Numerical simulations of blasting dust migration with the use of Fluent in stope

The paper is aimed at introducing our numerical simulations of the gas-solid two-phase flow in the use of fluent software so as to trace the migration regularity of blasting dust under current conditions.The whole study of ours has been done by taking the Southern Mining Area 2 of Xishimen Iron ore as our case study.As the result,we have found that a great deal of dust has been produced at a concentration as high as to 3.45×10-2 kg/m3 immediately after the stope blasting.At the same time,we have found that the air flow field plays a major role in the migration of blast dust with a higher dust concentration gathering in the corner than elsewhere.Under existing ventilation conditions,the air flow tends to have a lower velocity of 0.4 meter per second in a juncture with the working face in the stope as a heading face,so that the dust may not be mainly decontaminated by the gravity settlement.And,therefore,the respirable dust which is likely to suspend long in the air can be removed circularly under the action of air flow field and needs a long time to get it eliminated,which may not be conducive to safe production,nor to accident elimitation.Therefore,it is thus imperative to improve the ventilation conditions and take other safety-ensuring measures to lower the blast-dust concentration more efficiently.The simulation results prove to be in accord with the field measurement results—large amount of blasting dust and a long lasting discharge,which are likely to account for the reliability of the numerical simulation.In addition,the simulation results can also serve as a theoretical basis for successful application of the effective,rational and suitable dust control technology,so as to reduce and control the dust concentration in the stope.