Performance Analysis and Optimization of Coupled Cooling System for Auxiliary Ventilation and Partial Thermal Insulation in High Geothermal Tunnels

Abstract

A high temperature is the key factor limiting the safe development of deep mine tunnels. By confronting the phenomenon of serious heat exchange between airflow and the surrounding rocks in the tunnel excavation area, a conceptual model of coupled cooling of auxiliary ventilation and partial thermal insulation is proposed. The performance of a coupled cooling system was investigated and optimized by using the scale model test with a 1:10 geometric scale and the orthogonal test. The results suggest that the average temperatures of the work zone and its central point decrease by 1.5 °C and 3.3 °C, respectively, while partial insulation layers are used. According to the sensitivity analysis for a single factor, as the ventilation duct outlet (VDO) moves away from the working face (WF), the temperature gradually increases, leading to a local high temperature area. When the ventilation duct height is arranged in the middle of the insulation layer, the cooling effect is optimal and the highest average temperature difference is 4.4 °C. The thermal equilibrium temperature can be further decreased by lengthening and thickening the insulation layer. In addition, the range analysis shows that the ventilation velocity has a greater impact on the thermal environment of the tunnel working area than the ventilation duct location and insulation layer length. The coupled cooling method can save on cooling capacity and effectively alleviate the high-temperature problems of the tunnel excavation area.