Australia manufactures secondary mine ventilation
Minetek’s patented secondary mine ventilation system based on a high output Axial Fan system uses a patented Mine Air Control (MAC) system to maximise return from its Performance on Demand (POD) units which automatically sense how much air is needed in any one heading at any time.Each solution is engineered and manufactured in Australia specific for the end user.
According to Minetek’s Engineering Manager, Mr Remy Bourcier, the company’s High Output Axial Fan has been designed and manufactured in Australia completely with the underground mining industry in mind and the MAC control system brings the mine’s fan system together with complete automation.Said Mr Bourcier, “Our patented system works on high pressure, steel fabricated impeller technology allowing operation at temperatures and conditions previously thought impractical for an axial fan – and we achieve this in seriously harsh environments.” “It’s in the area of energy costs where the real savings are found, and this is very tangible too. Various studies point out that between 42%- 49% of a mine’s energy costs are consumed by mine ventilation, with the figure of about 27% attributed to the cost of secondary ventilation alone.
Key to its high cost efficiency is the POD system – an electronic controller on the fan which allows the fan to be regulated from very low flow requirements right through to more than double the duty point of a traditional vane axial fan.With the use of the MAC System RFID trackers, it constantly remains aware what items of underground mining equipment are moving into the heading, so the POD controller will automatically adjust the air volumetric flow required to provide sufficient air volume to disperse the gases and ventilate the area.
Minetek Sales Manager, Mr Richard McAlpin, says the big benefit to the global mining sector is that they are no longer hamstrung by not being able to control the volume of air within the headings, and that mine owners are able to save substantial money through this control.
