Location
Rolla, Missouri
Session Dates
11 Jun 1999 - 17 Jun 1999
Keywords and Phrases
Design; Fans; Air Volume; Air Distribution; Operating Cost; Airflow Control
Abstract
Kidd Mine is the single largest producing base metal mine of Falconbridge Limited. Approximately 3 million tonnes of zinc-copper ore is produced annually. The present ventilation system, designed some 30 years ago, uses a multitude of intake and exhaust fans, in a series-parallel configuration, to move 925 m3/s (2,000,000 cfm) through the mine. The system, owing to the ever increasing depth of mining, has reached its limitation and has become cumbersome to maintain. It was recognized that with the mine progressing from the original depth of 855 m (2800 ft) to the current depth of 2070 m (6800 ft) and beyond, a major redesign was needed. At the beginning of 1998 the mine embarked on the review of the total ventilation system with a goal to improve efficiency, reduce power consumption by at least one third, eliminate recirculation and increase overall effectiveness of the system. Ventilation simulation suggested gradual replacement of the current multitude of fans with fewer fans strategically located throughout the mine. The new arrangement will allow for better airflow control, eliminate recirculation and substantially reduce the operating cost. This paper deals with the concept rather than with an ultimate solution.
Department(s)
Mining Engineering
Meeting Name
8th U.S. Mine Ventilation Symposium
Publisher
University of Missouri--Rolla
Document Version
Final Version
Document Type
Article - Conference proceedings
File Type
text
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Sedlacek, Josef, "Optimization of the Ventilation System at Kidd Mine of Falcon bridge Limited" (1999). U.S. Mine Ventilation Symposium. 1.
https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/usmvs/8usmvs/8usmvs-theme16/1
Optimization of the Ventilation System at Kidd Mine of Falcon bridge Limited
Rolla, Missouri
Kidd Mine is the single largest producing base metal mine of Falconbridge Limited. Approximately 3 million tonnes of zinc-copper ore is produced annually. The present ventilation system, designed some 30 years ago, uses a multitude of intake and exhaust fans, in a series-parallel configuration, to move 925 m3/s (2,000,000 cfm) through the mine. The system, owing to the ever increasing depth of mining, has reached its limitation and has become cumbersome to maintain. It was recognized that with the mine progressing from the original depth of 855 m (2800 ft) to the current depth of 2070 m (6800 ft) and beyond, a major redesign was needed. At the beginning of 1998 the mine embarked on the review of the total ventilation system with a goal to improve efficiency, reduce power consumption by at least one third, eliminate recirculation and increase overall effectiveness of the system. Ventilation simulation suggested gradual replacement of the current multitude of fans with fewer fans strategically located throughout the mine. The new arrangement will allow for better airflow control, eliminate recirculation and substantially reduce the operating cost. This paper deals with the concept rather than with an ultimate solution.
