Ventilation model study of San Manuel mine, Arizona, U.S.A.

摘要

A ventilation study was carried out to establish abasic ventilation model for expansion of the San Manuel mine,southern Arizona, to include the Lower Kalamazoo orebody at adepth of 1050-1140m. The increased depth and projected size ofthe mine workings necessitated a new design of the ventilation andcooling systems and the use of a ventilation network model so asto enable different options to be considered. The model was basedon a partial ventilation survey of the Lower Kalamazoo portion ofthe mine to obtain values of representative friction factors andresistances for typical airways and ventilation boreholes. Since althe main fans at the mine were included in the model as singlebranches with representative level resistances. The model is usedto consider alternative scenarios as changes are made—either tooptimize the ventilation system or because of physical changes asdevelopment progresses. The methods used to conduct thiscomprehensive study and the changes that the model has undergoneare discussed, a selection is presented of the scenarios that wereinvestigated and details are given of the resulting changes in theventilation system.