A computer simulation of the influence of fire gases on the flow and distribution of potential in a mine ventilation network

Authors: V. Dziurzyński, T. Pałka

The application of a concept of an aerodynamic potential in software aids for ventilation engineers and mine safety officers is presented.

The use of software enables phenomena occurring both in normal and emergency situations to be predicted.

Ventilation engineers in Polish mines use two methods of graphical presentation of flow and pressure distribution in a network.

The first is a widely used spatial (isometric) scheme of a network, where flow and pressure values are displayed close to relevant nodes and branches.

The second method uses a concept of an aerodynamic potential to illustrate so called potential schemes.

Unlike spatial schemes, to date, potential schemes have had to be constructed and updated manually.

A new version of the VENTGRAPH ventilation engineers software package enables both schemes to be used.

A model of flow in a ventilation network in the presence of a fire and scheme concepts are described.

An example of the development and extinction of an underground fire on a potential distribution basis is described.