Abstract:
This investigation compares the results from an experimental and
numerical study of air flow in a scaled-down underground coal mine model.
This was done in order to determine if numerical analysis can be relied
upon when searching for ventilation solutions to control high concentration
of coal dust and methane gas in underground coal mines. Steady
state analyses were used to identify flow patterns and recirculation regions
within the mining section while transient state analyses were used to
determine the time taken to extract the initial air from the model. The
agreement between the experimental and numerical results indicates that
numerical modelling is useful in this regard. The study went further to
devise a method of determining the optimum position of the jet fan that is
responsible for mine-gas dilution at different stages of mining.
