficiency
Static Efficiency Overall Efficiency
s
Static power Pas output of the fan input PF Power the fan

P Fan PI Power input Efficiency

supplied to motor driving the fan

Total power output of at the fan

Q P W

Pat PF

Total power output of the fan Power input the fan

Total Efficiency

AP MIP