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Silvester, Stephen (2002) The integration of CFD and VR methods to assist auxiliary ventilation practice. PhD thesis, University of Nottingham.

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Abstract

The current trend towards the adoption of retreat longwall mining methods and the associated rapid development of the access drivages has exacerbated the environmental conditions experienced within these workings. The combined use of roof bolt and continuous miner systems has improved the face advance rate within rapid development drivages. In order to maintain adequate dust and gas control it is essential that the auxiliary ventilation and monitoring systems are correctly installed and maintained.

The causes of many potential environmental hazards experienced within auxiliary ventilated rapid development drivages, are often attributed to a failure by the workforce and supervisory officials to maintain the correct installation, maintenance and operational standards of the ventilation and mining systems. The potential ventilation hazards encountered may include: the failure to deliver the required fresh air quantity and velocity to rapidly dilute and disperse methane gas liberated in the vicinity of the cutting face, or the failure to maintain sufficient exhaust air quantity in the vicinity of the cut to adequately capture dust produced on cutting and loading of the extracted mineral.

Results of recent research studies have demonstrated that validated Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation models can adequately replicate examples of good and bad ventilation. CFD models may be constructed and solved to examine the relative ventilation benefits produced by alternative mining and auxiliary ventilation configurations. These models enable the practitioner to predict and visualise the velocity, pressure and contaminant fields within an auxiliary ventilated drivage. This research project has developed a prototype educational aid, which animates and visualises these airflow and pollutant dispersion patterns within a Virtual Reality (VR) model. By introducing a pollutant such as methane into the CFD models, the VR simulation highlights regions of potential methane concentration build-up to the trainee. The application also allows the user to select/investigate the environmental consequences of enacting a number of remedial actions.

Item Type:	Thesis (University of Nottingham only) (PhD)
Supervisors:	Lowndes, I.S.
Keywords:	CFD,Ventilation,Virtual Reality, Rapid Development Drivages, Hazard Assessment
Subjects:	T Technology > TN Mining engineering. Metallurgy
Faculties/Schools:	UK Campuses > Faculty of Engineering > Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering
Item ID:	10003
Depositing User:	EP, Services
Date Deposited:	28 Apr 2003
Last Modified:	17 Oct 2017 05:17
URI:	https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/10003

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