A Case Study of an Optimized Intermittent Ventilation Strategy Based on CFD Modeling and the Concept of FCT

Abstract

With the increasing operation costs and implementation of carbon tax in the underground coal mining systems, a cost-effective ventilation system with well methane removal efficiency becomes highly required. Since the intermittent ventilation provides a novel approach in energy saving, there still exists some scientific issues. This paper adopts the design concept of frequency conversion technology (FCT) to the ventilation pattern design for the first time, and an optimized intermittent ventilation strategy is proposed. Specifically, a real excavation laneway of a coal mine in China is established as the physical model, and computational fluid dynamic (CFD) approaches are utilized to investigate the spatiotemporal characteristics of airflow behavior and methane distribution. Plus, the period of intermittency and appropriate air velocity are scientifically defined based on the conception of FCT by conducting the parametric studies. Therefore, an optimized case is brought out with well methane removal efficiency and remarkable energy reduction of 39.2% in a ventilation period. Furthermore, the simulation result is verified to be reliable by comparing with field measurements. The result demonstrates that a balance of significant energy saving and the methane removal requirement based on the concept of FTC is possible, which could in turn provide good operational support for FTC.