Applying computational fluid dynamics in research on ventilation safety during underground hard coal mining: A systematic literature review

Abstract

The safety of the coal production process, which in the coming years will continue to be one of the basic energy resources in many countries worldwide, has a significant impact on its efficiency. The random character of many hazardous phenomena accompanying this process requires the application of both modern and safe methods to study these phenomena. Model studies based on the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) method are known to have such features. They enable the analysis of very complex and hazardous phenomena, which are hard or even impossible to investigate with the use of other methods. Therefore, this article focuses on the analysis of the state of the art in terms of the Computational Fluid Dynamics application in research on ventilation safety during underground hard coal mining. It was assumed that CFD-based studies may significantly improve the safety of the mining production process. For this purpose, a systematic literature review was carried out, which – according to the adopted methodology – involved four research questions. The review included scientific publications (articles) contained in the two most prestigious databases, i.e., the Web of Science and the Scopus. In accordance with the adopted search criteria, articles that used the Computational Fluid Dynamics method and focused on ventilation safety during underground coal mining were selected. The meta-analysis of these data made it possible to identify seven thematic areas undertaken in these publications. The following paper presents a list of articles assigned to these groups with selected items being discussed. On the basis of the conducted research, comprehensive answers to the research questions were provided. The results systematize the knowledge of CFD application in research on ventilation safety in mining. Also, they are a valuable source of information for future researchers and engineers concerned with the safety of the mining production process. Moreover, potential directions of further research in the field of possible Computational Fluid Dynamics applications were indicated to improve the safety of the process in question.