Mine Ventilation - Introduction

Dr. Nuhindro Priagung Widodo

Teknik Pertambangan
Fakultas Teknik Pertambangan dan Perminyakan, Institut Teknologi
Bandung
2010

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Modul Code: TA3123 Credits: Semester : Group: Course Type:
2 V Mining Engineering Core
Course Group Mining Engineering Course
Course Title Mine Ventilation
Short Description Ventilasi untuk tambang maupun bukaan bawah tanah, karakteristik udara tambang dan kontrol kualitas yang
mencakup gas-gas dalam tambang dan debu, kontrol kuantitas yang mencakup jaringan ventilasi dan fan, serta kontrol
temperatur dan kelembaban (psikrometri).
Isi perkuliahan:
Tujuan ventilasi pada tambang maupun bukaan bawah tanah, karakteristik udara tambang, gas-gas dalam tambang,
debu dan partikulat, teori aliran udara tambang, julang tambang (mine head), perhitungan aliran udara dalam lubang
bukaan, jaringan ventilasi biasa maupun kompleks, ventilasi alami, jenis, desain dan hukum-hukum fan, temperatur
efektif, sumber-sumber panas dalam tambang, survey ventilasi, psikrometri.
Goals Mahasiswa memahami fungsi dari ventilasi tambang serta pengetahuan untuk merencanakan suatu sistem jaringan
aliran udara dalam tambang bawah tanah yang memenuhi persyaratan lingkungan kerja yang sehat dan aman.

Offered To Mining Engineering Faculty: Mining and Institute Technology of

Petroleum Engineering Bandung

Related Courses 1. Fluid Mechanics Prerequisite

2. Prime Mover Prerequisite
Percentage Knowledge = 60 % Sarana/ x White board
Skill = 30 % Media x LCD/OHP
Attitude = 10 % x Computer (lab)
Activity (hour/week) Course = 2 x Laboratory model
Tutorial = -
Lab Works = 1
Assessment Mid test = 30 %
Final test = 40 %
Homework, Presentation, Quiz and Report 30 %
=
References/ 1. Hartman, Mutmansky, Ramani, Wang, Mine Ventilation and Air Conditioning, John Wiley & Sons, 3rd Edition,
Bibliography 1997.
2. McPherson, Malcolm J., Subsurface Ventilation and Environmental Engineering, Chapman & Hall, 1993.

3. Environmental Engineering in South African Mines, The Mine Ventilation Society of South Africa , 1989.

4. Barenburg, A.W.T., Psychrometry and Psychrometric Charts, Chamber of Mines South Africa, 3rd ed., 1974.

Additional:
The course provides experience for students to apply engineering science and knowledge to mine environmental control, system analysis and
design. Students will learn and experience team work, communication,
NPW and appreciation of health and safety. 2
 Week Topic Sub Topic Goal
1 Introduction Mine ventilation purposes Students understand the purposes and basic
(12/08) Mine ventilation basic principles principles of mine ventilation
Scope of mine ventilation
Properties of mine air
2 Mine air quality control Required quantity of air Students understand and can calculate air
(19/08) Oxygen depletion quantity and quality in mine ventilation
(20/08) Mine gases
Control of gases underground
Dust characteristics and control
3a Basic principles of Fluid Reynolds number Students understand and be able to applied the
(26/08) Mechanics Friction factor in laminar and turbulent flow basic equation of fluid mechanics for air flow in
Atkinson Equation and Square Law mine ventilation
3b Fan Basic principles of fan Students understand the fan principles,
(27/08) Fan types diagram, and be able to calculate and define
Fan in series fan needed in mine ventilation
Fan in parallel
Main fan and auxiliary fan
4 Flow of air through ducts and Pressure drop (Pressure loss in mine airways and Students undertand the air flow energy and its
(2/09) mine openings air duct) application in mine ventilation
Friction factor in ducts and mine openings
5 Mine Air Quantity Control Introduction Students understand the principles of mine air
(23/09) Energy of internal flow demand, pressure gradient and condition in
(24/09) Pressure gradient mine front
Mine air quantity demand Student understand solution of simple networks
with natural splitting
Basic theory and calculation of simple ventilation
network
6a Mine ventilation network Basic theory and calculation of complex ventilation Students understand ventilation network
(30/09) analysis network analysis and be able to calculate resistance
(01/10) and pressure in mine ventilation system

6b Group Presentation Metal mine ventilation system Student actively discuss the applications of
(07/10) Coal mine ventilation system mine ventilation in mining industries
(08/10)
7 Mid test
(14/10)

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 Week Topic Sub Topic Goal
8 Natural Ventilation Principles of natural ventilation Students understand the phenomenon and be
(21/10) able to calculate the effect to the mine
ventilation
9 Fire and Explosions Introduction Students understand the safe mine ventilation
(22/10) Criteria and diagram to identify the explosionability condition and be able to identify gases
of gases condition, their prevention and controls
Cause and control of mine fire and explosions
Case study

10 Temperature and humidity Definition Students understand the definition, source and
(28/10) control Heat sources in mine effect of heat and humidity in mine ventilation.
(29/10) Psychrometric diagram Student be able to calculate the mine
thermodynamics in psychrometric diagram

11 Ventilation survey Introduction Students understand and be able to measure

(04/11) Equipment and method in mine vetilation monitoring velocity , pressure, temperature and humidity
Velocity and air quantity measurement and calculate airflow quantity
Pressure measurement
Temperature and humidity measurement

12 Guest lecture Mine ventilation planning and design (application in Student understand the application of mine
(11/11) Pongkor mine) ventilation in industrial scale and be able to
design plan the ventilation system
13 Review Mine quality and quantity control
(18/11) Software
14 Case study (Group Mine ventilation planning and practice Discussion
(25/11) Presentation)
(26/11)

15 Final Test
(02/12)

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UNDERGROUND EXCAVATION

5
Longwall Coal Mine

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 Mining Front

CH4 emission

Dust

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Adanya air di terowongan

Kelembaban tinggi

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 COAL UNDERGROUND MINE

Bahan dari pelatihan oleh

Dr. Masahiro INOUE NPW 9
 Umum Fan
Penghematan Energi
Kontrol Gas, Aliran Udara (Optimasi)

Belt conveyor
Kebakaran
Penggalian Maju
Gas, Debu, Panas
Swabakar

Runtuhan Atap
Monitoring (Masalah Ventilasi) Penambangan/ Longwall
Gas, Debu, Panas

Bahan dari pelatihan oleh

Dr. Masahiro INOUE
 Ledakan debu batubara
di tambang Miike
9 November 1963

Meninggal: 458
Keracunan CO: 839

Bahan dari pelatihan oleh

Dr. Masahiro INOUE
 Bencana Serius Ledakan Tambang di Dunia
tahun Tambang Meninggal

1942 本 渓 湖 Honkeiko （China) 1527

1906 クーリェー Courier （France) 1099
1917 撫順大山 Fushun-Oyama （China) 917
1914 方 城 Houjou （Japan) 687
1963 三 池 Miike （Japan) 458
1913 セングヘニーズ Seng Heniese （UK） 439
1914 若 鍋 Wakanabe （Japan) 423
1917 大 之 浦 Oonoura （Japan) 365
1907 豊 国 Houkoku （Japan) 365
1866 オークス Oaks （UK） 361
1907 モノガー Monoger （USA） 361
1908 ラドボールド Radbold （Germany) 360
1910 プレトリャ Pretpria （UK） 344
1940 井 径 Ikei （China) 341
1906 高 島 Takashima （Japan) 307
1962 ルイゼンタール Ruizentar （Germany) 299

Bahan dari pelatihan oleh

Dr. Masahiro INOUE
 SERIOUS DISASTERS RELATED TO
MINE VENTILATION IN JAPAN
Date Mine Category Cause Fatalities
63/11/9 Miike Dust explosion ? ４５８
64/6/1 Yamano Gas explosion ? ２３７
65/2/22 Yuubari Gas explosion Spontaneous ６２
combustion
66/3/22 Sorachi Gas dust explosion Blasting １２
66/11/1 Honbatsu Gas dust explosion Blasting １６
68/1/20 Bibai Gas explosion Blasting １６
68/5/12 Bibai Mine fire ? １３
68/7/30 Heiwa Mine fire ? ３１
69/4/2 Mojiri Gas explosion Blasting １９
70/12/15 Sunagawa Gas explosion ? １９
72/11/2 Ishikari Gas explosion Blasting ３１
73/12/19 Sunagawa Gas explosion ? １５
75/11/27 Horonai Gas explosion Blasting ２４
77/5/11 Ashibetu Gas explosion Blasting ２５
79/5/16 Minami Gas explosion Static electricity １１
ooyuubari
81/10/16 Yuubari Gas explosion Static electricity １０
sinkou
84/1/18 Ariake Mine fire Belt conveyor ８３
85/4/24 Takashima Gas explosion Static electricity １１
85/5/17 Minami Gas explosion Static electricity ６２
ooyuubari
Bahan dari pelatihan oleh
Dr. Masahiro INOUE NPW 13
 40g/m
3

Batubara
Debu
Percobaan ledakan debu
batubara di lorong miring
Meta 5%
Bahan dari pelatihan oleh
Dr. Masahiro INOUE n Bawah
Ambang Batas
 Ledakan Gas Metan

Ledakan Debu Batubara

Bahan dari pelatihan oleh

Dr. Masahiro INOUE
 Penyalaan

Segel
Gas metan dari
area bekas
penambangan

Bahan dari pelatihan oleh

Dr. Masahiro INOUE
Gb１．Contoh Bencana Tambang terkait Ventilasi
 AN EXAMPLE OF CONCENTRATIONS OF GASES DOWNWIND OF
A FIRE
* Saiko to Hoan vol.24,No7,1977

8 25
7 H2(%) O2(%)
CH4(%) 20
6 CO2(%)
Concentration(%)

Concentration(%)
CO(%)
5
15
4

3 10

2
5
1

0 0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Time(min)
Time(min)

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Dr. Masahiro INOUE NPW 17
 HUMAN TOLERANCE TO TOXIC GASES
ppm minutes 30min 1-2 hours 8hours
ＣＯ 3000 1600 800 100
ＣＯ2 50000 40000 35000 32000
ＳＯ2 400 150 50 8
ＮＯ2 240 100 50 30
Ｈ2Ｓ 1000 700 500 100

HUMAN TOLERANCE TO OXYGEN DEFICIENCY

Oxygen (%) Effects on Human Body
21 None
17 Impaired muscular co-ordination
14 Danger level of self-escape
12 Dizziness, headache, rapid fatigue
9 Unconsiousness
6 Death in 6-8 minutes

* Birch, N.,Passenger Protection Technology in Aircraft Accident Fires. Gower Technical Press, 1988

Bahan dari pelatihan oleh

Dr. Masahiro INOUE NPW 18
 AIR TEMPERATURE DOWNWIND OF A MINE FIRE
1000
v=3m/s
Temperature(℃) 800
v=1m/s
600

400

200

0
50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400
Distance(m)

HUMAN TOLERANCE TO AMBIENT TEMPERATURE

Temperature (C) 60 70 80 100 120 140 150
Time (minutes) 120 65 45 15 10 5 1
Bahan dari pelatihan oleh
Dr. Masahiro INOUE NPW 19
 LOWER AND UPPER EXPLOSIVE LIMIT OF SOME COMBUSTIBLE GASES

Limits of explosibility, volume (%)

Combustible gas Lower limit Upper
Methane 5.0 15.0
Ethane 3.0 12.5
Propane 2.3 9.5
Carbon monoxide 12.5 74.2
Hydrogen 4.1 74.2
Hydrogen sulfide 4.3 46.0

Bahan dari pelatihan oleh

Dr. Masahiro INOUE NPW 20
 Leadership
 “What interests my boss fascinates me”!!!

If the Leader values production - people will attempt to

achieve the production goals set by the Leader.

If the Leader values safety - people will attempt to

achieve safety within the production goals set by the
Leader.

Our people will always attempt to achieve

what their Leaders value.

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The Culture Iceberg
10 %
Visible Culture
Policies, Procedures, Symbols,
Leadership, Rituals, Heroes

90%
Invisible Culture
Norms
Assumptions
Beliefs

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Journey to
INTEGRATION
INTEGRATED INTO ALL BUSINESS

Culture Change DECISIONS

Increasingly INVOLVED LEADERSHIP

LEADERSHIP & SYSTEMATIC PLANNING
informed

PASSIONATE LIP SERVICE

PASSIONATE SPEECHES, NO FOLLOW-UP

LIP SERVICE
NO STRATEGIC PLAN, LIMITED RESOURCES

Increasing Trust
And accountability

PERMISSION
NO COORDINATED EFFORT ACROSS
ORGANIZATION
Hudson Model -
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SHELL
 Supporting or Committed?
Supporting
Committed!

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 Perception is Reality
The limits we set for
ourselves exist in our
minds.

Roger Vasili Alexeev

Bannister 501.5 lbs
May 6, 1954
1 mile, 3.59.4
minutes

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 Brief History of Mine Ventilation
• Between 4000 and 1200 B.C., European miners dug tunnels into
chalk deposits searching for flint.
• The Laurium silver mines of Greece, operating in 600 B.C. have
layouts which reveal that the Greek miners were conscious of the
need for a connected ventilating circuit.
• The first great textbook on mining was written in Latin by Georgius
Agricola, a physician in a thriving iron ore mining and smelting
community of Bohemia in Central Europe. Agricola's "De Re
Metallica", produced in 1556, is profusely illustrated.
• A number of the prints show ventilating methods that include
diverting surface winds into the mouths of shafts, wooden
centrifugal fans powered by men and horses, bellows for auxiliary
ventilation and air doors.

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 Brief History of Mine Ventilation
• Agricola was also well aware of the dangers of blackdamp,
air that has suffered from a reduction in oxygen content, -
'miners are sometimes killed by the pestilential air that they
breathe," and of the explosive power of "firedamp", a mixture
of methane and air "likened to the fiery blast of a dragon's
breath."
• De Re Metallica was translated into English in 1912 by
Herbert C. Hoover and his wife, Lou. Hoover was a young
American mining engineer who graduated from Stanford
University and subsequently served as President of the United
States during the term 1929-1933.

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 Brief History of Mine Ventilation
• The Industrial Revolution brought a rapid increase in the demand for
coal. Conditions in many coal mines were quite horrific for the men,
women, and children who were employed in them during the 18th
and 19th centuries. Ventilation was induced either by purely natural
effects, stagnating when air temperatures on the surface and
underground were near equal, or by fire.
• George Stephenson, admitted to this practice during the inquiries
of a government select committee on mine explosions in 1835. A
common method of removing methane was to send a "fireman'' in
before each shift, covered in sackcloths dowsed in water and
carrying a candle on the end of a long rod. It was his task to burn
out the methane before the miners went into the working faces.

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 Brief History of Mine Ventilation
 John Buddle (1773-1843), an eminent mining engineer in the
north of England produced two significant improvements. First, he
introduced "dumb drifts" which bled sufficient fresh air from the base
of a downcast shaft to feed the furnace. The return air, laden with
methane, bypassed the furnace.
 Buddle's second innovation was "panel (or split) ventilation". Until
that time, air flowed sequentially through work areas, one after the
other, continually increasing in methane concentration. Buddle
originally divided the mine layout into discrete panels, with
intervening barrier pillars, to counteract excessive floor heave.
 However, he found that by providing an intake and return separately
to each panel the ventilating quantities improved markedly and
methane concentrations decreased. He had discovered, almost by
accident, the advantages of parallel layouts over series circuits.
 The mathematical proof of this did not come until Atkinson's
theoretical analyses several decades later

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Brief History of Mine Ventilation
A crisis point was reached in 1812 when a horrific
explosion at Felling, Gateshead killed 92 miners. With
the help of local clergymen, a society was formed to
look into ways of preventing such disasters.

Contact was made with Sir Humphrey Davy,

President of the Royal Society, for assistance in
developing a safe lamp. Davy visited John Buddle to
learn more of conditions in the mines. As this was well
before the days of electricity, he was limited to some
form of flame lamp.

Within a short period of experimentation he found that

the flame of burning methane would not readily pass
through a closely woven wire mesh. The lamp glowed
'red hot' because of the methane burning vigourously
within it, yet the flames could not pass through the
wire mesh to ignite the surrounding firedamp.
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 Brief History of Mine Ventilation
• Perhaps the greatest classical paper on mine ventilation was one
entitled "On the Theory of the Ventilation of Mines", presented by John
Job Atkinson to the North of England Institute of Mining Engineers in
December, 1854.
• During Atkinson's productive years the first power driven ventilators
began to appear. These varied from enormous steam-driven piston and
cylinder devices to elementary centrifugal fans.
• Improved instrumentation allowed organized ventilation surveys to be
carried out to measure airflows and pressure drops for the purposes of
ventilation planning, although there was no practical means of
predicting airflows in other than simple circuits at that time. Atkinson's
theory was confirmed in practice. The first successful axial fans were
introduced in about 1930.

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 Brief History of Mine Ventilation
• In 1943, Professor F.Baden Hinsley produced another classical
paper advancing understanding of the behaviour of airflow by using
thermodynamic analyses.
• Hinsley also supervised the work at Nottingham University that led
to the first practical use of analog computers in 1952 to facilitate
ventilation planning. This technique was employed widely and
successfully for over a decade. This is now the dominant method
used for ventilation planning

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 VENTILATION PURPOSES
 Supply a fresh air into the tunnel for inhalation of workers and all
of the process which happen in the tunnel.
 Mine ventilation means total air conditioning:
1. Quality control (purifying and removing contaminants)
a. Gas control – vapors and gaseous matter, including radiation
b. Dust control – particulate matter
2. Quantity control (regulating magnitude and direction of airflow)
a. Ventilation
b. Auxiliary or face ventilation
c. Local exhaust
3. Temperature – humidity control (controlling latent and sensible
heat)
a. cooling; b. heating; c. humidification; d. dehumidification
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 MINE AIR FLOW PRINCIPLES
• Air will flow from the place that have a low
temperature to place which have a higher
temperature (high pressure to low pressure)
• Air will flow through a low resistance
ventilation airways rather than the higher
resistance airways
• Mine ventilation is essentially the application
of the principles of fluid dynamics to the flow
of air in mine openings.
35
FACTOR AND CONTROL FOR
MINE VENTILATION RISKS

36
 MINE
VENTILATION

37
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AIR PRESSURE

39
 THEORY
(i)

40
MOODY DIAGRAM

41
AIRWAY FRICTION

42
FAN

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FAN

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FAN

45
FAN

46
INSTRUMENTS IN VENTILATION SURVEYS

47
TRACER GAS METHODS

48
TRACER GAS METHODS

49
PERFORMANCE OF MINERS RELATIVE
TO THE MINE AIR TEMPERATURE

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OPERATIVE AND EFFECTIVE TEMPERATURE

Operative temperature Effective temperature

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Ventilation Surveys and Simulation

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Strata
Gas

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Diesel Exhaust Fumes

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Dust

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Heat

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Workshops and other areas

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Air velocity limits

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Ventilation Planning

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VENTILATION OF ROADWAYS TUNNEL

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VENTILATION OF ROADWAYS TUNNEL

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 SCOPE OF A MINE VENTILATION STUDY
• Review of the various airborne contaminants (dust, gases, radon,
heat, etc) and how these will be managed.
Included in this would be filtration, dilution, exhaust or other
control strategies and any cooling or heating required, and the
location, type and size of such devices.
• The primary ventilation network at all key milestones in the
development, construction and production phases.
This should include the system of airways and their sizes, friction
factors and shock losses, and the location and specification of all
fans and ventilation control devices. This is basically addressing
the issue of the volume and distribution of air throughout the
mine life.
68
 Scope of a Mine Ventilation…

• Secondary/auxiliary ventilation design.

• Review of egress and entrapment provisions in the mine over its
life.
• A ventilation management plan which covers the day to day
operation and management of the ventilation system and any
trigger action response plans (TARPs), standard work or
operating procedures (SWPs, SOPs) for ventilation-related tasks,
etc.
• Formal risk assessments covering both the normal operations
and day-to-day activities and all credible abnormal operations
or events (power failures, fire, collapse of a major airway, etc)

69
 KEY FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED BEFORE COMMENCING
ANY VENTILATION DESIGN
• Dust, radon and/or methane or other airborne gaseous, fume or particulate
contaminants or asphyxiants (e.g. nitrogen)
• Gas contents of orebody/coal seam and adjacent strata; issues of gas
drainage
• Spontaneous combustion potential
• Outburst potential
• Water inundation (flooding) potential
• Dust audits, silica (or other contaminant) contents of strata
• Production, development, diamond drilling, raiseboring (or other vertical
development) and production drilling schedules
• Other important schedules or deadlines (e.g. construction schedules)
• Mining methods, layouts, mine design, etc
• Manpower schedule, by job type and location – for both production and
construction phases

70
 Key Factors To Be Considered ….

• Major mobile equipment schedules, especially diesel equipment (maximum

kW rating, dimensions, speed loaded and unloaded, up and down ramp,
tonnes moved)
• Mode of operation of diesel equipment (where travel,when, truck/loader
combinations)
• Diesel fuel usage, average and maximum per shift
• Fixed electrical plant and efficiencies
• Any special areas requiring filtered air or special ventilation (e.g. control
rooms, crib rooms, offices, ventilation at crusher jaws, transfer points on
belts, tipping points)
• Coal, ore, mullock/waste or other materials handling flowcharts
• Humidity limits for ore/waste including transfer points
• Humidity limits for ground control/rock strata
• Backfill system and operation, type of fill, method of placement
• Locations of fuel and oil storage, refueling, other major stores, combustible
material, etc
71
 Key Factors To Be Considered ….
• Parking arrangements
• Special fire fighting standards
• Special egress or entrapment standards
• Any maintenance arrangements impacting on egress (outages, inspections,
etc)
• Minimum medical/physical requirements for continuing employment or for
visitors
• Blasting arrangements: development and production, bins, chutes, etc,
including frequency of blasting: development and production
• Re-entry times after blasting etc
• ANFO and other explosives consumption rates: development and production
• Cement usages and consumption rates
• Oxidation rates (to SO2 and/or CO2)
• Working in heat protocols
• Other special ventilation-related hazard protocols

72
 Key Factors To Be Considered ….
• Internal corporate ventilation/workplace environment standards for each job type
(i.e. typical ventilation arrangements)
• Statutory (legislative) requirements
• Internal (company or mine) generic standards, hazard management plans, etc
• Any noise criteria (impacting on noise insulation or siting of fans etc)
• Any sources of dust, e.g. due to cutting, loading, etc
• Dust controls (e.g. sprays) at drawpoints, tipples, conveyors, roads
• Other sources of heat
• Surface climate (WB, DB, BP) by hour for minimum of six years
• Surface elevation above sea level
• Depth of mining operations
• Near-surface virgin rock temperature and geothermal gradient
• Rock thermal conductivity, thermal capacity, diffusivity, density
• Maximum heading lengths for auxiliary development, development heights and
widths
• Method of auxiliary ventilation, type and size of ducts, leakage factors
73
 Key Factors To Be Considered ….
• Any existing ventilation circuits, fans (including fan curves), controls etc
• Any existing cooling devices
• Usage and policy on air-conditioned cabins in mobile equipment and fixed plant
• Mining (especially horizontal and vertical development) and ventilation (fan,
controls, ducting) costs
• Friction (“k”) factors and shock losses used or measured in the operation
• Any surface considerations (dust from quarrying etc, prevailing winds, grass/bush
fires, nearby plant)
• Surface environmental limits on fans and shafts: noise, dust, water, smell, visual
amenity
• Shaft, raise and other major airway resistances and last time measured
• Standards in regard to allowable pressures on ventilation doors (airlocks) or other
ventilation controls
• Ventilation or isolation of caved regions or goafs; leakage and pressure balancing
• Network analysis and validation (comparing to measured data)

74
 Key Factors To Be Considered ….
• Multi-level tipping controls or protocols
• Ground/fissure water in mine (amount, location, temperature (if very hot))
• Location of shafts, fresh and return air raises, distances apart (determines typical
auxiliary ventilation line configurations and lengths)
• Wetness of shafts. If wet, potential for water corrosion or erosion on fans. Potential
for the shaft to be subject to erosion or sloughing or water plugging
• Natural ventilation pressures; seasonal changes; impacts of refrigeration on natural
ventilation pressures
• Network simulation program used; Other computer programs in use or required to
be used
• Data on ventilation monitoring (e.g. strata gases, diesel exhausts, airflows, on-line
monitoring)
• Recent or relevant ventilation or feasibility studies; Any other safety aspects that
need to be considered
• Any recent ventilation audits completed; Any concerns from the operators or
planners about current or future ventilation problems
• Any telemeter, remote monitoring or remote operation/control requirements
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Kompas, Senin, 29 November 2004, 02:52 WI
25 Tewas 140 Terperangkap Dalam Kecelakaan Tambang di Cina
Tongchuan, Cina, Senin

Sedikitnya 25 pekerja tambang tewas dan sekitar 140 terperangkap Minggu (28/11) ketika ledakan gas
terjadi di sebuah tambang batubara di Cina utara. Kemungkinan ini merupakan musibah terburuk yang
melanda produsen tambang terbesar dunia itu dalam beberapa tahun ini.

Dari 293 petambang yang bekerja di bawah tanah ketika ledakan itu terjadi di tambang batubara
Chenjiashan di provinsi Shaanxi, Minggu pagi, 127 berhasil menyelamatkan diri atau diselamatkan, kata tim
penyelamat menurut Kantor Berita Xinhua. "Mereka yang menyelamatkan diri dari ledakan gas itu terutama
pekerja di dekat pintu terbang dan seluruh korban cedera telah dirawat di rumah sakit, termasuk 11 orang
yang cedera parah," kata petugas penyelamat di lokasi kejadian.

"Seorang pekerja yang diselamatkan mengatakan bahwa meski bekerja di sebuah lokasi sekitar 1.500 meter
di bawah tanah, ia terjatuh oleh hempasan arus udara kuat yang ditimbulkan ledakan itu," kata petugas
tersebut lagi, Senin (29/11) pagi.

Petugas penyelamat mengalami kesulitan mendekati lokasi ledakan karena tingkat karbon monoksida yang
tidak aman. Prioritas utama adalah memperbaiki sistem ventilasi yang rusak parah di tambang itu untuk
menjamin keselamatan tim penyelamat, kata Zhao Tiechui, wakil kepala Biro Keamanan Produksi Negara.

Enam tim penyelamat sedang berusaha menjangkau para pekerja yang terperangkap dan 10 tim tambahan
didatangkan untuk membantu mereka. Pemerintah provinsi tersebut telah memerintahkan semua tambang
dengan konsentrasi gas tinggi menghentikan operasi mereka untuk pemeriksaan keamanan.
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….
Methane (CH4)
Methane (CH4)
MINE FIRE DETECTIONS
 THRESHOLD LIMIT (TIME-WEIGHTED AVERAGE) VALUES FOR
VARIOUS DUSTS IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES
(AFTER MAJOR, 1978, AND WALTON, 1978)

Coal dust (mg/m3) Quartz-containing dust (mg/m3) Asbestos (fibres/ml)

Australia
5;respirable dust 25／(% respirable free silica + 5) 4;for chrysotile and amosite;
containing <= 5 % free 2;long-term average for other than
silica crocidolite

UK
8;longwall faces 3- drivages if quartz >0.45 mg/m3 0.2;for crocidolite when measured
6- if quartz <0.45 mg/m3 over a 10 minute period;
6 - other places 2; for other types of asbestos
averaged over a 4 hour period
USA
2;respirable dust 10／(% respirable quartz + 2) 2; >5μm long(8 hour time-weighted
containing <=5 % average)
quartz

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Requirements of underground air in quantity and quality
< Coal Mine Safety Regulations of Japan >
(Oxygen and carbon dioxide) Article 86
Mine air underground where mine workers work or pass shall contain 19% or more oxygen and 1% or less carbon
dioxide. However, this shall not be applied in cases where oxygen concentration is 19% or more and carbon dioxide
is 2% or less with permission by the Director-General of MSIB or MSID.
2. The provision of the preceding Clause shall not be applied the working place where human life rescue or the activity
regarding safety is conducted in a safe way.

(Inflammable gas content in the main return air) Article 87

The inflammable gas content in the main return air shall be kept at 1.5% or less. However, this Article shall not apply to
cases where inflammable gas from gas drainage holes or exclusive galleries for drainage gas is released into the
main exhaust, under the condition that the ventilation quantity is sufficient to dilute the inflammable gas
concentration to 2.5% or less and that permission is given by the Director-General of MSIB or MSID, neither does it
apply to cases which are stipulated by Article 104-2 and Article 124.

(Inflammable gas content in working places and roadways) Article 88

The inflammable gas content shall be kept at 1.5% or less in underground working places and at 2% or less in
underground roadways. However, this Article shall not be applied to cases stipulated in Item 2 and Item 4 in Article
124.

Underground temperature) Article 89

The temperature of the working place shall be 37 C or less. However, this provision shall not be applied to the working
place where there is activity due to a special reason such as a gush out of hot spring with permission of the Director-
General of MSIB or MSID or human life rescue regarding safety is conducted in a safe way.
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(Ventilation quantity) Article 90
The ventilation quantity of underground working places shall be decided based on the number of mine workers, the quantity of
inflammable gas or harmful gas produced, the possibility of spontaneous combustion, temperature and humidity.
2. Air current and flow volume in underground working place shall maintain adequate speed and volume which is sufficient to dilute
and sweep away inflammable gas or harmful gas and fumes of blasting.

Article 91
In all Class-A pits, the ventilation quantity at the entrance of intake shall be 3 m3 /min per person or more and this is based on the
maximum number of workers engaging in underground working at the same time. However, when it is required to restrict the
ventilation quantity for prevention of spontaneous combustion etc. and with the permission of the Director-General of MSIB or
MSID, the ventilation quantity may be reduced.

(Ventilation speed) Article 92

Ventilation speed underground shall be 450 m/min. or less (except an exclusive gallery for ventilation). However, in a shaft the
speed may increase up to 600 m/min.
2. The ventilation speed in the preceding Clause may be increased due to a special reason with the permission of the Director-
General of MSIB or MSID.

(General ventilation facilities) Article 94

In a mine having a coal pit where 50 mine workers or more are working, a barometer and a thermometer shall be installed in a
proper place.

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 Decree of The Minister of Mines and Energy
No. 555.K/26/M.PE/1995
on General Mining Occupational Safety and Health
Part Eight
Ventilation
Article 369
General Provisions
(1) At any underground mine :
a. the Technical Mine Manager shall ensure that an adequate supply of fresh air is
available at every work site with the requirement that the oxygen content in air
shall be no less than 19.5 percent and the carbon dioxide content shall be no more
than 0.5 percent;
b. it is prohibited to send any employee to work at any work site that contains dust
smoke or vapours in concenhations that may be disruptive to health and
c. airflow shall be sufficiently adequate to reduce or remove concentrations of smoke
from blasting as soon as possible.

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 Article 369
General Provisions

(2) When the presence of combustible and explosive gases is detected in any mine
ventilation system, the Technical Mine Manager shall take appropriate corrective
measures.
(3) The volume of fresh air passing through the ventilation
(4) system shall :
a. be calculated based on the maximum total number of workers at the work location
with the requirement that no person shall receive less than 2 cubic meters per
minute for the duration of work and
b. an additional 3 cubic meters per minute for every degree of horse power where a
diesel machine is being operated.
(5) The Mine Inspector may order the Technical Mine Manager to increase the quality
and volume of fresh air flow at any section of the mine.
(6) It is prohibited to re-circulate air in any ventilation system.

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 Article 370
Ventilation Standards
(1) The air temperature in any underground mine shall be maintained at between 18
degrees Celsius and 24 degrees Celsius with maximum relative humidity at 85
percent.
(2) Apart from the requirements of paragraph (1) letter a the ventilation conditions at
the work site shall :
a. for an average of 8 hours :
1) have a carbon monoxide (CO) volume of no more than 0.005 percent;
2) have a methane (CH4) volume of no more than 0.25 percent;
3) have a hydrogen sulphide (H2S) volume of no more than 0.001 percent and ,
4) have a nitrous oxide (NO) volume of no more than 0.0003 percent.
b. over any 15 minute period :
1) CO must not exceed 0.04 percent and
2) NO2 must not exceed 0.0005 percent.
(3) Flame safety lamps or any other suitable device shall be used to test for any lack of
oxygen.
(4) Any location that does not require ventilation shall be sealed and signs prohibiting
entry thereto shall be installed.
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 Article 370
Ventilation Standards
(5) In every sealed area, stoppings shall be provided with a pipe and a valve to permit
sampling of the atmosphere and measurement of the pressure behind such seal.
(6) The ventilation velocity shall be no less than 7 meters per minute and shall be
increased in accordance with work requirements and after blasting.
(7) All airways shall be of adequate dimensions for the quantity of air they are
designed to pass.
(8) The Technical Mine Manager shall appoint an employee who shall be in charge of
supervising ventilation of the mine and the name of the said employee shall be
recorded in the Mine Book.
(9) The quantity and quality of air being distributed to every work area shall be
determined at intervals of at least once per month
(10) The locations at which measurements are taken shall include:
a. every main intake airway, as near as practicable to the entrance of the shaft or outlet;
b. at every split where air leaves the main airfIow, as near as possible to the junction;
c. where the split serves a working district : 50 meters from the first working place at which the air
enters, and 50 meters from last working place at which the air leaves the district;
d. in the district return airway, as near as practicable to the junction with the main return airway.
e. any other place stipulated by the Mine inspector.

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 Article 370
Ventilation Standards
(11) Sampling to determine & oxygen content (O2), carbon dioxide content
(CO2), carbon monoxide content (CO) and nitrous oxide content (NO2) of the air
taken under normal working conditions shall be implemented at intervals of at
least once per month at the following places:
a. 30 meters from the working face of development headings;
b. 15 meters from the winzes and shafts and
c. at the base of the up-cast shaft and at any stope with only one access way.
(12) Sampling for the purpose of determining the carbon monoxide content (CO)
and nitrous oxide (NO2) content at any location or at the end of any shaft where a
diesel machine is being operated shall be carried out at intervals of at least every
seven days.
(13) Results of findings of the requirements of paragraph (11) and paragraph (12)
shall include the time and location of where the samples were taken as well as the
time of the most recent blasting.
(14) Temperature shall be measured regularly at locations as required in
paragraph (10) letter c and d, and where the temperature exceeds 24 degree
Celcius, the said place shall be inspected every week.

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 Article 370
Ventilation Standards

(15) Measuring for dust concentrations at lower than l0 microns shall be carried
out as often as practicable but no less than once every three months except where
otherwise stipulated by the Chief Mine Inspector.
(16) When any changes are made to the direction or distribution of airflow which
affects the amount of air entering or leaving and area, air measurements shall be
carried out as soon as possible after the said change is made.
(17) The results of air measurements as required in paragraph (16) shall be
recorded in the ventilation book.
(18) Ventilation measuring shall be carried out by a competent person.
(19) Sampling as specified in paragraph (1) and (2) shall not be required where
according to the judgment of the Chief Mine Inspector the condition of ventilation
in the mine is adequate.

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 Article 371
Natural Ventilation

(1) Use of natural ventilation shall be approved by the Chief Mine Inspector.
(2) When every part of the mine continuously makes use of natural ventilation the
requirements of Article 369 and Article 370 shall be fitted with a ventilation fan at
the surface which shall be used when required.
(3) Based on the size of the mine and the condition of the environment of work sites
at the mine the Mine Inspector may require that an auxiliary ventilation fan is
necessary with a capacity of no less than what is required to distribute an
adequate quantity of air which is required to workers when evacuation must be
carried out.

NPW 95
 Article 372
Ventilation Fans

(1) Whenever practicable, surface ventilating fans (main fans) shall be equipped with
the following:
a. an alternative power source;
b. a water gauge;
c. either an automatic fan rotation indicator or an automatic air pressure indicator;
d. an efficient air lock;
e. a fan drive and fan house both of which must be fireproof;
f. fireproof air ducts and pressure relief devices;
g. equipment that is capable of reversing the direction of the flow of air and on which regular testing
must be carried out and
h. other safety devices which shall be stipulated by the Chief Mine Inspector.
(2) The Technical Mine Manager shall provide instructions to the operator of the
ventilation fan about the rotation speed of the said fan.
(3) The operator as required in paragraph (2), shall test the ventilation fan, and
observe the water gauge and the automatic indicators at intervals of at least every
2 hours.

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 Article 372
Ventilation Fans
(4) When the measuring devices and the automatic ventilation pressure recorder are
not available, the operator of the ventilation fan shall record the rotation speed of
the wind fan and the pressure as indicated on the water gauge every two hours.
(5) As required in paragraph (2), the operator shall make a report to his/her
supervisor of the following :
a. any damage, deviations or the stopping of the ventilation fan and
b. unusual variations in pressure as indicated by the water gauge.
(6) Every ventilation fan at the surface of a mine that is not attended shall be fitted
with permanent monitoring equipment which sends early warnings of the
presence of any defects in the operation of the ventilation fan to a location that is
always manned.
(7) The intake (suction site) of fans shall be provided with an adequate guard or
screen.
(8) Depending on the size and the environmental conditions of the mine, the Mine
Inspector may determine the need for a reserve ventilating fan available for
immediate use and capable of producing sufficient airflow.

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 Article 372
Ventilation Fans

(9)The ventilation fan housing, the air duct connections, the fan house, and other
buildings in the vicinity of the ventilation fan shall be constructed of non
combustible materials, However, where made from combustible materials the wind
fan and surrounding buildings shall be adequately protected from fire.
(10) The up-cast shaft connected to a drift or air duct to the ventilation fan shall be
fitted with an airlock which prevents the occurrence of short circuits of airflow.
(11) It is prohibited to build any combustible structure within a distance of 50 meters
of the ventilation fan house.
(12) The auxiliary ventilation fan shall be installed underground while other ventilation
fans may also be installed after approval is obtained" to ensure that disruptions to
the safety and health of underground mine workers will not occur.
(13) All underground main fans shall have controls placed at a suitable protected
location remote from the fan preferably on the surface. An independent alternative
power supply from the surface shall be provided.
(14) It is prohibited to stop a ventilation fan except where approval has been obtained
from the ventilation supervisor.

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 Article 372
Ventilation Fans

(15) It is prohibited to install an booster fan underground except where a ventilation

survey has been conducted.
(16) All ventilating fans installed and used to ventilate active workings of the mine,
shall be operated continuously while persons are underground in the active areas
except for scheduled production cycle shutdowns or planned fan maintenance or
adjustment. All persons underground in the affected areas shall be advised in
advance of such scheduled fan shutdowns. No blasting operations shall be allowed
during any fan stoppage.
(17) In the event of a fan failure due to malfunction, accident, power failure or any
other such unplanned or unscheduled events, all mine workers shall leave any area
ventilated by the fan except any employee who is repairing the said ventilation
fan.
Ventilation shall be maintained and restored to normal before any mine worker
enters any area affected by the ventilation system.
(18) All ventilation fans shall be maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's
instructions or the written schedule as specified by the Technical Mine Manager.

NPW 99
 Article 373
Ventilation Fan Systems
(1)Before any auxiliary fan is installed below ground the Underground Mine Manager
must be satisfied that a sufficient quantity of air is reaching the fan to prevent
recirculation of air, and this air is not polluted by dust, smoke, or hazardous gases.
(2)Auxiliary ventilation fans shall be equipped with grounding devices.
(3)Auxiliary ventilation fans may only be activated, operated and turned off by the
authorized employee.
(4)Auxiliary fans shall be installed at a point at least 5 meters from the nearer side of
the entrance to the place to be ventilated by it.
(5)When two or more auxiliary fans are installed in a series the requirements of
paragraph (4) shall only apply to one of the said fans.
(6)Any forcing type auxiliary ventilation fans shall be installed at the intake airway and
exhaust type auxiliary ventilation fans shall be installed at the return airway.
(7)There shall be installed and maintained with every auxiliary fan an air duct to
within a distance from the working face of 5 times the square root of the roadway
cross-section, measured in meters.

NPW 100
 Article 373
Ventilation Fan Systems

(8) When an auxiliary fan fails to function all workers shall be prohibited from
entering any place ventilated by the fan until the said place is declared safe
following an inspection by the operational supervisor.
(9) Compressed air may not be used solely for ventilation except in narrow and
steep raises.
(10) Air for ventilation in raises shall be provided such that the flow can be
controlled from a valve at the foot of the raise. Development raises shall be
provided with two air valves, one at the foot of the raise and one at the end
of the steel pipe inside.
(11) Ventilation pipes for raises must be independent of service pipes and fitted
at the outlet with a diffuser.
(12) Where compressed air is used for ventilation the air shall be sampled at
monthly intervals to determine CO, NO2 and oil mist content No air shall be
used if the analysis exceeds the limits specified in paragraph 2 of Article 370.

NPW 101
 Article 374
Ventilation Circuits

(1) The main intake airway and the main return airway shall be made in separate
shafts or adits.
(2) The Chief Mine Inspector may grant exemption of the requirements in Paragraph
(1).
(3) Ventilation in the shaft may only be made with the following provisions :
a. vent tubing may be used at the same opening at the time of development of the shaft or slope and
b. the intake airway and return airway at the single shafts shall be provided with air curtains.
(4) Fresh air that enters through the downcast shaft shall be properly distributed to all
work places as required.
(5) Where any abnormality occurs to the ventilation circuit or any abnormal change
occurs in the flow of air, the underground mine workers shall inform the
operations supervisor.
(6) All airways shall be kept clear to permit free passage of air.

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 Article 375
Prevention of Air Leakage
(1) Any shaft or outlet to the surface that is corrected via a drift to ventilation fans at the
surface and which are normally used for hoisting or transportation shall be fitted with
efficient air locks and be well maintained.
(2) Every drift which connects main intake airways to the main return airway or which
connects the intake and return airways shall be fitted with two adequate doors and
shall be well maintained to reduce leakage of air to a minimum. Where this is not
possible other means must be used.
(3) Any drift which requires prevention from short circuiting of air flow shall be fitted with
no less than two adequate doors and be well maintained. Where this is not possible
one door is allowable with one or two ventilation curtains.
(4) A space shall be provided between the ventilation door or ventilation curtain in order
that when one door or ventilation curtain is opened the other door or ventilation
curtains closed to prevent air from passing.
(5) Ventilation doors shall be capable of closing automatically and ventilation curtains must
be fireproof.

NPW 103
 Article 375
Prevention of Air Leakage

(6) It is prohibited to prop a ventilation door open except where and for so long as it is
necessary to allow a vehicle to pass through it. Any door no longer required to be
shut shall be removed and placed in a position in which it will not obstruct the
airflow.
(7) Every person shall properly close any door or ventilation curtain through which
he/she passes.
(8) Only authorized employees shall change ventilation regulators.

NPW 104
 Article 376
Ventilation Plans
Apart from the requirements of Article 19, the ventilation plan shall include the
following information :
a. the name of the mine and
b. the most up-to-date map or series of maps with the scale no larger than I : 5000,
and which includes :
1) the direction and distribution of airflow:
2) the location of the main ventilation fan, the booster ventilation faq and auxiliary fans;
3) the location ofthe air regulator doors, stoppings, and ventilation doors:
4) the location of undercasts or overcasts, and other crossings;
5) the location of seals at abandoned work site areas;
6) the location ofareas not ventilated;
7) the location of workshops, fuel storage areas, the hoist room, compressors, battery charging rooms,
and explosive magazines and
8) air measuring stations and the latest ventilation measurements taken.
c. data on the main fan, the booster fan and auxiliary fans including the name of the
manufacturer, the type, the size of the fan, the speed of the fan, the size of the
blades, pressure at several points and motor brake horsepower rating;
d. the number and type of vehicles using fuels underground including the horsepower
of the said machines and
e. any other information requested by the Chief Mine Inspector.
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