Numerical simulation of flow field and radon concentration distribution in large-scale roadways during drivage

222Radon, a radioactive gas found in underground mine roadways, poses significant health risks to workers. This study presents a coupled model that integrates turbulence and dilute species transport to evaluate radon concentration distribution in large-scale roadways during drivage. The radon migration equation is applied to a constant turbulent flow field to assess the effects of temperature, ventilation volume, and the distance from the air duct outlet to the driving face on radon concentration. The flow field is divided into jet, jet adherence, vortex, and backflow zones, the vortex zone, creating a low-speed vortex area where radon is prone to accumulate. Temperature primarily affects the spatial distribution of radon concentration, with only a minimal impact on its magnitude, as revealed by the introduction of parameters eta T. Ventilation volume follows a negative exponential decay model in terms of its influence on radon concentration. A Gaussian distribution characterizes the radon concentration along the operational line, with the most efficient dilution occurring at a distance of 10 m from the air duct outlet. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing ventilation systems, enhancing worker health protection, and fostering cleaner production practices.