Overview

Coal is currently the major source of energy for thermal power plants around the globe. It is obtained from surface as well as underground mining. There are a lot of safety concerns in association with underground mines e.g. explosion, mine collapse and health problems due to dust inhalation causing serious respiratory diseases. Mine explosion occurs due to the release of methane from the coal seam and surrounding rock and hence it necessitates a well-designed ventilation system. Unless properly ventilated extended work in mining environment can lead to respiratory diseases, lung cancer etc and therefore a proper and cost-effective dust control strategy has to be in place to prevent these illnesses and eliminate the potential for coal dust explosions.

M3TC has an ongoing project which focuses on simulation of the flow patterns and ventilation performance in underground mines with the goal of minimizing energy consumption and carbon footprint while providing a safe and secure work environment for the miners.

Publications

M3TC Technical Reports

1. Best Practice for Methane and Dust Control in Underground Coal Mine
2. Coal Mine Design and Modeling A Study of Flow Patterns in Different Mining Configurations of a Horseshoe Mine Tunnel
3. Prediction and Innovative Control Strategies for Underground Mine Ventilation
4. Computational Study of Thermal Management in Underground Coal mines: Effect of Operating Ventilation Parameters
5. Modeling and Simulation of Dust Behavior in Underground Mining Face: Dust Mitigation Methods and Application of Air Curtain
6. Modeling and Simulation of Methane Behavior in Underground Mining Face: Discrete Methane Source

These reports can also be downloaded from http://www.m3tc.sg/pub_reports.html.