Determine the feasibility of techniques for simulating coal dust explosions

Abstract

The primary objective of this work is to assess the feasibility of reliably simulating the coal dust explosion process taking place in the Kloppersbos tunnel with a computer model. Secondary objectives are to investigate the viability of simulating methane explosion suppression techniques, developing methods for minimizing the dangers of coal dust explosions, and implementing these simulations in complex mining geometries. Existing and current work on the subject has been surveyed. A number of research groups were identified that have separately simulated aspects of the problem, including gas explosion, steady-state coal dust combustion and detonation