The laboratory devoted to mine ventilation is extremely well equipped for both, research and instruction. Therefore, the main goal of this laboratory is to give the student hands-on experience with ventilation instrumentation, and in addition to support instruction in ventilation theory. The laboratory has a series of wind tunnels, ducting and instrumentation for measuring airflow and air quality. A number of computer packages are available for comparing simulation output with laboratory experiences. These packages are sufficient for full-scale mine ventilation network analysis.
Airflow Studies
A low-turbulence wind tunnel with 400-mm by 400-mm measuring chamber, velocity range of 0-13 meters per second (for anemometers calibration); axial fan testing stand, including a 30-inch diameter wind tunnel, consisting of a 34-inch adjustable pitch axial fan, a 25-horsepower motor speed driver, with a computerized monitoring and control system, to allow for the remote monitoring of the fan performance and control of the fan speed and blade pitch; auxiliary tubing ventilation system consisting of 150 feet of reinforced 18-inch diameter tubing network combined with two 21-inch diameter auxiliary axial fans that can be connected in series or parallel; climatic simulation unit that demonstrates the sensitivity of phychrometric parameters of the underground environment; physical model of a mine ventilation network based on four inch plastic pipe (to perform ventilation survey); precision smoke tunnel. Face ventilation systems can be study using specially design scaled physical model equipped with the laser Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) measuring system.
Airflow Measurements
Hot-wire anemometers, vane anemometers (both mechanical and electronic), Pitot tubes. Pressure: incline manometer, portable precision manometer (range of 1.0 N/m2). Absolute pressure: mechanical barometers (aneroids), electronic absolute pressure gauges.
Air Quality
Instrumentation is available for the following gasses: CO, CH4, O2; coal dust analysis: gravimetric, light-scattering miniram.