Assessment of the degree of influence of air compressibility consideration on air distribution calculations in ventilation networks of deep mines

Traditional mine ventilation calculation methods are based on the assumption of air incompressibility, however, with increasing mining depth, this assumption can lead to significant calculation errors. This paper analyzes the factors affecting the change in air density as it moves through mine workings. Based on the conducted analysis, a mathematical model for air distribution calculation is proposed, taking into account the compressibility effect in inclined and vertical workings. The influence of air compressibility on air distribution calculation results in deep mines is assessed, along with effects arising from air density changes due to compressibility. The proposed model demonstrated that volumetric airflow rates vary significantly during movement through inclined and vertical mine workings, resulting in actual flow rates in working zones being lower than predicted. The magnitude of this deviation depends primarily on the mining depth and the geothermal gradient, which leads to the choice of suboptimal ventilation parameters and, consequently, increases health risks for personnel due to insufficient ventilation. The practical significance of the results is the potential of improving the accuracy of ventilation system design, which contributes to optimizing energy consumption and enhancing the safety of mining operations.

Lyadov E. A., Borodavkin D. A., Zaitsev A. V. Assessment of the degree of influence of air compressibility consideration on air distribution calculations in ventilation networks of deep mines. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2026;(12):72-83. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2026_12_0_72.

The study was carried out with the financial support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation within the framework of a state assignment (reg. number of R&D: 126012716039-2).

E.A. Lyadov¹, Technician, e-mail: E.Lyadov@yandex.ru, ORCID ID: 0009-0001-7174-2621,
D.A. Borodavkin^1,2, Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Researcher; Assistant Professor, e-mail: borodavkin.dmitriy@gmail.com, ORCID ID: 0009-0002-3307-4295,
A.V. Zaitsev^1,2, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Head of Laboratory; Professor, e-mail: artem.v.zaitsev@yandex.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0002-2314-0482,
¹ Mining Institute, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 614007, Perm, Russia, 
² Perm National Research Polytechnic University, Perm, Russia.

E.A. Lyadov, e-mail: E.Lyadov@yandex.ru.

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