Treatment methods for natural wind pressure in mines with zonal ventilation system with diagonal branches — a case study of Wudong Coal Mine

ABSTRACT

Exploring the countermeasures for natural wind pressure in mines with zonal ventilation system with diagonal branches is of great significance for the safe and efficient production of such mines. In this study, we took Wudong Coal Mine as the research object. First, we explored the distribution law of the natural wind pressure (NWP) in the mine through field measurement. Second, we quantitatively analyzed the branches sensitive to NWP based on the theory for determination of key NWP influencing area in combination with the on-site measurement data. At last, we designed the scheme to control NWP from the perspectives of increasing overall resistance, forming pressure difference between the north and south areas and reducing the sensitivity of sensitive branches, and on-site implemented the scheme. Our research and on-site implementation results showed that the +400 m main rail tunnel and the 400–425 uphill rail are NWP sensitive branches. The mechanical wind pressure weakens the sensitivity of the +400 m main rail tunnel to NWP in the vernal equinox, summer solstice, and winter solstice, but enhances the sensitivity of the +400 m main rail tunnel to NWP in autumnal equinox and the sensitivity of the 400–450 uphill rail to NWP over the year. The greater the wind resistance is, the more obvious the effect. After adjusting the mine ventilation system according to the designed scheme, the adverse impacts of NWP on Wudong Coal Mine were effectively relieved, ensuring the safe and efficient production of the mine.

KEYWORDS:

• Mine ventilation
• natural wind pressure
• zonal ventilation system
• diagonal branches
• sensitive branch

Highlights

1. The in-situ measurement method was used to determine the natural wind pressure of the zoned corner mine ventilation system.

2. Based on the sensitivity analysis theory, the natural wind-pressure-sensitive branch of the sectional angle-linked mine ventilation system is determined.

3. The natural wind pressure control measure for the sectional angle-linked mine ventilation system was formulated and its application effects in the field were analyzed.

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial supports by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Project No. 51674158, 51474106) and the Major Program of Shandong Province Natural Science Foundation (Project No. ZR2018ZA0602).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Project No. 51674158, 51474106]; Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province [Project No. ZR2018ZA0602].