Ventilation Design Modeling and Optimization for an Underground Bauxite Mine

Abstract

Underground bauxite mining exploitation is a challenging environment for ventilation. In this paper, such a complex underground ventilation network is modeled in detail using the Ventsim software. The network and its characteristics are selected and developed through the software, followed by their calibration and validation against actual measurements of both airflow quantity and quality which have been carried out at the mine site. This model constitutes the base of the new ventilation design for the future mine expansion. The recommendations and the characteristics for the optimization of the new proposed design are finally presented in detail.