Shaping a Safe Working Environment in the Coal Production Process: Utilizing Model Studies to Assess Methane Hazard Formation

The establishment of a safe working environment is one of the key challenges in the implementation of various production processes. This is particularly relevant to underground coal production, where the primary operations (exploitation) take place in an underground environment. In this context, the paper presents the results of a study on methane hazard formation during the coal production process. The analysis was conducted through model studies that included driven dog headings, longwall workings with and without auxiliary ventilation equipment, and collapsing goafs. The research methodology, mining region models, and validation of the obtained results were further supported by tests conducted under real conditions. The findings highlight the significant potential of model studies based on structural models for assessing ventilation hazards in the examined regions and the phenomena occurring within them. Based on these results, the identification and assessment of methane hazard levels in the studied regions were carried out. This, in turn, opens avenues for their practical application in enhancing both safety and efficiency in the mining production process. The developed methodology and models are universal in nature, offering a broad range of applications for studying various ventilation states, both in steady and unsteady conditions. Additionally, they allow for comprehensive predictions of methane concentration distributions, forming a critical basis for preventive measures and improvements in underground mining safety.

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Opracowanie rekordu ze środków MNiSW, umowa nr POPUL/SP/0154/2024/02 w ramach programu "Społeczna odpowiedzialność nauki II" - moduł: Popularyzacja nauki i promocja sportu (2025).