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Fig.1 gives the following information regarding disruption produced in the flow
pattern of air at bends:
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i.
ii.
iii.
Expansion of airways after the bend and hence expansion of air taking
place. The expansion of air takes place at a slower rate compared to the
rate of contraction. This expansion of air extends to a considerable length
of airways.
The entire three phenomena are dependent on types of bend and velocity of air.
Let us now discuss about few types of bend. They are explained in Table 1 with
their corresponding figures.
Besides the bends mentioned in Table 1, there are many other types of bends,
which are generally transformed forms or variations of the above mentioned types.
Some of them are transformed to reduce shock pressure loss.
3.0 SHOCK LOSS FACTOR FOR BENDS
Before we discuss about the shock loss factor for bends, it is better to understand
few terminologies which are used in the mathematical expression for shock loss
factor.
a. Radius Ratio ():- It is defined as the ratio of radius of curvature (R) to
width of the gallery (w).
=
( )
( )
b. Aspect ratio ():- It is defined as the ratio of the height of gallery (h) to
width of gallery (w).
=
( )
( )
c. Angle of deflection ():- The angle through which the axis of the airway is
deflected at the bend.
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They are also called bend characteristics. Let us look at Fig. 2 for clear
understanding.
Table 1 Some types of bends
Sr.
Type of bend
Figure of bends
Remarks
no.
1.
Square bend
2.
Normal bend
3.
Crowded
bend
Inner bend
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b. Square bends
=
( )
Where,
= Shock loss factor
= Radius ratio
= Aspect ratio
= Angle of deflection in degrees
The value of should be minimum 0.5. Better results are obtained for = 1.5. It is
advisable to keep up to around 1.5.
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Fig.3 Flow pattern of mine air at area discharge (after Banerjee, 2003)
Fig.3 shows mine air flowing through an airway at which it changes area. It
suggests that in total three area changes is occurring in a sequential way from Aa to
Ao, Ao to Ac and Ao to Ae. Ac is called area of vena contracta. It is a condition
brought about by the contraction of air beyond the edge of the constriction. Ac does
not exist in physical form in the airways at all. Hence, we can say that the airway
first contract from Aa to Ao and then expands to Ae. According to their magnitude,
they follow the relation (as per Fig.3).
Aa>Ae>Ao> Ac
Hence, we can say that flowing air undergoes contraction at the first two area
changes and expansion at the third area change. Terminologies related to the ratio
of the three different area changes are
a.
= =
b.
= =
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c.
= =
Let me tell you that here we can use three different shock loss factor for calculating
shock pressure loss depending upon whether the velocity we refer to in our
equation is at Ao, Aa or Ae. They are given in Table 2.
Table 2 Equations for shock loss factor
S. No.
1
=
2
Velocity referred at
Aa
2
1
= ( )
Ao
( )2
Ae
1
1
( 2 + 2 )2
Edge condition
1.05
Rounded
1.50
Square
2.5
Very sharp
3.8
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Table 4 Shock loss factor for abrupt area changes (after McPherson, 1993)
Condition
Abrupt contraction
Abrupt expansion
2 = (
2
1)2
1
1 2
)
2
(useful if A2 is very
large)
1 = (1
2
2
Where,
= Drag coefficient (dimensionless)
The Drag Coefficient values for different types of buntons used in mine shafts is
shown in Fig. 4
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Fig. 4 Drag Coefficient (CD) for different types of buntons used in mine
shafts (after Banerjee, 2003)
REFERENCES
Banerjee S.P. (2003); Mine Ventilation; Lovely Prakashan, Dhanbad, India.
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Hartman, H. L., Mutmansky, J. M. & Wang, Y. J. (1982); Mine Ventilation and Air
Conditioning; John Wiley & Sons, New York.
Le Roux, W. L. (1972); Mine Ventilation Notes for Beginners; The Mine Ventilation
Society of South Africa.
McElroy, G. E. (1935); Engineering Factors in the Ventilation of Metal Mines;
USBM Bulletin No. 385.
McPherson, M. J. (1993); Subsurface Ventilation and Environmental Engineering;
Chapman & Hall, London.
Misra G.B.
Calcutta, India.
Vutukuri, V. S. & Lama, R. D. (1986); Environmental Engineering in Mines;
Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
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