Simulation of the Fire in the Working of Coal Mine Using the Fire Dynamics Simulator Software

Abstract

Fire simulation in the working of coal mine using the Fire Dynamic Simulator software package was carried out. The most probable scenario of the fire growth associated with the combustion of the conveyor belt in the conveyor working of coal mine was determined. An approach was chosen basing on the simulation of gas-phase combustion taking into account the internal processes occurring in the material by setting specific rate of solid material combustion. The main analytical dependencies for simulation were formulated, on the basis of which a computer model was developed. Large Eddy Simulation (LES) method was used to describe the turbulent flow during a fire. The Deardorff subgrid model is used to calculate turbulent viscosity. The combustion model is an infinitely fast reaction model. The thermal radiation model involves solving the radiation transfer equation basing on the control volume method. The influence of the ventilation flow rate on the fire propagation rate during the process of the model verification is analyzed. Maximum speed of fire propagation is reached-0.017 m/s at the speed of ventilation flow from 1.5 to 3 m/s. During the simulation, the influence of the inlet airflow rate on the concentration of CO and CO2 was revealed. In addition, the inlet air velocity significantly affects the temperature and heat dissipation power. The maximum values of temperature and power ranged from 420 to 670° c and from 2 to 9 MW, respectively. The duration of the growth fire stage, depending on the inlet airflow rate, varies from 300 s to 600 s.