Evaluation of a Continuously Measuring Point Sensor for Determining Air Velocity

Mine ventilation is of central importance for safety in underground mining. It can account for up to 50 % of total energy consumption. To improve efficiency, optimised control is necessary, which requires continuous measurement of air velocity. One option for data acquisition is cross-sectional-representative ultrasonic systems, which provide precise measurements; however, these are costly and site-specific. In this paper, a continuously measuring ultrasonic point sensor is investigated as an alternative in the Research and Teaching Mine at Tech­nical ­University (TU) Berg­akademie Freiberg, Freiberg/Germany, and compared with a reference system. A correlation between local and cross-section-averaged velocity was derived using regression analysis. The results show that the point sensor reliably detects qualitative changes in air velocity and, with the aid of the correlation factor, also provides quantitatively comparable values. Due to lower costs and simple installation, the point sensor represents a flexible and economical alternative for use in dynamic mining areas.