Keynote Address14th US/North American Mine Ventilation SymposiumChristopher J Pritchard MS PE
Mining EngineerTeam Leader (Acting)Ventilation GroupFires & Explosions BranchNIOSH – OMSHRSpokane, WA
Introduction
Ventilation Experiences
•MSHA
•Graduate School
•Tg Soda Ash
•FMC
•NIOSH
MSHA1978-1980
MSHA – Coal Mine Safety and Health
District 9
Denver, CO
MSHA Denver Tech Support Ventilation Group:
Rich Kline, Bill Bruce, Warren Andrews,
Jerry Fuller, Ralph Foster
Ventilation Surveys, Ventilation Plan approvals,
Mine Inspector training, Ground Support, Special Investigations
Graduate School
Michigan Technological University 1980-81
Professor Rudolf E Greuer
Developed MFire program with USBM
Thesis: Mine Ventilation and Emergency Planning for the Transition between Surface and Underground Mining at the Republic Iron Ore Mine
Temperature pre-calculations
Natural ventilation
Fire simulation - MFire
Escape planning
Capital costs analysis
Texasgulf / Tg Soda Ash / FMC Granger 1981-2001Mine Ventilation, Mine Planning, Production Engineer,
Engineering Supervisor
1.2M TPY trona mine in southwest Wyoming
2 Shafts, 1 Main Fan @500k cfm Exhausting
Room and pillar, shortwall mining, continuous miner, diesel haulage
Shortwall Mining System
Advancing Tailgate Ventilation Design
Section Air Recirculation Detail
With Andy Cecala, Bob Timko, USBM Pittsburgh
Section Recirculation Tests
District Recirculation
Dust Settling Rates/Reduction in a Recirculation System
With Bhaskar and XuUniversity of Utah
Shop Air Reuse Instead of Sending Directly to Return
Return Shaft
Intake Shaft With Linn Laage,Bill Pomroy, USBM Minneapolis
Modified Submain DevelopmentResults:
32 stoppings eliminated in 5000 ft development
Ventilation gain – 30,000 cfm
Operational cost savings - over $15,000Note: Diesel haulage allowed longer belt moves. Stubs mined for roof control.
Styrofoam Stoppings Introduced to Combat Damage from Poor Ground
Ventilation Engineer’s Motto: You can fix almost everything with polyurethane!
Intake/Return Isolation
FMC 2001-2008Mine Ventilation Coordinator, Rock Mechanics, Project Manager
• 4.5M TPY, 1.5M cfm, opened 1947• Longwall / Borer Miner Operation• 8 shafts, 3 Main Fans (Blowing)
Plan, Sink 9 Shaft, Move Longwall to New Block 2002-2004
19
NO
RT
HW
ES
T
18
NO
RT
HW
ES
T
16
NO
RT
HW
ES
T
15
NO
RT
HW
ES
T
13
NO
RT
HW
ES
T
8 SOUTH A
8 SOUTH B
8 SOUTH D
8 SOUTH E
7 SOUTH E
7 SOUTH F
7 S
OU
TH
I
7 S
OU
TH
H
7 S
OU
TH
G
8 S
OU
TH
29
SO
UT
HW
ES
T
28
SO
UT
HW
ES
T
27
SO
UT
HW
ES
T2
6 N
OR
TH
WE
ST
25
NO
RT
HW
ES
T
24
NO
RT
HW
ES
T
23
NO
RT
HW
ES
T
22
NO
RT
HW
ES
T
20
NO
RT
HW
ES
T
30
SO
UT
HW
ES
T
31
SO
UT
HW
ES
T
32
SO
UT
HW
ES
T
1 MAIN WEST DEV.
NO
RT
HW
ES
T 1
6 P
AN
EL
NO
RT
HW
ES
T 1
8 P
AN
EL
NO
RT
HW
ES
T 1
4 P
AN
EL
NO
RT
HW
ES
T 1
2 P
AN
EL
NO
RT
HW
ES
T 1
0 P
AN
EL
NORTHWEST 12A
NORTHWEST 12B
NORTHWEST 12C
NORTHWEST 10B
NORTHWEST 10C
1 NORTHWEST DEV.
NORTHWEST 8A
NORTHWEST 8C
NORTHWEST 8D
12
NO
RT
HW
ES
T
11
NO
RT
HW
ES
T
10
NO
RT
HW
ES
T
7 SOUTH B
7 SOUTH C
7 SOUTH D
7 S
OU
TH
NO
RT
HW
ES
T 8
PA
NE
L
2 WEST 9 C
2 WEST 9 B
2 WEST 9 A
2 W
ES
T 9
2 WEST 8 A
2 WEST 8 B
2 WEST 8 C
2 W
ES
T 8
PA
NE
L
2 W
ES
T 1
DE
V.
2 WEST 1 C
2 WEST 1 B
2 WEST 1 A
2 WEST 2 A
2 W
ES
T 2
2 MAIN WEST DEV.
2 WEST 5 A
2 W
ES
T 5
2 W
ES
T 3
2 WEST 7 C
2 WEST 7 B
2 WEST 7 A
2 W
ES
T 7
2 WEST 6 A
2 WEST 6 C
2 WEST 6 D
2 WEST 6 E
2 W
ES
T 6
PA
NE
L
45
3 W
ES
T A
453 WEST DEV.
453 D-1
453 D-2
453 D-3
45
3 W
ES
T D
45
3 W
ES
T C
2 W
ES
T 8
PA
NE
L
51
5 S
OU
TH
DE
V.
42
3 W
ES
T 1
3 P
AN
EL
42
3 W
ES
T 1
7 P
AN
EL
42
3 W
ES
T 1
5 P
AN
EL
42
3 W
ES
T 1
8 P
AN
EL
42
3 W
ES
T 1
6 P
AN
EL
42
3 W
ES
T 1
4 P
AN
EL
2 W
ES
T 2
5
2 W
ES
T 2
3
2 W
ES
T 2
1
2 W
ES
T 1
9
2 W
ES
T 1
0 P
AN
EL
2 W
ES
T 1
1
2 W
ES
T 1
5
2 W
ES
T 1
7
NO
RT
HW
ES
T 6
PA
NE
L
NO
RT
HW
ES
T 4
PA
NE
L
NORTHWEST 6B
NORTHWEST 6C
NORTHWEST 6D
NORTHWEST 4B
NORTHWEST 4D
2 N
OR
TH
WE
ST
1 P
AN
EL
2 N
OR
TH
WE
ST
3 P
AN
EL
1 S
OU
TH
2 S
OU
TH
3 S
OU
TH
4 S
OU
TH
5 S
OU
TH
1 N
OR
TH
WE
ST
2 N
OR
TH
WE
ST
3 N
OR
TH
WE
ST
4 N
OR
TH
WE
ST
1 MAIN WEST DEV.
1 NORTHWEST DEV.
NO
RT
HW
ES
T 2
PA
NE
L
NORTHWEST 2A
NORTHWEST 2B
NORTHWEST 2C
NORTHWEST 2D
BLOCK G
BLOCK I
BLOCK M
BLOCK O
BLOCK Q
BLOCK S
BLOCK U
BLOCK W
BLOCK Y
9 N
OR
TH
WE
ST
7 N
OR
TH
WE
ST
6 N
OR
TH
WE
ST
5 N
OR
TH
WE
ST
1 MAIN WEST DEV.
6 SOUTH C
6 SOUTH A
6 SOUTH B
6 S
OU
TH
2 N
OR
TH
WE
ST
5 P
AN
EL
2 N
OR
TH
WE
ST
7 P
AN
EL
2 N
OR
TH
WE
ST
13
PA
NE
L
2 N
OR
TH
WE
ST
15
PA
NE
L
2 NORTHWEST DEV.
2 N
OR
TH
WE
ST
19
PA
NE
L
2 N
OR
TH
WE
ST
17
PA
NE
L
2 N
OR
TH
WE
ST
21
PA
NE
L
2 N
OR
TH
WE
ST
11
PA
NE
L
2 N
OR
TH
WE
ST
27
PA
NE
L
41
2 N
OR
TH
DE
V.
41
2 N
OR
TH
4P
B B
LO
CK
2 NORTHWEST DEV.
41
2 N
OR
TH
4P
A B
LO
CK
2 N
OR
TH
WE
ST
35
PA
NE
L
2 N
OR
TH
WE
ST
33
PA
NE
L
2 N
OR
TH
WE
ST
31
PA
NE
L
2 N
OR
TH
WE
ST
29
PA
NE
L
412 NORTH 4 PANEL
2 N
OR
TH
WE
ST
25
PA
NE
L
41
2 N
OR
TH
10
-B P
AN
EL
41
2 N
OR
TH
10
-C P
AN
EL
412 NORTH 10 PANEL
51
5 S
OU
TH
DE
V.
2 MAIN WEST DEV.
2 N
OR
TH
WE
ST
9 P
AN
EL
2 N
OR
TH
WE
ST
23
PA
NE
L
NORTHWEST 10A
NORTHWEST 8B
NORTHWEST 6A
NORTHWEST 4A
NORTHWEST 4C
14
NO
RT
HW
ES
T
17
NO
RT
HW
ES
T
21
NO
RT
HW
ES
T
8 SOUTH C
7 SOUTH A
BLOCK K
2 W
ES
T 1
3
45
3 W
ES
T B
2 WEST 6 B
578 SOUTH A
578 SOUTH B
57
8 S
OU
TH
DE
V.
SOUTHEAST 1 DEV.
SO
UT
HE
AS
T 1
A
SO
UT
HE
AS
T 1
B
SO
UT
HE
AS
T 1
C
SO
UT
HE
AS
T 1
D
SO
UT
HE
AS
T 1
F
2 EAST 1A
2 EAST 1B
2 E
AS
T 1
PA
NE
L
2 E
AS
T 2
PA
NE
L
2 MAIN EAST DEV.
2 EAST 2A
2 EAST 2B
2 E
AS
T 4
PA
NE
L
2 EAST 2C 2 E
AS
T 6
PA
NE
L
2 E
AS
T 8
PA
NE
L
2 E
AS
T 1
2 P
AN
EL
2 E
AS
T 1
4 P
AN
EL
2 E
AS
T 1
6 P
AN
EL
2 EAST 20 B PANEL
2 EAST 20 E PANEL
2 EAST 20 D PANEL
2 EAST 20 C PANEL
6 N
OR
TH
EA
ST
8 N
OR
TH
EA
ST
10
NO
RT
HE
AS
T
12
NO
RT
HE
AS
T
14
NO
RT
HE
AS
T
18
NO
RT
HE
AS
T
22
NO
RT
HE
AS
T
24
NO
RT
HE
AS
T
1 EAST 3A
26
NO
RT
HE
AS
T
1 E
AS
T L
ON
GW
AL
L 1
1 E
AS
T L
ON
GW
AL
L 2
1 E
AS
T L
ON
GW
AL
L 3
1 E
AS
T L
ON
GW
AL
L 4
1 EAST L4-B
1 E
AS
T 5
PA
NE
L
1 E
AS
T 7
PA
NE
L
1 E
AS
T 9
PA
NE
L
1 NORTHEAST DEV.
BLOCK A
BLOCK B
BLOCK C
60
5 N
OR
TH
DE
V.
1 NORTHEAST DEV.
1 MAIN EAST DEV.
BLOCK R
BLOCK P
BLOCK N
BLOCK F
2 N
OR
TH
3 N
OR
TH
4 N
OR
TH
BLOCK H
BLOCK L
BLOCK J
2 N
OR
TH
EA
ST
4 N
OR
TH
EA
ST
1 E
AS
T 1
DE
V.
1 EAST 1A
1 EAST 1B
1 EAST 1C
1 E
AS
T 2
DE
V.
1 EAST 2D
1 EAST 2A
1 S
OU
TH
EA
ST
2 S
OU
TH
EA
ST
3 S
OU
TH
EA
ST
57
3 S
OU
TH
DE
V.
57
9 N
OR
TH
2 N
OR
TH
EA
ST
1 P
AN
EL
2 N
OR
TH
EA
ST
3 P
AN
EL
2 EAST 2D
2 EAST 2E
2 EAST 2F
42
3 W
ES
T 7
PA
NE
L
42
3 W
ES
T 9
PA
NE
L
42
3 W
ES
T 1
2 P
AN
EL
42
3 W
ES
T 1
0 P
AN
EL
42
3 W
ES
T 1
1 P
AN
EL
42
3 W
ES
T 8
PA
NE
L
42
3 W
ES
T 6
PA
NE
L
42
3 W
ES
T 4
PA
NE
L
42
3 W
ES
T 5
PA
NE
L
42
3 W
ES
T 3
PA
NE
L
42
3 W
ES
T 1
PA
NE
L4
23
WE
ST
2 P
AN
EL
59
2 S
OU
TH
DE
V.
59
2 S
OU
TH
DE
V.
1 EAST L4-A
1 MAIN EAST DEV.
1 EAST 3C
1 E
AS
T 3
PA
NE
L
2 EAST 20 A PANEL
2 E
AS
T 2
0 P
AN
EL
2 E
AS
T 1
8 P
AN
EL
2 E
AS
T 3
PA
NE
L
LONGWALL #5
1 E
AS
T 6
PA
NE
L
1 EAST 6 P E BLOCK
1 EAST 6 P D PANEL
1 EAST 6 P B PANEL
1 E
AS
T 6
PA
NE
L B
NO
RT
H
1 MAIN EAST DEV.
LONGWALL #4
LONGWALL #6
LONGWALL #7
LONGWALL #8
LONGWALL #9
2 EAST 20 F PANEL
1 EAST BLEADER
2 NORTHEAST DEV.
1 NORTHEAST DEV.
2 MAIN EAST DEV.
423 WEST DEV.
452 WEST DEV.
57
5 N
OR
TH
DE
V.
59
2 N
OR
TH
DE
V.
60
5 N
OR
TH
DE
V.
59
2 N
OR
TH
DE
V.
3 Main East Dev.
3 E
as
t 1
5 P
an
el
3 E
as
t 2
3 P
an
el
3 E
as
t 1
7 P
an
el
3 E
as
t 1
9 P
an
el
3 E
as
t 2
1 P
an
el
3 E
as
t 9
Pan
el
3 E
as
t 7
Pan
el
3 E
as
t 5
Pan
el
3 E
as
t 3
Pan
el
3 E
as
t 1
Pan
el
2 N
OR
TH
EA
ST
5 P
AN
EL
3 N
ort
he
as
t 1P
3 N
ort
he
as
t 3P
3 N
ort
he
as
t 5P
3 N
ort
he
as
t 7P
3 N
ort
he
as
t 9P
3 N
ort
he
as
t 11
P
3 NORTHEAST DEVELOPMENT
2 NORTHEAST DEVELOPMENT
57
5 N
OR
TH
DE
VE
LO
PM
EN
T
59
2 N
OR
TH
DE
VE
LO
PM
EN
T
3 N
ort
he
as
t 13
P
20
NO
RT
HE
AS
T
16
NO
RT
HE
AS
T
1 EAST 3B
1 EAST 2B
1 EAST 2C
2 EAST 1C
4 S
OU
TH
EA
ST
SO
UT
HE
AS
T 1
E
3 NORTHEAST DEVELOPMENT
3 Main East Dev.3 Main East Dev.3 Main East Dev.
3 E
as
t L
on
gw
all
11
3 E
as
t L
on
gw
all
10
3 E
as
t L
on
gw
all
9
3 E
as
t L
on
gw
all
7
3 E
as
t L
on
gw
all
8
3 E
as
t L
on
gw
all
6
3 E
as
t L
on
gw
all
5
3 E
as
t L
on
gw
all
4
3 E
as
t L
on
gw
all
3
3 E
as
t L
on
gw
all
2
3 E
as
t S
ou
th B
leed
ers
3 E
as
t L
on
gw
all
1
3 Main East Dev. 3 Main East Dev.
New Return 9 shaft
Old LW Block
New LW Block 2004
Future Block 2007
Intake Shaft
Old Return Shaft
Ventilation issues: Mine Closure for Solution Mining - Tg Soda Ash, 2006
• Bulkhead shaft bottom to protect pillars below plant for solution mining
• Maintain mine ventilation during process
• Diesel Equipment/CH4• Short circuit main fan air on
surface and at shaft bottom – reduce pressure, mine flow 150k to 60k cfm
• Sealing Sequence – East, South (1BH), North (3BH)
Return
Intake
MainReturn
Bulkheads
Move to NIOSH Spokane 2008
• Thanks to Jurgen Brune, Floyd Varley• Research Metal Non-metal ventilation and mine fires
Validate VentgraphProgram using 1972 USBM SunshineMine Fire Data
Booster Fan/Recirculation Study at Large Room and Pillar Longwall Trona Mine
(Martikainen)
Test panel detail
District Recirculation Fire Simulation
Boxes -Airflow m3/s
Fan Airflow 17.8 m3/s , 38k cfm
Smoke - RED
RecirculationFan Location
Program –Ventgraph
Remember:
• Every day you make a difference in miner’s health, safety and quality of work
environment.