Numerical and experimental analysis of different ventilation systems in deep mines

The ventilation system plays an essential role in underground workings. On an experimental and numerical sense, the present paper deals with a study on ventilation systems working in the cul-de-sac of a coal mine. The measurements taken in a real mine gallery with a hot-wire anemometry, have been used to validate the numerical model. Three different types of ventilation systems have been numerically examined: blowing, exhaust and mixed ventilation. The numerical models provide detailed information about the flow field, mean age of air and the methane concentration. This information allows contrasting the ventilation system efficiency against diverse criteria: stagnation regions, contaminated air regions and risk of explosions regions. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.