The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-02-04

Systems Of Ventilation
and Types Of Fans
Studied
THANK SCHOOL BOARD.

AZ ~ y aSAQ9AQA4ot 3. Gt444
Splinkling Systems
Discussed
Forty four men attended the SEES.
sion OF the Fairmont mining ex.
tension class AZ the Faitmont hiEh
school annex on Frid day night when
the various systems Of ventilation
and types of fans were studied In
particular Eight members were re.
ported ill The attendance last
night was q Slight Improvement
over the previous week although
effort VIII be made to get out the
absentees. Fourteen more weeks
of school continue until this sea.
sons work igcompleted. Mention
was made ~ Adam Crawford, the
instructor, that six different kinds
of maps for Ventilation work will
be distributed TO the members
probably next week From these
some very Interesting problems
can he worked including how to
handle the yentilating providing
miners are AZ certain points in the
mine when an explosion or mine
fire occurred
Thank School Board
II Is believed tnat the state min.
ing examinat lions for mine foremen
and fire bosses this year will be
more difficult thas previous. Study
will have tosbe applied more gen.
orally than ever.
A vote Of thanks was extended
to the members of the board OF
education and 10 Superintendent
Wilson for the use OF, the high
school annex and the installation
OF electric lights in the annex
building q
Recent Explosions
Members Of ire class discussed
recent explosions which occurred
in Pennsylgania and Alabama this
week and conjectures weee men.
toned as TO tie peobable causes
in the absence OF definite informa-
tIon. The idea IS prevalent that
II the fans are sped up sufficiently
that fa1 of one half inch in bar
ometer Inn be counteracted. This
Is the belief Of men OF the old
school and has been taught by
text books Of old on mining, AS
matter Of fact this Is a misnomer
and the instructor then by calcu.
lation showed tnat this would ne.
ctssitate the creation OF a pressure
eqoiyalent 10 35.2S pounds to the
square foot In the course OF the
discussion IN reference to mine ex-
blossoms the point was developed
that the air current might be re.
yersed In order to save lives. How.
ever II was emphasized that the
situation should Sbe carefully stud.
led before q switch is made in the
air current John Crawford, the
president OF the class, said he
knew of anime explosion in which
200 lives were snutfed out asd in.
asmuch as eighty per cent OF the
miners were found close to the
shift that a reversal OF the air
current may have saved q number
of lives.
The point was made that the liz.
milton Of . body Of gas Invariably
stlrs up coal dust, which causes
a coal dust explosion and in other
words adds fuel 10 the flames.
The point was developed that
every days developments empha.
sizes the fact that men In the min.
lug game must acquire more edu.
cation 70 keep abreast with the
times. The future will demand a
better educated miner. Despite
these conditions 1t is a fact that
the men IN coal mining regions are
the most difficult to interest in
their own work. Importance OF in
Htailtng sprtnkling systems to keep
the coal dust dampened was EN-.
phasized.
Ventilation. Systems
lnasniuch as natural ventilation
varies with atmospheric tempera.
tlre the disadvantages OF this form
Of yenttla ion are summed up as
follows; Ventilation is not reliable !:
it varles with the temperature in
the atmoshpere at the earth's sur.
face: the quantity is the greatest
in cold weather or. when the diff.
ference between the temperature
in and out Of the mine is greatest
and III mild weather the columns
balance: the air ceaslng to circu.
late. Furnace ventilation in coal
mines ie q dead letter, although
fifty wears ago IL was the FREEDOM.
mating SYSTEM o. ventilation. In
tho event Of furnace being used
IT is necess ary to build thick walls
about 4 soSthat the coal surround.
ing may NOT be heated too much.
A tight seal IS necessary with a
dumb DRIFT provision, sufficient
sir being secured to support com.
bustion N thet stove. by means Of
a separate split from the intake
mir. E'isadyantages Of this type Of
ventilation are as follows: Quanti-
iy Of air passing Is not constant;
danger Of setting fire TO surround
ing coal, limited application and
the ain current cannot be re.
versed.
Adyantages OF mechanical yen-
llalion are in higher efficiency,
constant action and reliability,
quantity oE dir easily regulated, air
can be- re9efsed In case Of an en-
ctEenrg "a fire danger reduced.
l'nsar ssessen ~ Of the West yir-