Whilst there have been relatively few innovations in the nature or application of main surface fans in the past 20 years in Australia, there have been a significant number of notable changes in the size, type and application of booster and auxiliary fans. In metalliferous mines, these changes relate to factors such as: increased development size, changes in mining methods brought about by the use of remote and teleremote equipment, the use of air-conditioned cabins, new developments in refuge chambers, significant increases in the use of mine refrigeration and the extraction of both “thinner” orebodies (lower tonnes per vertical meter) and massive low-grade orebodies (caving methods) and overall greater depths. In coal mines, these relate to increased length and width of longwall panels, much higher extraction rates, more effective gas pre- and postdrainage, longer main intakes and returns and changes in legislation. In both coal and hardrock, the use of more and/or much larger diesel engines and changes in the philosophy of egress are also impacting on the use of circuit and booster fans. This paper describes the factors that are influencing new applications for auxiliary and booster fans, the ways in which these fans are being used and some of the problems that have been experienced in the use of booster, circuit and auxiliary fans.
Author: D.J. Brake & C.A. Nixon
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