(14)Evaluation of Cave Airflow Resistance Associated with Multiple Air Gap Geometries during Cave Evolution

摘要

In the extraction of an ore body hosted within uranium bearing rock using the panel caving method, radon gas is a major concern for mining operations. To design an effective ventilation system for a panel cave mine, an understanding of airflow resistance through the cave, at different stages of cave propagation, is critical. This study investigates the impact that different air gap geometries have on cave resistance and radon emissions from the cave by using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) approach. Results from this study indicate that the standard porous media models could successfully replicate caved zone in propagating cave geometry in the CFD simulations and could be used in predicting cave ventilation parameters and gas emission rates from an immature panel cave.