With hardrock mines using mobile equipment with ever larger diesel engines in ever larger development dimensions, the use of traditional parallel ventilation circuits has become increasingly difficult as it requires large total airflow volumes and is therefore capital cost and energy intensive. The response by mine operators has seen the increasing use of series circuits which re-use the air and therefore lower the total mine airflow volume. However, series ventilation circuits can result in poorer working conditions for downwind operations and can increase the risks in the event of fire or other emergencies such as falls of ground due to loss of egress and entrapment options. This paper explores the factors driving the trend towards series ventilation
circuits, the problems this is introducing in terms of both ventilation design and operation, and proposes some design and operating guidelines that could set a good practice standard for the use of series ventilation circuits.
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