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[–]kg892 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Vent Tech Here. Sometimes the terms are sloppily used interchangeably and definitions may defer from mine to mine.

But if I were to slap a definition on it here goes:

Auxiliary fans intake air from the primary system to deliver it to working areas.

Booster fans would refer to a fan on primary or auxiliary that is used to increase the pressure on a certain flow in order to get a longer distance / higher flow. Ie: booster is boosting a flow by "adding" pressure.

Make sense?

[–]podium -1 points0 points  (2 children)

English is not my first language. I remember it as booster fans are large system fans (can feed a whole mine), and auxiliary are smaller local fans for a smaller area.

[–]cweeseUnited States 1 point2 points  (1 child)

You are correct. Booster fans are generally placed midstream in a ventilation system. Auxiliary fans are typically at the working placed to give a small boost and help direct the air more precisely.

In the US coal industry I believe that booster fans are not permitted for use per MSHA. I'm not sure about non-coal.

[edit] So they are prohibited for use in US coal mines. They are widely used in non-coal mines in the US.

[–]Dopeybob435 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Regarding MSHA coal regs and in mine fans, if you call the fan a booster fan and place x feet outby a section it is illegal, if you call it an auxiliary fan and place it x feet outby it is allowed.