Chen
12th U.S./North American Mine Ventilation Symposium 2008 – Wallace (ed)
ISBN 978-0-615-20009-5
Numerical simulation of ventilation air flow in underground mine workings
S.M. Aminossadati
The University of Queensland, CRCMining, Brisbane, Australia
K. Hooman
The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
ABSTRACT: In recent years, Computational Fluid Dynamics, CFD, has been commonly utilized in the mining industry to model the fluid flow behavior in underground mine workings. This paper uses CFD modeling to simulate the airflow behavior in underground crosscut regions, where brattice sails are used to direct the airflow into these regions. Brattice sails are cost effective ventilation control devices for temporary or permanent use in underground mining. They can be used to deflect air into the unventilated areas such as crosscut regions. Their design and installation is a fundamental issue for maintaining a sufficient supply of fresh air and achieving effective air circulation and contaminant removal. At the same time, they should have little impact on the mine ventilation system. This paper presents the results of a two-dimensional CFD model, which examines the effects of brattice length on fluid flow behavior in the crosscut regions. The results of this study will assist in understanding the ventilation air behavior and in determining the optimum size of brattice curtain (sails), which provide a highly effective contaminant removal from the unventilated mine areas. This, in turn, helps the mine ventilation designers to meet the mine safety requirements.
1
In a notable study, Taylor et al. (1992) evaluated the face ventilation for two face ventilation techniques that utilize either blowing brattice or a jet fan. The influence of brattice sails on the reduction of methane concentration in face ventilation was investigated by Smith and Stoltz
(1991) and Thimons et al. (1999). They evaluated the effectiveness of a blowing face
ISBN 978-0-615-20009-5
Numerical simulation of ventilation air flow in underground mine workings
S.M. Aminossadati
The University of Queensland, CRCMining, Brisbane, Australia
K. Hooman
The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
ABSTRACT: In recent years, Computational Fluid Dynamics, CFD, has been commonly utilized in the mining industry to model the fluid flow behavior in underground mine workings. This paper uses CFD modeling to simulate the airflow behavior in underground crosscut regions, where brattice sails are used to direct the airflow into these regions. Brattice sails are cost effective ventilation control devices for temporary or permanent use in underground mining. They can be used to deflect air into the unventilated areas such as crosscut regions. Their design and installation is a fundamental issue for maintaining a sufficient supply of fresh air and achieving effective air circulation and contaminant removal. At the same time, they should have little impact on the mine ventilation system. This paper presents the results of a two-dimensional CFD model, which examines the effects of brattice length on fluid flow behavior in the crosscut regions. The results of this study will assist in understanding the ventilation air behavior and in determining the optimum size of brattice curtain (sails), which provide a highly effective contaminant removal from the unventilated mine areas. This, in turn, helps the mine ventilation designers to meet the mine safety requirements.
1
In a notable study, Taylor et al. (1992) evaluated the face ventilation for two face ventilation techniques that utilize either blowing brattice or a jet fan. The influence of brattice sails on the reduction of methane concentration in face ventilation was investigated by Smith and Stoltz
(1991) and Thimons et al. (1999). They evaluated the effectiveness of a blowing face
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