Automated air recirculation control in underground mine ventilation at the Upper Kama potassium–magnesium salt deposit

The study analyzes syntheses of automated air control systems to ensure the wanted air circulation in underground mining and production of sylvinite, carnallite and halite at the Upper Kama deposit of potassium–magnesium salts. The static approaches to air distribution are listed. The most popular techniques of construction of air dams made of foam blocks, cut logs and conveyor belts are discussed in more detail. The air flow control using these static facilities is examined, and their disadvantages are specified. A mine ventilation plant is laid out and modeled. The actions aimed to reduce air losses are described. The dynamic test is carried out to obtain the transient response curves and to identify the local ventilation system as a subject of control. Using the interactive engineering computations in Simulink MatLAB, three alternatives of an automated control are modeled to check the transient process quality. The structural models of the automated control systems are created and presented in a graphic form, and the settings of the controllers are optimized. The comparative analysis of the transient phenomena in control and excitation in the single-loop, cascade and cascade–compensation system of automated control is performed. The automated control system uses controller Simatic S7-300. The feasibility of integration of the developed system in the automated ventilation control in Uralkali’s Berezniki Mine-4 is examined. Finally, it is shown that the new-design control system ensures real-time regulation and adjustment of air recirculation in underground mines with regard to the existing facilities of static air distribution.

Zatonskiy A. V., Morozova O. V. Automated air recirculation control in underground mine ventilation at the Upper Kama potassium–magnesium salt deposit. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2023;(6):168-180. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2023_6_0_168.

A.V. Zatonskiy¹, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Professor, Head of Chair, e-mail: zxenon@narod.ru,
O.V. Morozova¹, Senior Lecturer, e-mail: olgakhivrenko@yandex.ru,
¹ Perm National Research Polytechnic University, Berezniki Branch, Berezniki, Russia.

O.V. Morozova, e-mail: olgakhivrenko@yandex.ru.

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