Some approaches to improve ventilation system in underground coal mines environment – A computational fluid dynamic study

This study addresses gas control in a typical “room-and-pillar” structure in an underground coal mine via mathematical model utilizing commercial computational fluid dynamic software. In essence, the model considers conservation of turbulent mass, momentum, species, and energy. Several turbulence models are tested and compared with published experimental data; good agreement between model prediction and experimental data is obtained for Spallart–Almaras turbulence model. Various design features were evaluated, e.g., flow stopping designs for improved quality (e.g., removal of contaminants) and quantity control (e.g., magnitude and direction of airflow). We further focus on the cross-cut region where rapid mining development take place, several ventilation scenarios with and/or without additional auxiliary ventilation are investigated for effective removal of methane. Two different cutting scenarios in rapid mining development are also evaluated. The advantages and limitations of each design are discussed and compared not only in terms of quality and quantity, but also in terms of the overall pressure drop which represent the associated cost of ventilation system.

► A CFD model for ventilation system in underground coal mines is developed.
► Several turbulence models were tested and compared with experimental data.
► Various flow stoping design were investigated for cost-effective and safety system.
► Several face ventilation designs in the cross-cut region were evaluated.
► Right cut scenario is found to have lesser methane accumulation in the active region.