Mine Environmental Engineering

Composition of air Atmospheric Air Mine Air

By Volume By Mass By Volume

O2 - 20.93% 23.15% O2 20.28%
N2 - 78.10% 75.52% N2 78.90%
CO2 - 0.03% 0.046% CO2 0.36%
Argon & other 0.94% 1.284% CH4 0.46%
gases
Impurities in Mine Air
a) Non-toxic but explosive à Methane (CH4), Acetylene (C2H2), Hydrogen (H2)
and other hydrocarbons.
b) Toxic gases à Carbon-dioxide (CO2), Radon and its daughter products.
c) Acutely poisonous gases à Carbon mono-oxide (CO), Nitrous fumes (NO2),
Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Sulphurated Hydrogen (H2S), Arsenic and phosphorus.
d) Vapors’ of water, hydrocarbons (fuels and lubricants) mercury or lead.
e) Suspended fine water droplets i.e. fog or oil droplets.
f) Solid impurities such as dust, smoke and organisms.
OXYGEN (O2) (Molecular mass = 32)
It is colorless, odorless and tasteless gas of specific gravity - 1.105(relative to air)
heavier than air. Oxygen has low solubility 3 times dissolves in 100 volumes of water.
It supports life and combustion and hence essential where men works.

Causes of Deficiency of oxygen in mine air

(1). Oxidation of coal, pyrites and timber etc.
(2). Addition of other gases in large quantities.
(3). Spontaneous heating, fires, explosions, results in large deficiency of oxygen.

Physiological effects of oxygen deficiency only but no other gases except N 2 and
CH4

(1). Deficiency of oxygen in air breathed has no serious effect at 19% oxygen or
below upto 17.5%.
(2). Breathing faster and deeper – 17% of O2.
(3). Dizziness, buzzing in the ears, rapid heart rate – 15% of O2.

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 (4). Unconsciousness after prolonged exposure – 13% of O2.
(5). Unconsciousness within ½ an hour – 10% of O2.
(6). Heavy panting, palpitation, face turn blue, rapid unconsciousness –7% of O2.
(7). Unconscious within 40 seconds in air without oxygen because of anoxia.
Person affected by O2 deficiency, animations can be affected by bringing the
patient to fresh air immediately and applying artificial respiration. Continuous
exposure to an atmosphere containing 80% oxygen for 48 hrs has irritating effect.
In India law prescribes at least 19% oxygen in mine air.

If men works hard, consumes 2.5 10-3 m3/min of oxygen, the required quantity of
fresh air ‘Q’ containing 21% of O2 needed to be supplied to the working place so as
to keep the level of O2 concentration at 19% can be obtained from oxygen of O 2
balance equation per minute :-

Amount of O2 in the intake air – Amount of O2 consumed

= Amount of O2 in the exhaust air.

Or, 0.21 Q – 2.5 10-3 = 0.19 Q

Or, Q= = 0.125 m3/min.

Detection of Oxygen Deficiency:-

Flame safety lamp is a good indicator of oxygen deficiency. Each 1% reduction

in oxygen percentage results in about 30% less light from oil lamps and extinguished
when oxygen percentage falls below about 17.5%. Air inlet to the safety lamp can be
throttled and the degree of throttling required extinguishing flame gives percentage of
oxygen. Portable oxygen percentage indicators and monitors are also available but
flame safety lamp still serves as the most prevalent oxygen deficiency indicators.

Nitrogen N2
Nitrogen gas is quite abundant in atmospheric air comprising about 4/5 th of the
atmosphere. It is colorless, tasteless, and odorless nearly as heavy as air with a specific
gravity of 0.967. It is practically insoluble in water, 100 volume of water dissolving
1.8 volume of nitrogen at 150 C. It is an inert gas which neither combustible nor
supports combustion but it is important for the growth of plants and animal tissues.

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 Nitrogen is produced in mines by the decomposition of organic substances,
blasting with explosives and as emission from strata.

Nitrogen has no harmful effect on human system except that at higher

concentration, it leads to oxygen deficiency with consequent physiological effects.
Critical temperature is 1460 C and critical pressure 35 atm.

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

CO2 gas is colorless, odorless, and bitter in taste with a specific gravity of 1.529. It
is very soluble in water, 100 volumes of water dissolving at 15 0 C, 100 volumes of CO2
forming a weak acid. It is non combustible and does not sustain life and combustion
process. Critical temperature is 320 C.

The gas is produced in mines by the processes of:-

(1). Human beings and animals respiration.
(2). Oxidation (flame safety lamps, decay of timber, coal).
(3). Combustion (blasting, internal combustion engines, mine fires and explosion).
(4). Outburst of gas.
(5). Decaying of timber.
CO2 is found in return air of all mines in small percentage and in dip areas of coal
mines due to it being heavier than air. Being heavier than air found below knee level
and accumulates in the dip workings mainly at the sumps and in goafs.

Physiological effects of CO2 Breathing when it replaces air by:-

3% - Breathing doubled.
6% - Violent panting,
10% - Severe distress in few minutes, after 30 minutes to 60 minutes of
work, suffocation and unconsciousness
15% - Consciousness loss
25% - Death after hours
Flame of flame safety lamp is extinguished at a CO 2 percentage of 3 – 4%. Persons
affected by CO2 recover with artificial respiration.
Black Damp
It is a mixture of CO2 and nitrogen in percentages higher than the normal percentage in
mine air.

CO2 % ranges from 0 to 20.

N2 %ranges from 80 to 100.
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 Specific gravity of black damp is equal to air when % of CO 2 is 5%. Lower
percentage of CO2 in Black damp is most dangerous.
For every 5% Black damp the light of flame safety lamp diminishes by 30% and
extinguishes when oxygen percentage falls below 17.5% which is same as 17% of
Black damp. Persons affected can be recovered by artificial respiration and large
concentration can by removed by improving ventilation.

Detection of CO2 can be done with flame safety lamps by observing the light
emitted by the flame, though exact percentage can only be measured by multi gas
detectors of dragger.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) (White Damp)

Carbon monoxide is produced when carbonaceous matter burns with insufficient

supply of oxygen. It is a colorless, odorless, tasteless and non-irritating gas with
specific gravity 0.967 and combustible but not supports combustion. Rarely soluble in
water, 100 volume of water only dissolves 2.3 volumes of gas at 200 C.
It burns in air with light blue flame and forms explosive mixture within 12% to 75% by
volume.

CO is produced in mines by:-

(1). Oxidation of coal and other carbonaceous matter.

(2). Explosives when blasted, chemical reaction in the insufficient oxygen content of
the explosive occurs, results in the formation of CO.
(3). Spontaneous combustion of coal and fire in u/g mines produces CO.
(4). Methane or Coal dust explosions produces large percentage of CO in mines.
(5). Underground machineries especially internal combustion engines, air compressors
produce CO.

Physiological effects of Carbon monoxide on Human Beings:-

Carbon monoxide has nearly 300 times more affinity for the hemoglobin of
blood as compared to oxygen. It CO is inhaled by a person, instead of absorbing
oxygen, the blood forms stable car boxy-hemoglobin when it reacts with hemoglobin.
The air containing CO when breathed shows:-

0.02% - Headache, Discomfort and possibility of collapse after 45

minutes

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 0.12% - Palpitation after 10 minutes of work
0.2% - Unconsciousness after 10 minutes of work.
0.5 to 1.0% - Death after 10 – 15 minutes of work.
As per regulation CMR -130(Standards of ventilation), the maximum permissible
concentration of CO in mine air is 0.005% or 50ppm.

Detection of CO in Mines
Warm blooded Birds such as Munia or mouse may be used for early detection
which when exposed to atmosphere containing CO shows distress at 0.15% of CO well
below the percentage which affects a man.

Carbon monoxide detectors are based on the chemical reaction of CO with certain
chemicals resulting in change of colour which is compared to the chart for percentage
of CO.

Detectors
(1). The P.S. (Potassium Palladium Sulphite) detector: - Detector consists of glass tube
containing silica gel impregnated with light yellow potassium palladium sulphite
with silica gel at both the ends for absorbing other gases. Air is drawn through the
tube by operating a rubber aspirator. CO of air changes the light yellow colour of
P.S. to brown which represent the concentration of CO in the range of 0.005% to
0.12%.
(2). Hopcalite detector (Manganese Dioxide + Copper Oxide) :- Hopcalite acts as a
catalyst when air containing CO is drawn, oxidation reaction of CO to CO 2 with
evolution of heat which causes rise in temperature so produced is recorded by a
thermocouple connected in series to a meter which is calibrated in the percentages
of carbon monoxide in the range of .005% to 0.015% of CO.
(3). Holomite Detectors (Iodine Peroxide + Sulphuric Acid) :- Holomite which has
grayish white colour, on reaction with CO, the colour of the chemical changes to
shades of green, brown or black on the percentage of CO in mine air.
(4). MSA CO Detectors (Palladium Sulphate + Ammonium Molybdate) :- Detector
tubes containing Palladium Sulphate & Ammonium Molybdate impregnated in
yellow silica gel inserted in the detector and mine air is drawn by squeezing the
aspirator bulb. The CO present in mine air reacts with the chemical and the yellow
colour changes to various shades of green depending on the percentage of CO.

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Prevention against CO poisoning
1) Proper ventilation of areas where presence of CO is suspected to bring down the
concentration below 50ppm.
2) Detection of CO in early stages so that dilution can be effected.
3) Entering the mine workings having CO accumulation with protective devices
and self rescuers.
4) If a person is found poisoned by CO or unconscious, should be brought to fresh
air and immediate medical attention to be provided.
5) Experienced personnel to be deployed for inspection of fire areas with all safety
measures.
Methane (CH4)

Methane is a colourless, odorless, tasteless gas having specific gravity 0.552

found in mines at the roof level being lighter than air. It is an inflammable gas
undergoes combustion and explosion when mixed with oxygen of mine air often
known as firedamp along with ethane and ethylene in small percentage.

CH4 is present in mines along the roof of galleries and in the working faces with
concentration higher nearest to the roof.

Combustible range of CH4 in mine air is 0.5% to 4.5% by volume, thus all apparatus
designed to detect CH4 ranges upto 5%.

Explosibility range of CH4 is 5% to 15%. (5.4%-- 14.8%)

LEL Lower Explosibility Limit—5% (5.4%)
HEL Higher Explosibility Limit—15% (14.8%)
Most violent explosion (Stoichiometric Mixture)—10% (9.6%)
By regulation, the percentage of CH4 in a mine not more 1.25% in the general body
of air and not more than 0.75% in the return air of a ventilation district.

But there should not be any CH 4 presence in the mine or at the faces which are being
worked. Any place or face where CH4 presence is detected, should be well ventilated
and air coursed to clear of CH4 before blasting.

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 Sources of CH4 in mines

(1). During extraction of coal, as it is entrapped within the coal matrix during the
formation of coal.
(2). Gas blowers as in the form of cavity and fissures or cracks, emitted by hissing
sound.
(3). Gas outburst where gas is enclosed in huge amount gets bursted due to heavy
pressure.
(4). Exudation of CH4 gas from coal seams and adjoining strata.
(5). Release by roof fall or sudden fall of barometric pressure which may force the
gases of the goaf into the working.
Factors affecting gas emission
1) The nature of coal seam and the adjacent strata.
2) The method of mining and the process of face extraction employed.
3) The rate of advance of the faces in both longwall and bord and pillar method.
4) The ventilation arrangement and their efficiency.
5) Presence of gas blower sources.
Detection of CH4
Methane can be detected by the following methods:-
(1). By length of formation of gas cap in a flame safety lamp.
(2). Instrument and apparatus for directly measuring the % of CH4.
(3). Analysis of air samples in the laboratory.
Principles for design of apparatus for detection of CH4
(1). Formation of gas cap of variable height over the flame of a flame safety lamp.
Ex- Safety lamp and Spiralarm.
(2). Wheatstone Bridge principle of measuring the unbalanced electric current when
resistance of one circuit of the bridge increases due to reaction with fire damp.
Ex- MSA D—6 Methanometer.
(3). Diffusion—Combustion—Contraction. When methane diffuses in the chamber,
combustion takes place which results in the formation of carbon-dioxide and
water with contraction in volume. Ringrose fire damp detector.
CH4 + 2O2 = CO2 + 2H2O (Water Vapour)
1vol 2vol 1vol negligible volume of condensed water
(4). Difference in refractive index of pure air and methane-air mixture and its effect
on the interference pattern of light. Ex- Riken Interferometer.
(5). Infra-red spectrometry which utilizes the principle that methane absorbs
radiation of wave length 7.5µ. Ex- Infra-red recorder.

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 (6). Reaction of methane with some chemical causes change in colour corresponding
to % of methane.

Detection of Methane by flame safety lamp

Principle of flame safety lamp is conduction, convection and radiation of heat

when a flame burns below an iron wire gauge will continue to burn below it until it
becomes too hot and red conducting and radiating the heat. The flame does not pass
through the wire gauge providing safety against explosion of fire damp. If longer
length of flame is allowed to burn for considerable time then the rate of dissipation of
heat due to conduction and radiation is less, thus the flame burns above the wire gauge
as the vapours of fuel continue to burn over the red hot wire gauge. This is the case
when methane in mine air burns or combustion takes place inside the flame safety
lamp. For this reason the methane is not allowed to burn for longer duration in FSL,
otherwise explosion may occur.

Uses of flame safety lamp

1. Detection and percentage of methane present in mine air.

2. Indicates deficiency of oxygen in mine air.
3. Identifies presence of carbon dioxide.
4. As a source of light in u/g mines.
Safety Features
1) Double iron wire gauge Heat dissipation surface area is increased by using
double wire gauge so that that the flame did not come out of the lamp when an
explosion occur to ignite the methane gas of mine atmosphere by lowering the
temperature of the flame.

2) Magnetic lock Prevents the lamp from unauthorized disassembling in u/g

unless it is brought to surface and opened by the magnetic unlocker.

3) Asbestos rings Asbestos rings provide air tight packing against leakage of air
and can be tested by blowing air with velocity upto 15m/sec.

Tests performed by Flame Safety Lamp

1) Accumulation Test This test is performed on regular basis when and where
accumulation of fire damp is suspected. With a normal flame the safety lamp is
slowly raised and the behavior of the flame is observed. If CH 4 is present in

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 mine air below 4.5% combustion occurs and methane burns with an increased
flame length or the flame starts jumping and flickering indicates presence of fire
damp. The flame is not allowed to burn for longer duration and the lamp is
lowered and moved to the fresh air. If methane is present in large concentration
in the Explosibility rang then explosion of fire damp within the lamp may occur.
The lamp may be smothered by closing the vents holes. No attempt to check the
percentage is done. Ventilating air is coursed to the point of accumulation to
clear of the gas. It is confirmed that sufficient air has circulated such that no gas
is present.

2) Percentage Test This test is performed to ascertain the percentage of methane

in mine air with a test flame. The lamp is brought near the zone where probable
methane presence is there and formation of gas cap of various heights is noted.
The length of the gas cap formed corresponding to % of methane is related to
confirm the concentration. If any trace of methane is found then ventilation is
restored again.
Various types of Safety Lamps used in mines and their comparison

Velox- GL—50 Velox- GL—60 Velox- GL—7

Top Feed Top & Bottom Feed Top & Bottom Feed

No Relighter Self Relighting Self Relighting

No Scale for reading No Scale Scale for reading flame

flame length length
Shorter Length than other Length more than GL-50 Same length as GL-60
two
Lighting easy by flame Lighting only by Same as GL-60
Relighter

Detection of Methane by MSA D—6 (D) Methanometer

MSA D—6 (D) Methanometer works on the principle of Wheatstone Bridge.

Methanometer is a direct reading instrument having range 0—5% by volume of
methane in mine air. Methane is drawn by squeezing the aspirator bulb through the
inlet hole. The methane reacts with the Wheatstone bridge coil and burns which
changes the resistance of the circuit to flow unbalanced current which is indicated in
percentages of methane.

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 Procedure
(1). Lift the diffusion cover to allow the mine air inlet and to fully expose to the
atmosphere.
(2). Hold the instrument in the left palm and the middle figure on the voltage check
button, press the button to check the voltage. It should read between 2.2volts and
2.8volts.
(3). If voltage is proper then hold the instrument near the roof and press the button
with left thumb for checking methane. The methane percentage in mine air is
indicated in the meter. Read the meter and release the button.
(4). In inaccessible place, extendable probe can be attached which has an aspirator
bulb to draw the mine air, 2—3 squeezes is normal.
Automatic Fire damp Detector (AFD)
AFD of MSA is a portable instrument for continuous monitoring of CH 4. The
instrument gives a continuous indication of methane concentration by meter reading
and flash lamp. It can be either carried on the person or suspended at the work place.

AFD operates on the principle of Wheat stone in the same manner as the D—6
Methanometer. It is used with a readily chargeable battery giving a ten hour operation.
No external switch is required and the instrument functions immediately upon insertion
of the battery. The detector is scaled to read 0—3% of methane in a mine and under
normal conditions the lamp flashes at 15 seconds intervals. When the methane
concentration exceeds the pre-set level, the flash rating will to once per second. This
alarm setting can be easily adjusted for any percentage over the full scale of the
instrument.

Methane telemonitoring and sensors

An electronic methane telemonitoring system for the continuous, automatic

measurement and record of methane at a preselected point in an underground mine had
been developed to detect methane from remote place on the surface.

The system provides for continuous automatic monitoring of methane without any
human effort from an underground selected point and the methane percentage was
recorded continuously in a chart in the room at the surface. When the methane
percentage exceeded a pre set level, an alarm signal used to be given by a bell at the
underground substation or other desired place and arrangements were made for
simultaneous alarm at a suitable point on the surface as well. There was also a

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provision for shutting down the electrically operated equipment when the methane
percentage used to be more than the pre set level. The methane telemonitoring system
consists of two sets of equipment:

a) Remote station equipment in the underground

b) Surface station equipment in the control room
Arrangement of single sensor or multiple sensors are available to be installed at
suitable location points in the u/g.
Methane layering

Accumulation of methane in the rise working along the roof in layers with
concentration of methane gas close or nearest to the roof maximum and minimum to
the floor level of gallery is known as methane layering. The layering of methane
occurs due to boundary layer. When the ventilating air is flowing in the mine roadway,
it experiences maximum frictional resistance along the sides of the roadway due to
rubbing surface. The layering takes place close to the roof in the rise side as the flow is
laminar and methane is being lighter.

Dealing with methane layering

If methane layering is noticed, the following precautionary measure to be adopted:

1) All persons to be withdrawn from the working place.

2) Electricity to be cut-off and precaution against explosion to be taken.
3) All operations to be stopped and quantity of air flowing has to be increased.
4) The ventilating air current is coursed or directed to the spot of accumulation by
blocking the air in one or more districts.
5) The layering is cleared by using bafflers to direct the air along the roof.
6) The cross-section of the roadway can be reduced by placing temporary stopping
so that the air velocity is increased.
Methane Drainage
Methane accumulations required to be drained off to clear the workings form
methane and prevent its dangerous presence as it is a potential source of methane
explosion. If the mine is very gassy, it is not always possible to keep the percentage of
gas in the return air below the limits permitted by mining regulations even by
maintaining high degree of standards of ventilation with high power fans.

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Drainage of gas out of the mine to the surface is a great advantage in such cases which
results in:

1) Less fire damp in the mine rendering it safe.

2) The main ventilating fan need not required to be very large.
3) Length of the coal face can be increased and high production planned.
4) Rate of advance of coal face can be increased.
5) The gas can be utilized at the surface for power generation.
Degasification during methane drainage can be conducted from
a) The seam being worked, or

b) The seam above or below the seam being worked, depending upon accessibility.

Methane drainage of the neighboring seams is the technique commonly adopted

which aim to place one or more boreholes into the strata which are presumed to be
natural reservoir of gas by reason of their porosity or contact with carbonaceous matter
like coal or carbonaceous shale’s. The bore holes are drilled 45 0—600 of the vertical
leaning towards the inbye, 37 to 75 mm in dia. and 20 to 60 m apart. They are drilled
in the roof from the intake or return airway until the upper seam is intersected. All the
holes are equipped with water separators and devices for measuring the pressure and
quantity of gas flowing. The gas is removed from the borehole by suction using rotary
vacuum pumps installed in the surface. Where methane drainage is practiced the safety
precautions in the mine and on the surface have to be elaborate and there should be no
leakage of gas into the atmosphere or of the pipes.

Gas Blowers

A gas blower is a powerful irruption of gas in the form of jets from cracks or
coal faces. It is accompanied by hissing sound which can be heard over a long distance
in the calm of an underground mine. Gas from the blowers is purely methane. Blowers
may be permanent or temporary which may last for hours or for longer duration upto
years.

Blowers are usually met in areas which have been faulted or folded. The gas is
entrapped in the coal seams or the surrounding strata during the coalification process in
huge amount. Gas from the blowers usually high in the initial stages but dies down
later. In coal seams which are prone to gas blowers, u/g roadways should be advanced

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with advance exploratory boreholes with special drilling machine. Blowers in the mine
can be dealt by

1) Closing or blocking the crack from which the blower emanates.

2) Allowing it to exhaust naturally in course of time if it is not very large.

3) Improving the ventilation of the district to keep the percentage of gas in the
general body of the return air within permissible limit.

4) Coursing the gas of the blower to the surface by special pipes.

Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) Stink Damp

Hydrogen sulphide gas is produced when coal containing sulphur is heated out
of contact with air to a temperature of about 444 0 C. coal may contain sulphur in very
small quantity in the form of pyrites or finely disseminated organic compounds of
sulphur. The gas is colourles and has a smell of rotten eggs having sp. Gr. Of 1.75 and
it is readily soluble in water. It is combustible but does not support combustion. When
mixed with air it forms an explosive mixture, limits of inflammability is 4.3 and 45%
of H2S. The gas burns with a pale blue flame.

Presence of Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) in mines

1) It may be found in stagnant water of old u/g workings.

2) In areas of goaf fires or spontaneous heating.
3) It may issue from blowers of feeders of gas along with CH4.
4) In metal mines it may be produced by the action of acidic water in some
sulphide ores.
Physiological effects of Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S)
The gas is as poisonous as CO and it may cause death in short time if inhaled in large
quantities. The maximum permissible concentration upto 8 hours is 0.02%.

Detection of H2S

Presence of the gas can be detected by its disagreeable smell of rotten egg. A
blotting paper soaked in lead acetate changes its colour to black in the presence of the
gas.

The gas can also be detected by Drager multigas detector and M.S.A hydrogen
sulphide detector which resembles the CO detector. The H 2S detector tube containing
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white granules of activated aluminum oxide coated with silver cyanide which when
mine air containing H2S is drawn turns grayish black if exposed. The extent
discoloration gives the percentage which is read of directly on the movable graduated
scale. C.M.R.I. has patented a H2S detector tube which detects 1 to 50 ppm of H2S.

Sulphur Dioxide SO2

It is a colourless gas with strong sulphurous smell, neither combustible nor a

supporter of combustion. It is 2.21 times heavier than air. The gas is very poisonous
and extremely irritating to eyes and respiratory passages. It may be produced in mines
in small quantity during blasting and after a fire or coal dust explosion.

Nitrous Fumes NOx

Nitrous fumes are mixture of different oxides of nitrogen such as NO, NO 2,

N2O3 and have a chocking smell. They are yellow to reddish brown in colour and are
easily dissolved by moisture in the mine air.

Nitrous fumes are formed during blasting of explosives containing

nitroglycerine as one of the constituents if the explosive is not detonated completely.
Exposure for a few minutes causes headache. Presence in large quantity results in
deficiency of oxygen.

Hydrogen H2

Hydrogen is the lightest gas known. It is colourless, odourless and tasteless gas,
slightly soluble in water. It does not support combustion but it is itself combustible.
When mixed with air it forms an explosive mixture, the limits of Explosibility being
4% to 75% by volume.

The gas occurs rarely in mines but may be sometimes found in fire areas as a
result of distillation of coal. Storage batteries when charged evolve the gas in very
small quantities. The gas is not poisonous but suffocates a person due to lack of
oxygen.

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 Mine Ventilation
Ventilation of a mine is done by enabling the atmospheric air to circulate in the mine
working. Flow of air is required to replenish the oxygen content of the air. Air enters
the mine through one of the opening and leaves from the other after ventilating mine.
For flow of air there should be difference in pressure so that air flows from high
pressure to low pressure. To maintain conducive working environment in the mine
proper ventilation of underground mine working, continuous supply of fresh air is the
requisite. This is possible if the mine air is nearly the same as on the surface and
without toxic and inflammable gases. The ventilation of the mine has the following
objectives:

1) To restore the proper composition of mine atmosphere which should not contain
less than 19% of oxygen or more than 0.5% of carbon dioxide
2) To dilute other noxious and inflammable gases like CO, CH 4, etc. so that they
are harmless. A place is not considered safe unless the gas percentage is below
1.25%.
3) To provide good environmental conditions and to prevent excessive rise of
temperature and humidity the wet bulb temperature should not exceed 33.50C.
4) To remove and dissipate the coal or rock dust produced in mines.
5) To confine the gases in the goaf thus preventing oozing in the mine workings.
Quantity of air required for ventilation of a mine is decided by the ability of the air
to dilute the emitted gases and number of persons working who can get sufficient fresh
air. The Standards of ventilation prescribed under the CMR—130 are as follows:
1) Quantity of air in a ventilating district should be:
I. Minimum 6m3/min per person employed in the district on the largest shift.
II. Not less than 2.5 m3/min per daily tonne output.
Whichever is larger to be supplied.
2) Underground air should not have less than 19% O2.
3) Underground air should not have more than 0.5% CO2 or other noxious gases.
4) Inflammable gas should be below 0.75% in the general body of return air of any
ventilation district and below 1.25% at any place in the mine.
5) Wet bulb temperature should not exceed 33.5 0C, if it exceeds 30.50C at any
place, air velocity to be increased by 1m/s for every degree rise in temperature.
6) Air samples and temperature readings should be taken once in 30 days.

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Natural Ventilation
Ventilation produced in mines without the aid of any external means and air
flow is effected naturally then the mine is said to be naturally ventilated. Considering
two shafts having different length connected to each other, equal in diameter, there are
two unequal air columns as one of the shaft having more length. The shaft having more
volume of air has more weight if temperatures of air of both shafts are same.

If however density of air in one of the shaft is more, the column of air in that
shaft will have a higher weight and the difference in pressure at the bottoms of shafts
will cause flow of air from high pressure shaft to low pressure shaft. The air continues
to flow entering one of the shaft and leave the other till the difference in pressure
exists. This is termed as Natural Ventilation and the pressure difference between two
shafts created naturally is known as Natural Ventilation [Link] difference in
density between the airs of the two shafts may be produced by any of the following
factors:

a) Presence of firedamp, or steam purposely introduced in one of the shaft, which

renders the air lighter.
b) Presence of fire in one of the shafts. The fire heats up the air which has less
density.
c) Passage of cold water down one of the shafts, the cold air is denser.
d) Movement of cage in the shaft.
e) Unequal depth or diameter of the shafts.
Upcast Shaft Downcast Shaft

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