Thermal Environment Control at Deep Intelligent Coal Mines in China Based on Human Factors

Qiaoyun Han (), Debo Lin, Xiaojie Yang, Kongqing Li and Wei Yin
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Qiaoyun Han: School of Civil Engineering, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, China
Debo Lin: School of Civil Engineering, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, China
Xiaojie Yang: State Key Laboratory for Geomechanics and Deep Underground Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology-Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
Kongqing Li: School of Civil Engineering, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, China
Wei Yin: School of Civil Engineering, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, China

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 4, 1-15

Abstract: Mechanical cooling of the entire mining tunnel, widely used in deep coal mines, has a significant energy-intensive consumption, particularly for intelligent mining tunnels. Therefore, localized cooling would benefit the intelligent mining industry. Current studies on the temperature, relative humidity, and air velocity under localized cooling for working protection are still unclear. A modified predicted heat strain model that is appropriate for warm and humid conditions is presented in this article and calculated using MATLAB. Results reveal that air temperature was the primary factor affecting underground miners’ safety. Increasing air velocity would improve the working environment when the thermal humidity index is lower than 32. Reducing total working time and wet bulb temperature would benefit underground miners’ security. For the cooling of intelligent mining tunnels, the recommended air velocity would be 2 m/s, and the maximum wet bulb temperature would be 28 °C for the 6-h working period and 26 °C for the 8-h working period. Results would be beneficial to the cooling of intelligent mining in China.

Keywords: intelligent mining; exposure duration; PHS model; warm and humid environment; localized cooling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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