International Symposium on Earth Science and Technology 2009

A Comparative Study On Ventilation Efficiency In Dead Spaces Along Mine

Airways Based On A Laboratory Model, And Mine Measurement.

Gabriel ARPA1, Kyuro SASAKI1, N.Priagung WIDODO2, Arif Widiatmojo1 and Yuichi SUGAI1
1
Department of Earth Resources Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
2
Institute Technology Bandung, Bandung 40191, Indonesia

Abstract
Studies on airflow through a mine ventilation network, using tracer gas has revealed that quality of air is greatly
affected by the presence of dead spaces along the mine airways. In order to further study the effect of dead spaces on
quality of air and the average age of air in the dead space of the mine, studies were conducted in both laboratory
model and underground mine measurements at the Pongkor underground mine in Indonesia. Dead spaces of varying
L/W ratio with constant width and increasing length were constructed on the shrinkage stope model. Tracer gas was
released inside the end of dead space and the gas concentration against elapsed time was measured at the entrance
of the dead space for the various L/W ratio. Air exchange rate N, decreases as the length of the dead space increase
under a constant cross sectional area. Ventilation efficiency increases as air exchange rate increases under a
constant width and air flow velocity.

INTRODUCTION quality mine air, by increasing the residence time, as

Despite advances in research to improve underground
mine air quality and quantity, there is no clear
definition to determine the quality of mine air. There
are numerous literatures and research on mine
ventilation efficiency. McPherson, (1993) defines
ventilation efficiency as air that is usefully employed
as, the sum of airflows reaching the working faces and
those used to ventilate equipment such as electrical
gear, pumps or battery charging stations. Hartman
(1997) defines ventilation efficiency as usefully
employed ventilation air to be the sum of air at the last
open crosscut and belt air. Generally, these literatures
discuss about ventilation efficiency as the ratio of
airflow usefully employed to the total airflow.
However all of these researches primarily discuss on
mine ventilation volumetric efficiency rather then the
qualitative efficiency in terms of air quality, dilution,
air exchange efficiency and age of air.
Widodo et al (2007) and Arpa et al (2008) conducted
mine measurement on airflow through a mine
ventilation network, using tracer gas and have
discovered that quality of air is greatly affected by the
presence of dead spaces along the mine airways. Dead
spaces include open stopes, dead end drives,
underground storage and stations, development
headings and so on. Arpa et al (2008) conducted
numerical simulations to obtain a best matching with
measured concentration time curve and discovered the
that presence of these dead spaces greatly affect the
SF6 conc (ppm)
well as recirculation of air in the dead spaces along the
airways.
Based on the literatures reviewed above and the
absence of appropriate literatures on calculating the
qualitative ventilation efficiency for mine ventilation
applications, in terms of air exchange efficiency and
the age of air, in this study an attempt is made to relate
calculations and analytical methods used for building
and room ventilation to underground mine ventilation.
The initial phase is derived from single room
ventilation of a building, which represents ventilation
in dead spaces in underground mine air ways.
THEORY AND ANALYTICAL METHOD
The theoretical, analytical and measurement methods
of studying airflow in buildings has been described in
detail by Sandberg & Sjoberg (1983) and Breum,
(1988) using Tracer gas technique is the most
commonly used method in all the studies. Telbany et
al. (1985) conducted experiment to study flow between
a cavity and external air stream based on single-sided
ventilation. Sasaki et al. (1995) conducted
experimental study on single-sided ventilation
characteristics in rectangular spaces with various
width, height and length opening ratio, and employed
tracer gas technique to study the relationship between
different shapes, and their effect on ventilation
efficiency and air exchange rate.
z

Simulated W
H

Measured
Time
H
D W
Uo qi ,
Dead space Qo y CO2
x
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Figure 1. Parameters of dead space ventilation. gas. SF6 was released as pulsed injection by breaking
In this research, the concept of analyzing the age of air SF6 balloons at the in take of the auxiliary fan located
by room ventilation is considered. The basic analysis is about 7m upstream. The SF6 goes through the fan,
based on studying the decay of the concentration time through the ventilation bag and is delivered right at the
curve, and determining the air exchange rate, and air end of the stope, as shown in figure 3(a). SF 6 mixed
exchange rate efficiency based of the following with air gradually moves throughout the stope as it
parameters, as seen in figure 1. ventilates the stope and exits through the drive. The
exiting are mixed with SF6 was measured at the
Uo = main drive air velocity m/s, perpendicular to the entrance as shown in figures 3(b) and 3(c). The SF6
main drive. concentration was measured at the entrance by the SF 6
Qo = main drive air volume flow rate m3/s, gas monitor (Bruel & Kjaer Model 1302 photo-
perpendicular to the main drive. acoustic gas monitor). The monitor has a resolution of
qi = amount of Tracer gas released into the dead space 10 ppb, an absolute accuracy of +/-50 ppb and a
H = Height of the airway, and dead space, m sampling rate of 40 seconds.
W = Width of airway drive and dead space, m
D = Length of dead space, m Vent. duct
N = Air exchange rate (1/time) gradient of qi Stope
(12m x 8m x 5m)
V = volume of dead space.
SF6 monitoring SF6 pulsed
UNDERGROUND MINE MEASUREMENT released into fan
The underground mine measurement was conducted at
the Pongkor Gold mine, PT Aneka Tambang, Tbk,
located in West Java province, Indonesia. It is about Used air Uoo
Qo,U
110km south-west from the capital city of Indonesia,
(a) Plan of Stope air flow, SF6 release and monitoring
Jakarta. Among several mine zones in Pongkor mine,
Ciurug area is the most modern in mining system. The
mining methods used in Ciurug is cut-and-fill over
hand stoping, which is worked on 8m-vein width in
average, and each level is connected with a ramp which
also serves as transportation drive and ventilation
routes. Figure 1 shows the sectional view of the Ciurug
mine and the ventilation lay out. Measurements for the
scope of this research, was conducted on a selected
open stope, and a cripp room.
(b) Stope entrance, SF6 sampling
CURB
1

700
m L- 700
P CENTRAL
SOUTH BLOCK-1
BLOCK Sill Drift L-600
600
m
SOUTH RAMP

RC IV RC V RC IIA (c) SF6 monitoring system

500
m
Figure 3. Schematic stope arrangements, SF6 release
Figure 2. Ciurug mine and ventilation layout and measurement system.

Measurement Procedure at Mine Ventilation
In order to study the effect of dead spaces on the
quality of fresh air, two testing arrangements were
selected which represent the dead space that usually
exists in a typical underground mining operation. The
first test was conducted in an over-hand open stope.
The stope has been mucked out and ready for the next
phase of drilling. The open stope is about 12m in
length, 6m wide and 8m high. The schematic of the
stope, tracer gas release and measurement point are as
shown in figure 3. Figure 3(a) shows the stope lay out,
tracer gas release point and the tracer gas monitoring
point. Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) was used as a tracer
The second test was conducted in a cripp room located
along the main drive on level 600 at the southern block
of the ore body. The crib room typically represents a
dead space along a mine airway. The crib room is 3m
high, 2.5m wide and 5 meters long. Figure 4 (a) shows
the plan view of the crib room, figure 4 (b) shows the
isometric view of the crib room as a dead space and
Figure 4 (c) shows the entrance into the crib room
where the SF6 is monitored. SF6 was released by pulse
injection at the back of the room and the SF 6
concentration against time was measured at the
entrance of the entrance as shown in figure 4.
 [Paper Number]

air passes into the dead space and mixes with the
injected CO2. The CO2 concentration in the dead space
was monitored as shown in figure 5 (c). Air samples
Crip room. SF6 from the entrance of the dead space are drawn into the
(3m x 2.5m x 5m) Release gas monitor by a suction pump at a speed of 5m/s. The
gas monitor parameter settings and operations are
SF6 controlled and executed by the DX6100 Vision II
Monitoring Uo ,Qo software via the RS-232 COM port from the computer.
The gas monitor analyzes the concentration at 0.2
seconds sampling interval as shown in figure 5 (a). The
(a) Cribb room plan. SF6 release and monitoring measurement and monitoring of CO2 against elapsed
time was achieved on a real-time base.
qi SF6
Release Uo
3m Qo

Conc. (ppm)
2.5m Suction RS232C
Time
2.5m
Out let Port - +12V
Suction pump Laptop computer
5m SF6 DX6100 Gas monitor CO2

Monitoring (a) Measurement system

2.5m
Upper level
2.5m

Raise 2

Raise 1
Working face
(Stope)
(b) Isometric view of crib roon as dead space Exhaust
Dead Sampling Lower level
point Fan, 60 Hz
space

(b) Stope model lay out

z
W

(c) Cribb room entrance and monitoring H

Figure 4. Plan of crib room a, SF6 release and
measurement system.
LABORATORY MEASUREMENT
The down scale model of a narrow vein shrinkage
stope was constructed to a scale of 1:35. The stope
layout includes a vertical ore body of
100cm×100cm×4.0cm and two main productions
levels, upper and lower levels, with 10cm×10cm
opening. The complete laboratory set up and the
arrangement is as shown in figure 5. Figure 5 (b)
shows the stope model and the construction of the dead
space, 2.5 m from the in-let.
The system characteristic curve for the model was
obtained at different airflow rates and its corresponding
pressure drop noted. The CO 2 gas monitor DX6100
used in this research has a very high sensitivity and
stability, with a very fast sampling rate of 0.2 seconds.
Due to presence of CO2 in the atmosphere, especially
in the laboratory, calibration of DX6100 gas monitor
was conducted by preparing and measuring different
levels of CO2 concentration with another CO2 sensor.
The experiment was conducted as shown in figure 5
(c). 4 cc of CO2 was released by pulsed injection from
a syringe into the dead space. Air entering the main
opening passes through the dead space. The dead space
creates turbulence. The air stream separates and some
Gas sampling
to CO2 monitor
H
D qi , CO2
Uo W
Injection
Qo
x y
(c) Dead space CO2 injection and monitoring
Figure 5. Laboratory model, measurement system and
dead space model measurement system.
Three sets of measurements were conducted from this
model by changing the volume of the dead space by
changing the length of the dead space. The width and
the height of the dead space remain constant.
RESULTS
Results of Mine Measurement
The concentration against elapsed time for the mine
stope and the crib room is given in figure 6 and figure
8. Figures 7 and 9 shows the log of concentration time
after the peak.
The SF6 concentration increases in the first few
minutes and reaches its peak. After the peak, SF 6
[Paper Number]

concentration reduces at a constant rate, before

reducing exponentially. 250
Dead Space Volume: 767cm3

CO2 Conc. (ppm)

200
3.0
150
SF6 Conc. (ppm)

2.0 100
50
1.0 0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Time (sec)
0.0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 Figure 10. Concn. - time curve, Lab. model
Time (min)
1000

Log ( conc CO2) ppm

Figure 6. concentration time curve, open stope Dead Space Volume: 767cm3
100.0 100

10
Log (conc. SF6) ppm

10.0 y = -171.62Ln(x) + 506.85

y = -1.053Ln(x) + 3.9273
R2 = 0.9423 1 R= 0.9853
1.0
0.1
0 5 10 15 20
Time (sec)
0.1 Figure 11. Log concn.- time curve, Lab. model
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Time (min)
Figure 7. Log. concentration time curve, open stope 400 3
Dead Space Volume: 887cm
50.0
CO2 Conc. (ppm)

300
40.0
SF6 Conc. (ppm)

200
30.0
100
20.0
0
10.0
0 20 40 60 80 100
Time (sec)
0.0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 Figure 12. Concn. - time curve Lab. model
Time (min)
100
Dead Space Volume: 887cm3
Log ( CO2 conc.) ppm

Figure 8. concentration time curve, Crib room

100.0 10
y = -7.5058Ln(x) + 26.266
Log(SF6 conc.) ppm

R2 = 0.9651
10.0 1
y = -2.267Ln(x) + 12.308
2
R = 0.9628
1.0 0.1
0 20 40 60 80
Time (sec)
0.1
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Time (min) Figure 13 Log concn. - time curve, curve Lab. model
Figure 9. Log. concentration time curve, Crib room
[Paper Number]

Results of Laboratory Measurement

The concentration against elapsed time for the
laboratory model for different dead space volume is
given in figures 10 and 12. Figures 11 and 13 shows
the log of concentration against elapsed time after the
peak.
The CO2 concentration increases in the first few
seconds and reaches its peak. After the peak, CO 2
concentration reduces at a constant rate, before
reducing exponentially.
on the volume of the dead space, main drive flow rate
and the geometry of dead space. In order to obtain the
gradient of the slope, the concentration time curve after
the peak was plotted on a logarithmic scale. The
gradient (N) of the decay represent the air exchange
rate. Figures 14 and 15 shows the relationship between
the air exchange rate, ventilation efficiency, dead space
dimensions and the velocity.

DISCUSSION
The results presented in this paper comprised of two
measurements. The mine measurement conducted at
the Pongkor underground mine in Indonesia and the
laboratory measurement conducted on a scaled model
at the Kyushu University. In both cases tracer gas was
released in the dead space the concentration time
curves were measured at the entrance of the dead
space. The main primary forces to drive the air in both
mine and the model is the turbulent fluctuations and
flow field, created by the dead spaces as discussed by
Telbany at. Al. (1985) From the concentration time
curves, the decaying process begins after the peak. The
rate of decay depends
0.01
0.008
0.006
N/(Uo/W)
CONCLUSION
This is a first comparative study conducted in a mine
dead space and dead spaces created in a laboratory
model to study the age of air and ventilation efficiency
in localized mining zones. Air exchange rate N,
decreases as the length of the dead space increase
under a constant cross sectional area. Ventilation
efficiency increases as air exchange rate increases
under a constant width and air low velocity.
Measurement conducted in the stope for the mine
measurement is arguable because of the auxiliary.
Finally, there is a further need for more field
measurement for various dead space volumes.

0.004
0.002 Model
Mine
0
0 1 2 L/W 3 4 5
Figure 14. (N/(Uo/W))-(Air exchange rate) Versus (L/W)
2.0

1.5
(QoW/VUo)

1.0

0.5
Model
Mine
0.0
0 0.002 0.004 0.006 0.008 0.01
N(W/Uo)
Figure 15. (QoW)/(VUo)– (Ventilation efficiency )Versus N(W/Uo) – (Air
exchange rate)

L – Length of dead space from the entrance.

W – Width of dead space opening.
N – Air exchange rate .
Qo – Air volume flow rate in main drive.
Vo – Air velocity in main drive.
V – Total volume of dead space.
[Paper Number]
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors would like to acknowledge the kind
financial assistance from Glodal Centre of Excellence
in Novel Carbon Research (G-COE) Kyushu
University for the financial grant and support for this
research. The authors would also like to thank the
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and
Technology of Japan (MEXT), and Kyushu University,
Department of Earth Resources Engineering for the
continued assistance and support.
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