Determination of optimal blowing-to-suction flow ratio in mechanized excavation face with wall-mounted swirling ventilation using numerical simulations

Wall-mounted swirling ventilation is a new type of system in mechanized excavation faces with a dust suppression performance that is closely related to the blowing-to-suction flow ratio. Physical and simulation models were developed according to the No. C103 mechanized excavation face in the Nahe Coal Mine of the Baise Mining Bureau, Guangxi Province to optimize the blowing-to-suction flow ratio for wall-mounted swirling ventilation. Both the k-epsilon turbulence model and the discrete phase model were utilized to simulate airflow field structures and dust concentration distribution patterns at various blowing-to-suction flow ratios. The results suggest that higher blowing-to-suction flow ratios increase the airflow field disturbance around the working face and weaken the intensity of the axial air curtain. On the other hand, both the intensity of the radial air curtain and the dust suppression effect are enhanced. At a blowing-to-suction flow ratio of 0.8, the wall-mounted swirling ventilation system achieved the most favorable dust suppression performance. Both the total dust and respirable dust had their lowest concentrations with maximum efficiencies of reducing both types at 90.33% and 87.16%, respectively.