Prediction of airway resistance in panel cave mines using a discrete and continuum model

Abstract

Abstract The configuration of an airway (or production drift) in panel cave mines is different from the typical (straight) mine airway designs. The drawpoints are connected to the airway (cross-cuts), which allows airflow from the cave into the airway or air loss from the airway into the cave due to the ventilation approach and cave porosity. These affect airflow in the production drifts, but it is difficult to investigate these conditions from field or laboratory scaled studies. Therefore, this study develops discrete and continuum computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models to study the effects of the ventilation approach and cave porosity on the airway resistance. Our findings show that: with active undercut ventilation, a unique resistance model is required for the airway in panel cave mines; and an increase in cave porosity decreases the drift’s resistance. These findings provide essential tools for a panel cave ventilation design.