Applications and verification of a computational energy dynamics model for mine climate simulations

Abstract

A complete thermodynamic model is described for temperature and heat flow distribution simulation for ventilation networks in underground mines. The method is called the Computational Energy Dynamics (CED) model of the heat, mass, and energy transport. The Thermal and Humidity (TH) transport elements of the full model are described for advection, convection, and accumulation, encompassing heat capacity, radiation, latent heat for evaporation, and condensation in the airways, as well as variable heat conduction and accumulation in the rock strata. The thermal flywheel effect for time-dependent temperature field applications is included in the model solution. A CED model validation exercise is described, directly evaluating the iterated, minimized energy balance errors for the mechanical and thermal energy components for each network branch after a converged solution is determined. A simulation example relevant to mine safety and health is shown with the CED-TH model, demonstrating its capabilities in efficiency and accuracy in comparison with measurement results.

Keywords

• Mine climate simulation
• Dynamic heat flow model
• Coupled heat and moisture transport
• Computational energy dynamics
• Mine safety and health