DEVELOPMENT OF A SYSTEM FOR MONITORING THE TECHNICAL CONDITION OF MAIN MINE VENTILATION FANS

Mine main ventilation units are designed for continuous ventilation of mine workings and pits, and creation of normal atmospheric conditions for people to work in them. Such units operate non-stop for a long time. Therefore, the efficiency, accuracy and reliability of the information received about the actual state of the main ventilation fan plays an important role in ensuring its operational reliability. Monitoring the state of the main ventilation fan units is a necessary element of forecasting both the current state and forecasting developing defects. Failures of main ventilation fan units, which are associated with a change in their technical condition, are usually of an emergency nature, and this in turn entails an increase in the terms of restoration work and creates risks to the life and health of workers. The most rational method of obtaining information about the technical condition of main ventilation fans is the analysis of vibration oscillations generated by the fan unit units. But monitoring only the general vibration level does not provide the necessary detailing of vibration processes. In addition, measurements made on the housings do not characterize the condition of internal elements and units, and the recorded signal is distorted not only by frequency, but also by the phase of the oscillatory process. Therefore, the reliability of quantitative estimates remains low and they cannot be used to judge the technical condition of the unit. The article raises the issue of the need to develop a new approach to assessing the technical condition of the main ventilation fan based on vibration parameters, which will not be focused on the design features of the fan and will improve the safety of miners.