A Method for Ventilating the Mining Sites of Potash Mines in Verkhnekamye Ensuring Safety in the Event of an Emergency

Abstract

The potash mines of the Verkhnekamsk potassium-magnesium salt deposit have low aerodynamic resistance, and therefore many factors influence the air distribution between the mine workings of the mining sites. Some of such significant factors are: the magnitude and direction of the natural draft that occurs between the mine workings due to the difference in air densities in them. The density of air also changes when the temperature changes and when it is mixed with other gases of a different density. When the air is heated, which can be caused by the operation of mining equipment, as well as when an air-gas mixture enters the air (methane is the most common gas in the potash mines of the Verkhnekamsk potassium-magnesium salt deposit), it becomes lighter. In this regard, in the inclined workings, it tends to rise up. In the existing ventilation methods, such a phenomenon has a positive effect in blocks and panels located along the rise of the formation, and a negative effect, when natural drafts prevent ventilation in the production areas located along the dip of the formation. In this regard, it was proposed to change the method of ventilation of mining areas located along the dip of the formation. In the event of a fire in a conveyor mine working, which is the most common fire hazard emergency, due to air heating, natural draughts will begin to play a dominant role in the distribution of air and the spread of flue gases. The article presents the proposed method of ventilation of the mining area of the Verkhnekamsk potassium-magnesium salt deposit of the potash mine, which will allow to efficiently carry out ventilation in the normal mode and prevent the ingress of flue gases into the working area in the event of a fire in the conveyor mine working. This effect is achieved through the positive use of emerging natural drafts and insulating devices (quickly assembled ventilation stoppings). The calculation presented in the article, performed in the «Aeroset» software package, confirmed the assumptions about the efficiency of the proposed solutions.