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Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy
On-line version ISSN 2411-9717
Print version ISSN 2225-6253
Abstract
NDENGUMA, D.D; DIRKER, J and BURGER, N.D.L. A computational fluid dynamics model for investigating air flow patterns in underground coal mine sections. J. S. Afr. Inst. Min. Metall. [online]. 2014, vol.114, n.6, pp.419-4226. ISSN 2411-9717.
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.
Keywords : numerical modelling; computation fluid dynamics; CFD; mine ventilation.