Mine Aerology

a scientific discipline that studies the properties of mine atmospheres, the laws of mine-air movement, and the transfer of gaseous impurities, dust, and heat in mining excavations and adjacent rock masses. Mine aerology provides the scientific basis for work connected with the ventilation of shafts. The major divisions of mine aerology are mine atmosphere, mine aerodynamics, mine-gas dynamics, the dynamics of mine aerosols, and mine thermodynamics.

Systematized information on mine aerology was first put forth in 1745 by M. V. Lomonosov in The Free Motion of Air Observed in Mines. Mine aerology began developing in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in a number of European countries, including Russia. The founder of the Russian school of mine aerology was A. A. Skochinskii.

Mine aerology studies ways to increase the efficiency of methane drainage, reduce the aerodynamic resistance of excavations, improve the methods of computing shaft ventilation networks, and develop efficient methods and means of controlling the temperature of mine air. It also seeks to develop scientific methods for calculating the amount of air required for shaft ventilation, provide a scientific basis for automated regulation of shaft ventilation, and improve the reliability of shaft ventilation systems.

Mine aerodynamics studies the aerodynamic resistance of mining excavations and systems and the distribution of air flows in excavation networks. It creates the aerodynamic basis for monitoring shaft ventilation and develops methods for reducing mine resistance and calculating the power required to displace air along the shaft.

Mine-gas dynamics studies the displacement of gaseous impurities by air flows in excavations and the displacement of gases in the adjacent rock mass, including the filtration of gases in the rock mass, the diffusion of light and heavy gases in the air flow in excavations, and the gas-dynamic transfer processes resulting from sharp changes in air consumption in excavations. It creates the scientific basis for calculating the amount of air required to ventilate shafts and provide methane drainage. It also develops the gas-dynamic basis for regulating shaft ventilation.

The dynamics of mine aerosols studies the displacement of solid and liquid mechanical impurities by air flows in the excavations. The greatest progress has been made in the area of mine-dust transfer. The scientific basis for removing dust from mine shafts by means of ventilation is being developed.

Mine thermodynamics studies heat exchange between air currents in excavations and surrounding rocks and the heat sources in the excavations. Methods are being developed for predicting the heat conditions in excavations. Methods and means for the thermal conditioning of mine air are also being developed.

The major method used in mine aerology is theoretical analysis combined with experimentation and observation.

The aerology of quarries is gaining in importance as quarry depths increase to several hundred meters.