Innovations in Underground Mining Ventilation
Ventilation on Demand
Ventilation on Demand (VOD) is a significant advancement in underground mining ventilation systems. VOD
systems employ a series of sensors distributed throughout the mine that send real-time information regarding
air quality, vehicle use, and personnel to a central computer with specialized software. This technology system,
combined with adjustable fan and louver controls, creates a highly adaptable ventilation system capable of
substantial energy savings while maintaining air quality standards. VOD systems have successfully been
implemented at mines in Ontario and throughout Canada resulting in reduced environmental footprints and
substantial energy cost savings.
Resources:
Ventilation on Demand Project Presentation CEMI, 2010
Air Supply on Demand Krystyna Lagowski, 2013
Nickel rim South Mines Ventilation on Demand System Presentation Glencore
Goldcorp lonore: Building the Connected Mine Video Cisco, 2015
Air Quality Stations for Deep Mining
The introduction of digital sensors capable of surface calibration allows for a safer underground mining
environment. The air quality stations are capable of being swapped rather than undergoing time consuming
recalibrations underground. This allows for less downtime and increased productivity while ensuring safety. The
air quality stations form an important component of innovative ventilation systems for underground mining.
Resources:
Mines embrace air quality monitoring solution Norm Tollinsky, 2013
Ventilation: Maestro solution keeps miners safe using IoT sensors Canadian Mining Journal, 2016
Thermal Management
Underground mining operations rely on ventilation systems to ensure adequate heating and cooling throughout
varying seasonal conditions. Through a natural heat exchange, heat or cold is captured and stored underground
for use at a later point to meet ventilation needs. Heat exchanges can eliminate or reduce the need for
mechanical refrigeration resulting in significant cost savings. Vales Creighton mine utilizes an ice cavern system
and is an example of heat exchange ventilation in Ontario.
Resources:
Vale Incos Creighton mine: Digging deeper by the day ViewpointMining
Heat Transfer Analysis of Large Scale Seasonal Thermal Energy Storage for Underground Mine
Ventilation - Seyed Ali Ghoreishi-Madiseh, et al., 2015
Improved Thermal Mass Utilization Decreasing Applied Ventilation System Energy Intensity UDMN,
2016
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Innovations in Underground Mining Ventilation
Hydraulic Compressed Air Cooling
Hydraulic compressed air was historically used for large scale compressed air in mines throughout the world. An
innovation currently in the demonstration phase has modernized the technology to provide cooling for deep
mines in addition to compressed air. The innovative technology has the potential to provide low cost
compressed air and cooling to deep mines. Currently, a demonstration project is underway within a mine shaft
in Sudbury.
Resources:
Introduction to the HAC Demonstrator Project Presentation Dean Millar, 2015
Hydraulic Air Compressor Demonstrator Project Video Dean Millar, 2017
Electric Mining Vehicles
Electric mining vehicles are an important mining innovation with substantial implications for ventilation. With
advances in battery technology moving at a rapid rate, electric mining vehicles are increasingly regarded as cost-
effective and environmentally preferable alternatives to underground diesel vehicles. Electric vehicles reduce
emissions and heat in the underground mining environment thus reducing ventilation requirements. Several
mines in Ontario have piloted the use of electric vehicles or have plans to deploy electric vehicle fleets in the
future.
Resources:
How Batteries are Lowering the Costs of Underground Mining - Michael Allan McCrae, 2016
The Electric Underground Mine Ian Ewing, 2016
Canadas Goldcorp to Make Borden an All-Electric Mine - Cecilia Jamasmie, 2016
Why Electric Mining Vehicles are Starting to Take Off - Teemu Ronkainen, 2016
