METHANE DILUTION ANALYSIS ON PHYSICAL AND NUMERICAL MODELS OF UNDERGROUND COAL MINING FACE LABORATORY-SCALE

• Main Author: Zaki Al Umam, Muhammad
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/75100
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Methane is one of the most important aspects considered in underground coal mines because of its explosive nature. Dilution activities using the Ventilation On Demand system are carried out to overcome the methane. However, the system is a discrete system, so numerical modeling using Computational Fluid Dynamics is needed. This study aims to determine the effect of fan power on the dilution process and analyze the comparison of dilution results in physical and numerical models. The experimental simulation in this study used a laboratory-scale tunnel development physical model and a numerical model made according to the physical model. Block-shaped model with a geometry of 4 m (length) x 0.4 m (width) x 0.4 m (height). The test was conducted using a forcing fan with a power variation of 15 and 20 Watts. From the test results on physical and numerical models, it can be seen that the greater the fan power, the greater the airflow speed, but the time needed to dilute methane will be smaller. The results of methane dilution tests in physical models and numerical models in general have decreased. In physical models, the concentration of methane tends to be centered in the middle of the cross-section, while in numerical models, it tends to be centered in the left part of the crosssection. The average value of the final concentration of methane at each crosssection in the physical model and the numerical model have similarities.