Model Experiment and Numerical Simulation for the Heading Face Methane Behavior

Abstract

Local ventilation using a fan and duct at a heading face is one of the most important ventilation practices in underground mining operations, there have been many studies on this topic. Almost all the researches are assuming that the ventilation system is operating under normal circumstance. But this is not always true, the ventilation system does stop suddenly due to unforeseeable reasons. It is essential that methane emissions and concentration at the heading face in case of sudden ventilation stops be understood. were examined by model experiments and computer simulations. The followings were found for the ventilation stop incident. The heading face will be dangerous by the methane gas increase within 10 min if ventilation stops. Methane concentration in a downward heading face decreases only 15% relatively compared with the horizontal condition. Methane will accumulate in short time, and become extremely high risk in an upward heading faces. The methane concentration decreases to some degree if the gas is sucked by an air mover.