Development and integration of ventilation simulation tools for colliery ventilation practice

Effective tools are not only essential for the design of practical and efficient underground mine ventilation systems but must also play an integral part in the operation of the mine. One such tool is VUMA-coal ventilation simulation software. VUMA-coal is Windows-based and has been specially designed for the simulation of underground coal mines and includes user-friendly coal specific interfaces and three-dimensional graphics designed to facilitate in the construction and analysis of networks. VUMA-coal can be utilised during the design phase of new collieries, be used to conduct ?what-if? and optimisation studies, and be integrated into the ?day-to-day? ventilation related operations. In addition, VUMA-coal can be used to simulate dust and gas distribution in a ventilation network, as well as predict the impact of control measures. This paper describes the interactive VUMA-coal ventilation simulation software and its underlying design features and outlines a case study of how VUMA-coal has been integrated into Anglo Coal?s Ventilation and Occupational Hygiene Engineering [VOHE] department as part of the standard planning and evaluation process in their operational mines as well as long term planning and future mining operations.