Analysis of Methane Hazard Conditions in Mine Headings

One of the most dangerous and the most common hazards in coal mines is methane hazard. This threat is associated with inflammation and/or explosion of methane in the mixture of air. Analysis of the scale of methane hazard allows the selection of such a longwall ventilation system operating, which provides the requisite provisions of the chemical composition of the mine atmosphere, and the required efficiency of methane drainage. The article presents the results of numerical analysis of the flow of the mixture stream of air and methane by the layout of workings of one of the mines. The aim of this study was to analyse the workings and the designation of zones of the ventilation system in question, where there may be dangerous, explosive concentrations of methane. The results are important when taking preventive actions aimed at reducing methane emissions to the external environment in the process of methane drainage.