This study investigates the intricacies of equipment fires in a blind development heading an underground mine using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). A series fire dynamic simulations (FDS) were conducted for various ventilation velocities main airway, and with different distance between auxiliary duct outlet to working face. The impacts velocity separation face on temperature distribution smoke spread mechanism investigated. findings indicate that has strong impact stratification beneath...

Most, if not all longwall gob areas accumulate explosive methane-air mixtures that pose a deadly hazard to miners. Numerous mine explosions have originated from gas zones (EGZs) in the gob. Since 2010, researchers at Colorado School of Mines (CSM) studied EGZ formation gobs under two long-term research projects funded by National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Researchers used computational fluid dynamics along with in-mine measurements. For first time, they demonstrated EGZs...

One area of concern in longwall coal mines is the active gob directly behind face, where high concentrations methane are likely to accumulate and roof caving occurs. Using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulate gas flows through gob, most researchers have represented entire as a porous medium governed by Darcy's law. However, Darcy-type flow may not be applicable for highly unconsolidated fringes gob. In addition, models do allow representative combustion modeling in-gob ignition flame...

Abstract Progressive massive pulmonary fibrosis among coal miners has unexpectedly increased. It would likely due to the greater generation of smaller rock and particles produced by powerful equipment used in modern mines. There is limited understanding relationship between micro- or nanoparticles with toxicity. This study aims determine whether size chemical characteristics typical coal-mining dust contribute cellular Size range, surface features, morphology, elemental composition from...

Detecting the formation of explosive methane–air mixtures in a longwall face is still challenging task. Even though atmospheric monitoring systems and computational fluid dynamics modeling are utilized to inspect methane concentrations, they not sufficient as warning system critical regions, such near cutting drums, real-time. The long short-term memory algorithm has been established predict manage gas zones mining operations before explosions happen. This paper introduces novel methodology...

In longwall mines, atmospheric pressure fluctuations can disturb the balance between gob and ventilated working area, resulting in a phenomenon known as "gob breathing". Gob breathing triggers gas flows across areas may result condition where an oxygen deficient mixture or methane accumulation into face area. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFDs) modeling was carried out to analyze this its impact on development of explosive bleeder-ventilated panel scheme. Simulation results indicate that...

Convergence and rockmass failure are significant hazards to personnel physical assets in underground tunnels, caverns, mines. Mobile Laser Scanning Systems (MLS) can deliver large volumes of point cloud data at a high frequency on scale. However, current change detection approaches do not sufficient sensitivity precision for real-time performance large-scale datasets. We present novel, octree-based computational framework intra-voxel statistical inference deformation analysis. Our approach...

Abstract Adverse ground behavior events, such as convergence and falls, pose critical risks to underground mine safety productivity. Today, monitoring of failures is primarily conducted using legacy techniques with low spatial temporal resolution while exposing workers hazardous environments. This study assesses the potential novel simultaneous localization mapping (SLAM)-based light detection ranging (Lidar) data quality for rapid, digital, eventually autonomous mine-wide geotechnical...

Coal mine longwall gobs contain explosive methane gas zones (EGZs) that can cause fires and explosions when EGZs extend into active mining areas. The tragic explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine in West Virginia April 2010 cost 29 miners' lives may have been caused by this mechanism. This paper summarises significant research findings from five years of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling conducted Colorado School Mines (CSM) under funding US National Institute for Occupational...

Gob ventilation boreholes (GVBs) are widely used for degasification in U.S. longwall coal mines. Depending on geological conditions, 30–50% of methane can be recovered from gob using GVBs. A NIOSH funded research at the Colorado School Mines confirmed that GVBs efficiently reduce face. However, also draw some fresh air face and create explosive gas zones (EGZs). Explosive mixtures may formed areas due to increased ingress oxygen It is critical identify locations maximizing extraction...

Abstract In this study, with the primary goal of capturing ongoing digital transformation and automation impacts on mining industry its workforce, we conduct several interviews experts in USA analyze our survey reports qualitatively quantitatively through exploratory analysis. After interpretation insights experts, proceed to generate a personalized customized data analysis novel metric based skills, knowledge, competencies, occupational requirements, which quantifies job similarities for...

The 2006 Sago, Darby, and Aracoma mine disasters in the United States (US) forced US government to implement MINER Act additional regulations that require all underground coal mines install maintain refuge chambers manage entrapment emergencies, particular, fires explosions. However, there is a debate on whether barricading good strategy survive such emergencies. Australian are not required use and, instead, have adopted focuses instructing training miners self-escape surface. This paper...

Respirable rock dust poses serious long-term health complications to workers in environments where mechanical excavation is utilized. The purpose of this study characterize respirable generated by cutting limestone with new, partially worn, and fully worn conical pick wears. Characterizing can aid decision making for suppression levels exposures throughout the lifetime a underground mining engineering activities. methods include full scale sample laboratory three picks at different stages...