CFD Modelling of Longwall Tailgate Ventilation Conditions

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bogin G Jr. ; Brune, Jürgen F. ; Grubb J ; Juganda A ; Lolon S ; Bogin G Jr. ; Brune, Jürgen F. ; Grubb J ; Juganda A ; Lolon S
• Description:
  Face ignitions at the longwall face are a serious hazard in underground coal operation that can lead to a major mine explosion. Despite having methane monitoring system mounted on the shearer and at various locations on the longwall face, undetected accumulations of methane can still occur and result in face ignitions. With the use of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), the interaction between the air flow at the longwall face and factors that contribute to the accumulation of methane around the longwall face can be modeled and visualized in great detail. The results confirm that the tailgate corner of longwall face is a critical area that is prone to face ignitions and needs to be properly monitored. The occurrence of roof falls on the tailgate entry inby the face and/or poor caving conditions behind the shields can pose a safety risk in the longwall operation. Poor gob caving can lead to insufficient face air quantity to dilute methane at the tailgate corner, while blocking of tailgate by a roof fall can carry methane contaminated air from behind the shields back into the face near the tailgate corner and pull the explosive gas zones (EGZs) inside the gob closer to the face. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Air Movements Explosions Occupational Health Safety Ventilation
• Keywords:
  Air Flow Explosive Gases Longwall Mining Methane Control Roof Falls
• Publisher:
  Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc.
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Contract
• Genre:
  Proceedings ; Proceedings
• Place as Subject:
  Colorado ; OSHA Region 8
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health ; Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America ; North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-4
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20069039
• Citation:
  2017 SME Annual Meeting, February 19-22, 2017, Denver, Colorado, preprint 17-021. Englewood, CO: Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc., 2017 Feb; :1-4
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2017
• Performing Organization:
  Trustees of the Colorado School of Mines
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20140901
• Source Full Name:
  2017 SME Annual Meeting, February 19-22, 2017, Denver, Colorado, preprint 17-021
• End Date:
  20190831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:ee4107492e90deb627019c7e5a8d3cacdf46c95e1daaf33eaee7e27eb60b60626cc1b75ebb3e3ef595c55f06eabd639af61bfae7fa8684c507691f82223eceae
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/207589/cdc_207589_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 470.70 KB ]