Jet fans are extensively used in civil road tunnels, large enclosures (such as underground car parks) and other applications requiring the movement of air in large low-pressure voids but are rarely systematically used in underground mining. Despite a relatively low cost and compact size compared to typical mine axial fans, jet fans have found little practical use in most mines, apart from occasional use in coal and room and pillar mines. Jet fans have very limited pressure capabilities and are inefficient in moving airflow through higher-resistance airways. The paper explores the technical merits of jet fans for new applications in mining environments and highlights areas where the fans may be highly beneficial compared to conventional fans or ventilation controls such as louvres or doors. Jet fans can excel in applications that benefit from producing targeted ventilation flows while allowing unrestricted vehicle movement that would otherwise be hindered by doors or ventilation controls. An overview of the theory and application of jet fans in mining environments is provided and examples and theoretical effectiveness of potential uses in ramp flow control and block cave extraction ventilation is researched using modelling software. Further detailed design and practical test work for specific applications is intended for future research. | 
