Mine Ventilation Control Using Real-Time Demand and Airflow Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mine ventilation systems rely on manual calculations and non-real-time simulators that fail to dynamically adjust to changing environments, leading to inefficient air distribution and increased energy consumption, which limits access to deep ore body sectors and increases CO2 emissions.
Innovation Solution
An optimized mine ventilation system that uses real-time tracking of machinery and personnel locations to calculate dynamic ventilation demands, adjusting fan speeds and air flow regulators to optimize air routing and distribution while minimizing energy consumption, without the need for costly air flow sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If manual calculations and non-real-time simulators are used for ventilation control, then system complexity is reduced, but ventilation optimization and energy efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual calculations and non-real-time simulators with an automated real-time control system that uses electronic sensors, processors, and communication networks to dynamically optimize ventilation parameters, thereby improving productivity while managing complexity through automation
Solution Approach 2:
The control system performs self-adjustment by automatically monitoring environmental parameters (temperature, humidity, CO2 levels) and dynamically modifying ventilation settings without requiring continuous manual intervention, enabling real-time optimization while reducing operational complexity
2Device complexity
If fan speeds and air flow regulators are manually controlled, then device complexity is reduced, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements closed-loop feedback control where sensors continuously monitor environmental conditions and system performance, and the control processor automatically adjusts fan speeds and air flow regulator positions to optimize energy consumption while maintaining required ventilation levels
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static manual control to dynamic automated control, allowing fan speeds and air flow regulators to continuously adapt to changing environmental conditions and ventilation demands, thereby minimizing energy consumption while maintaining effectiveness
3Device complexity
If traditional ventilation systems are used, then system simplicity is maintained, but access to deep ore body sectors is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the mine ventilation system into multiple independently controlled zones with distributed sensors and actuators, allowing precise local optimization of air flow and pressure to enable safe access to deep ore body sectors while maintaining overall system manageability
Data Source
AI summary
The optimized mine ventilation system of this invention supplements mine ventilation basic control systems by establishing a dynamic ventilation demand as a function of real-time tracking of machinery and/or personnel location and where this demand is optimally distributed in the work zones via the mine ventilation network and where the energy required to ventilate is minimized while totally satisfying the demand for each work zones. The optimized mine ventilation system operates on the basis of a predictive dynamic simulation model of the mine ventilation network along with emulated control equipment such as fans and air flow regulators. The model always reaches an air mass flow balance where the pressure and density is preferably compensated for depth and accounts for the natural ventilation pressure flows due to temperature differences. Model setpoints are checked for safety bounds and sent to real physical control equipment via the basic control system.