The use of CFD modelling as a tool for solving mining health and safety problems

Many safety and health problems in the coal mining industry involve the understanding and analysis of the mechanism of fluid or gas flow, including goaf gas migration, face ventilation and dust dispersion. Computational Fluid Dynamics or CFD has become a powerful tool to assist mining engineers and find solutions to these problems. The use of CFD modelling in goaf gas management and drainage, goaf inertisation for heating control, and longwall dust control strategies is summarised.