Effect of ventilation air velocities on diesel particulate matter dispersion in underground coal mines

This paper presents a detailed account of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations undertaken to investigate the influence of intake (ventilation) air velocities on the flow patterns of diesel particulate matter (DPM) generated by a man-riding vehicle operating in a straight rectangular cross section tunnel in an underground coal mine. The simulation results are validated against an earlier experimental study. At a sampling station 10 m downstream of the vehicle, the DPM concentration was seen to decrease rapidly with increasing intake air velocity. For air velocities of 0.5 m/s, 1 m/s, 2 m/s and 3 m/s, the DPM concentration was estimated to be 233 µg/m3, 131 µg/m3, 116 µg/m3 and 1 µg/m3 respectively. At 10 m downstream of the vehicle, if the intake air velocity is reduced from a base value of 1.26 m/s by 40% and 60% of the base value, the average DPM concentration increased to 58% and 123% respectively. If the intake air velocity is increased by 58% and 98% of the base case value, the average DPM concentration decreased to 44% and 78% respectively.