Module 1: Ventilation and Mine Services

1.1 Fluid Flow

Dr. Guang Xu
Email: Guang.Xu@curtin.edu.au
Fundamental Units
Geometry and Flow
• Mass: kilogram (kg)
• Distance: meters (m)
• Time: seconds (s)
• Force: Newtons (N)
• Energy: Joules (J)
• Temperature: Celsius (°C)

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Fundamental Units

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Example (in notes 1.1_p7)
What is the cross sectional area and perimeter of a
rectangular airway 5.0 m wide by 3.2 m high?

What is the velocity in the airway for a quantity of 35.0

m3/s?

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Fundamental Units
Temperature
• Temperature measures the thermal energy of a fluid

• Celsius scale
• Based freezing point (0 °C) and boiling point (100 °C) of
water at standard pressure 101,325 Pa
• Kelvin scale
• K = °C + 273.15
• Absolute zero = -273.15 °C

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Fundamental Units
Mass
• Force = mass × gravity
• Default gravity 9.81 m/s2
Density
𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠
•ρ= 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒
• Water: 1000 kg/m3 at 4 °C
• Air density is about 1.2 kg/m3 , but varies with T and
P

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Fundamental Units
Relative Density
• The ratio of one gas’s density to air at the same
condition
Specific Volume
• The volume occupied by unit mass (m3/kg)
𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒
• 𝑆𝑉 = 𝑚3 /𝑘𝑔
𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠
• The inverse of density

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Pressure
Pressure
• In liquids or gases is due to the mass and motion of
molecules

• Pressure is the force exerted per unit area

𝐹
•𝑃= 𝑁/𝑚2
𝐴
• 1 pascal (Pa) = 1 N/m2
• Standard pressure = 1 atmosphere pressure (atm) =
101.325 kPa

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Pressure
Pressure
• Absolute pressure
• Relative to zero pressure
• E.g. atmospheric 101.325 kPa
• Gauge pressure
• Relative to atmospheric pressure
• 10 kPa gauge pressure = atmospheric pressure + 10 kPa
• Relative pressure
• Between any two points

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Example (in notes 1.1_p10)
The pressure inside a balloon is 1,500 Pa
greater then atmospheric pressure.
• What is the gauge pressure in the balloon

• What is the absolute pressure in the balloon

• Another balloon B has a gauge pressure of + 1100

Pa. What is the relative pressure of balloon A to B

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Pressure
Pressure in a Fluid Column
• Absolute pressure
• P2 = P + ρ∙g∙h (Pa)
• Gauge pressure
• P2 = ρ∙g∙h (Pa)

• ρ: fluid density (average density when considering gases in inclined column)

• g: gravity
• h: the vertical difference in elevation

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Example (in notes 1.1_p11)
Surface atmospheric pressure is 101,300 Pa.
What is the pressure in units of mm Hg? (ρHg =
13,600 kg/m3)

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Example (in notes 1.1_p11)
Surface atmospheric pressure is 101,300 Pa.
What is the absolute pressure at the bottom of a
250 m deep shaft due to the column of air at a
density of 1.18 kg/m3?

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 Pressure
Pressure Measurement
• Manometer
• The manometer fluid density is
known
• Use mercury for higher pressures
• Inclined limb magnifies the fluid
movement and provides improved
accuracy Source: www.kimo.fr

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Pressure

Digital Manometer

Magnehelic Differential Pressure Gauge

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Pressure
Static Pressure
• Due to random movement of molecules
• Acts with the same magnitude in all directions
Velocity Pressure (dynamic pressure)
• A result of the movement of fluid in addition to static
pressure
𝜌∙𝑉 2
• 𝑉𝑃 =
2

Total Pressure
• TP = SP + VP
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Pressure
Pitot Tubes

Source: http://justplanehistory.blogspot.com.au/2011/05/it-has-been-
almost-two-long-years-since.html
Source: http://www.apexinst.com/products/method-2c-standard-pitot-tube

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Pressure
Measuring SP, TP, and VP
• SP is measured by the side tube
• TP is measured by the facing tube
• VP is the difference between the two readings

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Pressure
Natural Ventilation and Buoyancy
• P = ρ∙g∙h
• Natural ventilation occurs when columns of fluid with
different densities
• Natural ventilation pressure = (ρ1 – ρ2) ∙g ∙h (Pa)
• Effect
• Hot surface
• Buoyancy

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Example (in notes 1.1_p10)
The depth of mine workings is 230 m, the average density of intake air
is 1.19 kg/m3 and the average density of exhaust air is 1.16 kg/m3.
What is the natural ventilation pressure in this mine?

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