Ventilation control system implementation and energy consumption reduction at Totten Mine with Level 4 Tagging and future plans

Authors: Acuña, EI; Allen, C Download Paper

DOI https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_rep/1710_06_Acuna

Cite As:
Acuña, EI & Allen, C 2017, 'Ventilation control system implementation and energy consumption reduction at Totten Mine with Level 4 Tagging and future plans', in M Hudyma & Y Potvin (eds), UMT 2017: Proceedings of the First International Conference on Underground Mining Technology, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 89-95, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_rep/1710_06_Acuna



Abstract:
Totten Mine has been operating a ventilation control system (VCS) with remote activation capabilities under a manual mode since 2014. The system consists of on/off and variable frequency drive fans, variable opening louvers and doors to regulate the airflow across levels, ramps and headings. Parameters that are monitored within the VCS include air volume, relative humidity, dry bulb temperature and carbon monoxide. All of the VCS components installed and commissioned in 2014 were operational during the mine production ramp-up from 2015 to 2016. The managed ventilation system demonstrated its ability to accommodate the airflow requirements of the mine in an effective and efficient manner during this time. However, changes to the mining plan generated an increase in required air volumes. It was determined these could be accomplished by further enhancements of the ventilation control system. As a result, during 2016 the automation and ventilation departments reviewed the alternatives available in the market and selected the NRG1-ECO software provided by Bestech to achieve a tag and tracking-based level of automated ventilation control. The implementation of the software started at the end of 2016 with a single level and was then expanded to additional levels. This paper presents the state of the current VCS at Totten Mine in terms of the levels that have been commissioned, the control strategies in use and the energy reduction achieved in the range of 50 to 60%. These are compared to the baseline established before the implementation. Challenges encountered during commissioning, maintenance and the plan for future implementation and software versions are also discussed.

Keywords: ventilation control system, mine wide implementation, measured and estimated savings

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