Research Paper Optimising shaft pressure losses through computational fluid dynamic modelling W.J. Kempson a, b, c, * , R.C.W. Webber-Youngman b , J.P. Meyer c a Hatch, 40 Elm Street, Unit ND 255, Sudbury, Ontario P3C 1S8, Canada b University of Pretoria, Department of Mining Engineering, Private Bag X20 Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa c University of Pretoria, Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, Private Bag X20 Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa highlights  We measure the pressure losses on five shaft systems.  We calculate the pressure losses for the above shafts using current theory.  All of the shafts which were measured are evaluated using CFD analysis.  The results of the measured shaft, the theoretical evaluation and the CFD analysis are compared.  An economic evaluation of the different shaft layouts is completed. article info Article history: Received 22 May 2014 Received in revised form 11 April 2015 Accepted 24 April 2015 Available online 14 May 2015 Keywords: Mine shaft Deep level mines Pressure losses Shaft ventilation Shaft CFD evaluation Shaft design recommendation Bunton design abstract In recent years, substantial progress has been made with respect to the definition and control of the primary energy requirements in underground mines. Little has, however been done to develop a more detailed understanding of how to limit the various pressure losses which are intrinsic to shaft systems. This is in spite of the fact that more than half of the pressures generated by the ventilation fans in deep level mines are dissipated as pressure losses within the shaft system. This paper presents research which has been completed to optimize the pressure losses which occur in shaft systems as a result of the ventilation air flowing through them. In this regard, the response of various shafts to the ventilation air flowing through them was measured. These results were evaluated against the current theory for the calculation of shaft pressure losses. Finally the results of the mea- surements and calculations were used to calibrate a Computational Fluid Dynamics model of the shaft systems. This model was then iterated to allow meaningful conclusions as to the specific make up of the shaft equipment which contributes the most to pressure losses in shaft. The results of the above analysis demonstrated that the current theory used for the evaluation of these pressure losses is deficient. The paper discusses these conclusions and the specific ramifications of the analysis. Finally, the understandings gained with regards to the above research are applied to the design and layout of equipment in mine shafts. In this regard, the shape and orientation of the shaft steelwork is evaluated and its specific interaction with the piping and fitting is evaluated. Coming out of this eval- uation are specific recommendations for the design of future shaft systems. These recommendations are based on the above models and offer specific savings on the lifetime operating costs of shaft systems. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction Energy is becoming an increasingly expensive commodity throughout the world. At the same time, mines are getting deeper and becoming more mechanized. This is resulting in higher quan- tities of electrical energy being used in mines. As a result of ongoing innovation, there are some effective energy saving and dissipation * Corresponding author. 40 Elm Street, Unit ND 255, Sudbury, Ontario P3C 1S8, Canada. Tel.: þ1 705 688 0250x5332, þ1 705 561 9899; fax: þ1 705 688 0244. E-mail addresses: wkempson@hatch.ca (W.J. Kempson), Ronny.Webber@up.ac. za (R.C.W. Webber-Youngman), josua.meyer@up.ac.za (J.P. Meyer). Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Applied Thermal Engineering journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/apthermeng http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2015.04.058 1359-4311/© 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Applied Thermal Engineering 90 (2015) 1098e1108