Ventilateurs pour mines souterraines must operate reliably in harsh environments, and impeller wear is one of the most common issues affecting long-term performance. Factors such as dust composition, particle size, concentration, shape, impact speed, gas chemistry, humidity, and uneven airflow all contribute to impeller erosion. To maintain stable ventilation and extend fan service life, proper wear-reduction methods are essential.

Reduce Dust and Corrosive Gas Entry

The first step is preventing dust and corrosive gases from entering the fan. Improving the ventilation system or upgrading ducting arrangements can reduce abrasive particles and slow down impeller wear. This approach directly decreases erosion caused by airflow impurities.

Improve Impeller Wear Resistance

Instead of using extremely hard and expensive materials, improving the impeller surface is a practical and economical solution. Surface enhancement helps achieve more uniform wear and extends impeller life without significantly increasing manufacturing cost.

Method 1: Apply Anti-Wear Coatings

Anti-wear coatings such as resin-based, rubber-based, quartz-water glass, and ceramic coatings provide good corrosion and abrasion resistance. Ceramic composite compounds like 890 wear-resistant material bond well to metal surfaces and offer strong protection. However, they often require a thickness of 6 mm or more, which may be unsuitable for narrow passages or fans with strict startup requirements.

Method 2: Surface Hard-Facing

Hard-facing reinforces high-wear areas by welding wear-resistant alloys onto the blade surface. Electrodes such as D217, D237, D317B, D707, and D717 are commonly used.

D217 and D237 offer good wear resistance but have higher cracking tendencies.

D317B contains tungsten carbide (WC), providing excellent hardness (HRC ≥ 60) and strong impact resistance with reduced cracking risk.

Method 3: Thermal Spray Welding (Spray Coating)

Thermal spray welding uses heat to bond self-fluxing alloy powders onto the impeller surface. Nickel-based powders containing Ni-Cr-B-Si and tungsten carbide (WC) create a dense, extremely hard coating.

WC particles form a hardness framework up to HRC 70.

The nickel matrix supports the particles and resists severe particle erosion.
Spray-coated surfaces typically reach hardness levels of HRC 55–70, making them highly suitable for abrasive airflow conditions.

With proper surface treatment and improved system design, ventilateurs pour la ventilation des mines souterraines can achieve significantly longer service life, better stability, and more reliable performance in demanding mining environments.