Spanish Mining Engineer Avoids a Big Bang

Algor Around the World: Spain

Coal mines are notoriously dangerous places. Miners of the past have braved toxic coal dust, the possibility of cave-ins and debilitating manual labor, among other dangers. The product of this labor is a valuable fuel source that can be used to heat homes and create electricity.

Today, engineers are working to make mining safer. In addition to designing robots and machines to take the place of human workers in dangerous situations, a group of mining engineers and researchers in Spain is using Algor's Fluid Flow Analysis Software to optimize mine ventilation, which often contributes significantly to dangerous situations.

The "Minador"

A coal mining research association in Spain was testing a "Minador," or robotic miner, when they noticed ventilation problems.

The minador is a robotic machine which travels into the mine gallery. A rotating cylindrical device chips away at the wall in front of the minador. A collector scoops up the fallen material as the minador moves forward. Without proper ventilation, a small spark in the dust-laden air could cause a gas/powder explosion resulting in loss of life and property.

The researchers contracted Pablo V. Legazpi, president and principal technical engineer of Proyectos, Servicios y Sistemas, to help them on their first Algor fluid flow analysis project: optimizing the ventilation of the mine gallery.

Pablo V. Legazpi of Proyectos, Servicios y Sistemas analyzed the ventilation of a mine with Algor software to reduce the risk of a gas/powder explosion.

Surveying the Situation

The first step was to test the faculties of the fluid flow analysis package in this scenario. Measurements of the air velocity were taken at various locations within the gallery.

These measurements were then compared to results of Algor's Fluid Flow Analysis Processor. The quantitative differences that existed were within acceptable parameters.

"It is difficult to compare the results from the analysis with real-time data," said Mr. Legazpi, "because there are so many difficulties associated with sampling. More extensive sampling and more sensitive instrumentation might have decreased the quantitative difference between the analysis and real-world answers. In this case, however, the qualitative 'ball-park' consistency was sufficient to convince the researchers that Algor is a reliable tool."

Optimizing the Ventilation

Once the clients were satisfied with Algor software's accuracy, a series of fluid flow analyses was conducted until the position of the ventilation pipe was optimal. Originally, the vent was not close enough to the front of the gallery, where the continuous miner is located.

Fluid flow analyses of this model of a mine gallery were used to optimize ventilation. Poor ventilation can lead to a gas/powder explosion.

Due to the results of the mine gallery analyses, the researchers are now Algor users as well and will continue to work on other fluid flow projects including no-flame blasting and water curtain fire-shields.

About Algor

"Algor is a reliable and valuable tool in situations such as these," said Mr. Legazpi. "The results visualization expresses the air flow very well and gives me the information I need to optimize a design.

"My clients are very conscientious," continued Mr. Legazpi. "They demand accuracy and reliability over financial concerns. However, Algor is less expensive than many other fluid dynamics packages, proving that engineering software can be both accurate and cost-effective."