Strategies used to control the costs of underground ventilation in some Brazilian mines

Abstract In an underground mine, the ventilation is responsible for 25% to 50% of its electrical energy consumption. In countries such as South Africa, United States and Canada researchers have started to achieve a significant reduction in energy consumption without neglecting aspects of the quantit...

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Main Authors: Leandro de Vilhena Costa, José Margarida da Silva
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Fundação Gorceix 2020-09-01
Series:REM: International Engineering Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2448-167X2020000400555&tlng=en
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author Leandro de Vilhena Costa
José Margarida da Silva
author_facet Leandro de Vilhena Costa
José Margarida da Silva
author_sort Leandro de Vilhena Costa
collection DOAJ
description Abstract In an underground mine, the ventilation is responsible for 25% to 50% of its electrical energy consumption. In countries such as South Africa, United States and Canada researchers have started to achieve a significant reduction in energy consumption without neglecting aspects of the quantity and quality of air required for the best performance of the system, in compliance with safety standards and worker comfort. In Brazil, on demand this ventilation application began in 2013 at the Ipueira mine (Bahia, controlled by Ferbasa company), and was soon after applied by the Cuiabá, Córrego do Sitio I and Lamego mines; all three mines administered by Anglo Gold Ashanti. Each mine adopted frequency inverters for the main ventilation, whereby the fan rotation is adjusted according to demand and speed drivers. This measure resulted in the saving of thousands of reais, since the flow is proportional to the velocity, the pressure is proportional to the square of the velocity, and the power is proportional to the cubed velocity. Therefore, a reduction of 20% in the flow will save about 50% of the energy required. The Cuiabá mine presents the most modern and automated system in the country. The fans are controlled and monitored through a control room. In addition, sensors scattered in the mine, control the required flow rate. The Lamego mine has a similar but simpler system. This article proposes to discuss the application and improvement of the process of ventilation on demand in Brazilian mines where this system is applied.
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spelling doaj.art-259fd913ff8c4a9281ce3889d74f7ea82022-12-22T04:12:36ZengFundação GorceixREM: International Engineering Journal2448-167X2020-09-0173455556010.1590/0370-44672019730057Strategies used to control the costs of underground ventilation in some Brazilian minesLeandro de Vilhena Costahttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9739-8515José Margarida da Silvahttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5695-7213Abstract In an underground mine, the ventilation is responsible for 25% to 50% of its electrical energy consumption. In countries such as South Africa, United States and Canada researchers have started to achieve a significant reduction in energy consumption without neglecting aspects of the quantity and quality of air required for the best performance of the system, in compliance with safety standards and worker comfort. In Brazil, on demand this ventilation application began in 2013 at the Ipueira mine (Bahia, controlled by Ferbasa company), and was soon after applied by the Cuiabá, Córrego do Sitio I and Lamego mines; all three mines administered by Anglo Gold Ashanti. Each mine adopted frequency inverters for the main ventilation, whereby the fan rotation is adjusted according to demand and speed drivers. This measure resulted in the saving of thousands of reais, since the flow is proportional to the velocity, the pressure is proportional to the square of the velocity, and the power is proportional to the cubed velocity. Therefore, a reduction of 20% in the flow will save about 50% of the energy required. The Cuiabá mine presents the most modern and automated system in the country. The fans are controlled and monitored through a control room. In addition, sensors scattered in the mine, control the required flow rate. The Lamego mine has a similar but simpler system. This article proposes to discuss the application and improvement of the process of ventilation on demand in Brazilian mines where this system is applied.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2448-167X2020000400555&tlng=enventilation on demandunderground minesystem of ventilationenergetic efficiencyenergy consumption
spellingShingle Leandro de Vilhena Costa
José Margarida da Silva
Strategies used to control the costs of underground ventilation in some Brazilian mines
REM: International Engineering Journal
ventilation on demand
underground mine
system of ventilation
energetic efficiency
energy consumption
title Strategies used to control the costs of underground ventilation in some Brazilian mines
title_full Strategies used to control the costs of underground ventilation in some Brazilian mines
title_fullStr Strategies used to control the costs of underground ventilation in some Brazilian mines
title_full_unstemmed Strategies used to control the costs of underground ventilation in some Brazilian mines
title_short Strategies used to control the costs of underground ventilation in some Brazilian mines
title_sort strategies used to control the costs of underground ventilation in some brazilian mines
topic ventilation on demand
underground mine
system of ventilation
energetic efficiency
energy consumption
url http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2448-167X2020000400555&tlng=en
work_keys_str_mv AT leandrodevilhenacosta strategiesusedtocontrolthecostsofundergroundventilationinsomebrazilianmines
AT josemargaridadasilva strategiesusedtocontrolthecostsofundergroundventilationinsomebrazilianmines