Vol. 337 No. 6 (2026)
DOI https://doi.org/10.18799/24131830/2026/6/5174
Analysis of arch support parameters effect on the intensity of air heat exchange with the surrounding rock mass
Relevance. The need to improve the accuracy of thermal calculations in the design of ventilation and air conditioning systems for deep underground mines. Aim. To analysis the effect of structural features of mine support systems on heat exchange between the ventilation airflow and the surrounding rock mass. Object. Mine air interacting with the structural elements of arched mine support. Methods. Numerical simulation of heat and mass transfer in the air environment of a mine working, and approximation of the convective heat transfer coefficient correlations based on multiparametric modeling data. Results. The authors have carried out a three-dimensional numerical simulation of heat and mass transfer in a mine working for various distances between support elements and different airflow velocities. It was found that decreasing the spacing between support legs significantly increases the convective heat transfer coefficient due to enhanced flow turbulence and a larger heat exchange surface area. The key outcome of the study is an empirical correlation for the heat transfer coefficient as a function of the average ventilation flow velocity and the structural parameters of the support, which determine the macro-roughness of the working walls. The obtained data complement previous research findings and can be used in the design of mine ventilation and air conditioning systems, as well as in the development of safety measures addressing the thermal factor in underground mining operations.
For citation: Popov M.D., Semin M.A., Grishin E.L. Analysis of arch support parameters effect on the intensity of air heat exchange with the surrounding rock mass. Bulletin of the Tomsk Polytechnic University. Geo Assets Engineering, 2026, vol. 337, no. 6, pp. 99-109. https://doi.org/10.18799/24131830/2026/6/5174
Keywords:
heat exchange, mine ventilation, arch support, numerical modeling, heat transfer coefficient, ANSYS, underground workings, turbulent flow, turbulence intensity
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