Mining Publication: Breaking the Ice on the Booster Fan Dilemma in US Underground Coal Mines
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Original creation date: October 2010
Booster fans increase air pressure to overcome resistance, the objective being to force adequate amounts of air through distant workings. They are used in areas that are difficult or uneconomic to ventilate with main fans alone. Booster fans are currently permitted in underground coal mines in some countries; the United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia and Canada have been defined as major users. Booster fans are not allowed in the US bituminous and lignite coal mining operations at the present time due to safety concerns. This paper presents the history of booster fan use in coal mines of the United States during the last 90 years. Changes in regulations, as well as advantages and disadvantages of booster fan use, are discussed. Research and petitions for booster fan use are highlighted in order to bring the debate into focus.
Authors: AL Martikainen, CD Taylor
Peer Reviewed Journal Article - October 2010
NIOSHTIC2 Number: 20037984
Min Eng 2010 Oct; 62(10):47-63
See Also
- Development and Application of Reservoir Models and Artificial Neural Networks for Optimizing Ventilation Air Requirements in Development Mining of Coal Seams
- Elastic and Shear Moduli of Coal Measure Rocks Derived from Basic Well Logs Using Fractal Statistics and Radial Basis Functions
- Passive Fiber Optic System for Locating, Tracking, and Communicating with Personnel in Coal Mines
- Refuge Alternatives in Underground Coal Mines
- Remote Methane Sensors
- Safe and Economical Inerting of Sealed Mine Areas
- Technical Solutions for Enhancements to Mine Safety Using Barricade II Fire Blocking Gel
- Ultra-Low Frequency Through-the-Earth Communication Technology
- Utilization of Booster Fans in Underground Coal Mines
- Wireless Mesh Mine Communication System
- Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Mining Program