SPECIALIST EQUIPMENT
SMART VENTILATION C
Jan Nyqvist product manager from Automation Underground Mining at ABB explores new ventilation techniques
reating a safe working environment in underground mines is the primary concern for mining organisations, it is
part of their license to operate before a vehicle moves or a person starts their shift. Management must ensure that personnel are not exposed to excessive levels of CO2, nitrous oxide, dust, humidity, temperature, toxic blasting, and strata gases. A constant supply of fresh air is essential throughout the mine. Therefore, ventilation systems are a critical and high-demand part of the underground mining process. The need to constantly cycle clean air
into mines, remove contaminated air, and regulate temperature has led to these systems becoming significant energy consumers, accounting for as much as 50% of resource use and operational expenditure. With increasing pressure on mining organisations to reduce their energy consumption, a new approach to ventilation has gained popularity: ventilation on demand (VoD).
VENTILATION ON DEMAND VoD systems work by utilising sensors placed around the mine that transmit real-time data on key parameters such as vehicle use, personnel, and information from gas, flow, and temperature sensors to a central control system. This setup enables mine-side control of fans and air regulators. Over time, these systems learn and adapt as more data is collected, maximising air quality and evacuating blast gases faster, allowing workers to return to the face in less time. For instance, ABB’s VoD system, ABB
Ability Ventilation Optimizer, operates equipment according to actual demands. Using a positional tracking system, the technology identifies where people and vehicles are in the mine and their ventilation needs. An algorithm then calculates the optimal set points of the fans and implements this across the mine. The VoD optimiser recalculates airflow every 15 seconds, 24/7, ensuring appropriate levels of airflow
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ABB smart ventilation isometric illustration Currently, ventilation systems
are heavily relied upon to remove diesel fumes emitted from trucks running underground
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