Effect Of Airway Characteristics On

Power Consummation

Presented by
Muhammad Nazir
Reg# 0551
 Effect Of Airway Characteristics On
Power Consummation
 Context
 Horse power relation with flow rate and head
loss (derivation)
 Identification of factors to control power
 Explanation of important factors identified
 Conclusion
Context
 For economic consideration of any system (e.g.
mine ventilation system) two types of cost are….
 Capital cost or fixed cost
I. Original investment + interest
II. Accrues in borrowing money
III. installments (if any)
IV. Construction of main entries
V. Purchase of new fan, airway or other installation
 Operating cost
1. It consist entirely of the cost of power needed to operate the
installation (fan or airway)
 Horse power relation with flow rate and head loss
(derivation)
 Air horse power (Pa )
 The power required to overcome the energy
losses in an air stream
 Head losses include static head losses and velocity head losses
Pa = pQ = 5.2HQ (ft-lb/min)

Pa = 5.2HQ ÷ 33000 (hp)

Pa = HQ/6350 (hp)
As, H ∞ Q2

 Pa ∞ Q3 (1)
 Cost-wise, this means that only enough quantity of air should be
circulated and compensate for leakages etc
 The air flow losses cause head losses (pressure drops) and hence
controlling factors of air power consumption
Identification of factors to control power

 Control over power consumption depends upon minimizing

static and velocity heads
 Total head losses account for friction and shock losses
 According to Atkinson equation for combined losses:

 Hence, controlling factors are following:

I. Friction factor (K) or character of surface
II. Airway dimensions
III. Quantity of air (Q)
IV. Shock losses
V. Shape and length of airway
Explanation of important factors identified

1. Airway dimensions:
 Both area and perimeter appear in Atkinson equation
HL ∞ P/A3
HL ∞ (π D)/ (πD/4)3
HL ∞ 1/D5
 This means that, for any shape of airway head loss is exponential
function of air dimension and a slight increase in the dimension results
in a sharp decrease in head loss
 The table shows this effect when all other factors are constant

 Solution:
A. Drive large openings (if possible)
B. Utilize principle of parallel flow (providing more openings)
Explanation of important factors identified

2. Character of surface
 From Atkinson equation: HL ∞K
 And K is a function of friction (roughness of airway) given by:
 K = 800*10-10*f
 SOLUTION:
1) REDUCE OBSTRUCTION IN FLOW
2) REDUCE ROUGHNESS OF AIRWAY
3) REDUCE SINUSITY OF AIRWAY Away Relative
4) KEEP AIRWAY CLEAN characteristics area

5) USE SMOOTH LINING

ALL OPENINGS SHOWN IN THE TABLE Smooth lined 1.00
CONSUME SAME POWER Sedimentary rock, 1.55
bare
Timbered 1.90
Igneous rock, bare 2.24
Explanation of important factors identified

3. Shape and length

 These are minor factors in controlling power
 A quantitative measure of the shape effect is hydraulic radius
(RH)
 HL ∞ I/RH
 Circular shape provides maximum RH
 Square shapes are employed for main haulage way in metal
mines and rectangular openings are preferred in thin bedded
deposits because of their greater ease in driving
 Length (L ∞ HL)
 Power consumption increases with increasing length
 The effect of shape is shown in following table:
 Explanation of important factors identified

The relation of head loss in airways of different shapes for constant flow

Airway Relative shape

Circle 1
Square 1.13
Rectangle Depends on side ratio
I. 11.5‫׃‬ 1.15
I. 12‫׃‬ 1.2
I. 13‫׃‬ 1.3
I. 14‫׃‬ 1.4
Explanation of important factors identified

4. Shock losses
 These loses are caused by bends or sudden area changes
 Mathematically given by:
 HX = X*HV
 HX = shock loss
 X= shock loss factor
 HV = velocity head
 Solution:
 Straightening the airway
 Installing guide vanes at bends close to fans
 Making area changes more rounded and gradual