TY - JOUR N2 - In recent decades, two different approaches to mine ventilation control have been developed: ventilation on demand (VOD) and automatic ventilation control (AVC) systems. The latter was primarily developed in Russia and the CIS countries. This paper presents a comparative analysis of these two approaches; it was concluded that the approaches have much in common. The only significant difference between them is the optimal control algorithm used in automatic ventilation control systems. The paper describes in greater detail the algorithm for optimal control of ventilation devices that was developed at the scientific school of the Perm Mining Institute with the direct participation of the authors. One feature of the algorithm is that the search for optimal airflow distribution in the mine is performed by the system in a fully automated mode. The algorithm does not require information about the actual topology of the mine and target airflows for the fans. It can be easily programmed into microcontrollers of main fans and ventilation doors. Based on this algorithm, an automated ventilation control system was developed, which minimizes energy consumption through three strategies: automated search for optimal air distribution, dynamic air distribution control depending on the type of shift, and controlled air recirculation systems. Two examples of the implementation of an automated ventilation control system in potash mines in Belarus are presented. A significant reduction in the energy consumption for main fans’ operation obtained for both potash mines. L1 - http://journals.pan.pl/Content/118175/PDF/Archiwum-65-4-06-Semin.pdf L2 - http://journals.pan.pl/Content/118175 PY - 2020 IS - No 4 EP - 820 DO - 10.24425/ams.2020.135178 KW - Mine ventilation KW - ventilation on demand KW - automated ventilation control KW - energy efficiency KW - main fan KW - ventilation door KW - potash mines A1 - Semin, Mikhail A. A1 - Levin, Lev Y. A1 - Maltsev, Stanislav V. PB - Committee of Mining PAS VL - vol. 65 DA - 2020.12.16 T1 - Development of Automated Mine Ventilation Control Systems for Belarusian Potash Mines SP - 803 UR - http://journals.pan.pl/dlibra/publication/edition/118175 T2 - Archives of Mining Sciences ER -