In Situ Measurements and CFD Numerical Simulations of Thermal Environment in Blind Headings of Underground Mines

• Main Authors: Wenhao Wang, Chengfa Zhang, Wenyu Yang, Hong Xu, Sasa Li, Chen Li, Hui Ma, Guansheng Qi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-05-01
• Series: Processes
• Subjects: thermal environment; numerical simulations; ventilation cooling; duct position; the heat dissipation of LHD; auxiliary ventilation
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9717/7/5/313

In order to gain a knowledge of the heat emitted from a variety of sources at the blind heading of an underground gold mine, the present study conducts an in situ measurement study in a blind heading within the load haul dumps (LHDs) that are operating. The measurements can provide a reliable data basis for the setting of numerical simulations. The results demonstrate that the distances between the forcing outlet and the mining face (denoted as Z_m), as well as the heat generation from LHDs (denoted as Q_L), has brought significant impacts on the airflow velocity, relative humidity, and temperature distributions in the blind heading. Setting Z_m to 5 m could achieve a relative optimal cooling performance, also indicating that when the LHD is fully operating in the mining face, employing the pure forcing system has a limited effect on the temperature decrease of the blind heading. According to the numerical simulations, a better cooling performance can be achieved based on the near-forcing-far-exhausting (NFFE) ventilation system.