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A numerical simulation of gas flow during coal/gas outbursts

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Summary

A model of the gas flow in airways during an instantaneous outburst of coal and gas is formulated and solved numerically using MacCormack's explicit finite-difference scheme. This model is based on the assumption that geological structures, in-situ stresses and high-gas-pressure gradients play important roles in initiating an outburst, with the gas content and gas-pressure gradients being the most dominant factors. The fluid-dynamic processes that occur after an outburst are computed by the numerical integration of the complete time-dependent Navier-Stokes equations. The mixture velocity, the density and the gas-concentration profiles in both time and space domains (immediately after an outburst) are presented. The global results are useful in gaining an improved understanding of gas-flow patterns during coal/gas outbursts and in determining the range of the disturbance so that effective methods of control can be developed.

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Abbreviations

a :

speed of sound

C :

gas concentration (mass)

C v :

specific heat at constant volume

C p :

specific heat at constant pressure

CFL:

Courant-Friedrichs-Lewy number

E :

total energy of the mixture

F :

the vector defined in Equation 27

G :

the vector defined in Equation 28

h :

entropy

h i :

entropy at inlet

J xi :

diffusion flux in the i-direction

k :

thermal conductivity of a gas

M :

Mach number

P :

pressure of a mixture (the partial pressure of gas)

P :

gas pressure

P a :

atmospheric pressure

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mining Engineering, Michigan Technological University, 49931, Houghton, MI, USA

    F. Otuonye & J. Sheng

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  1. F. Otuonye
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  2. J. Sheng
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Otuonye, F., Sheng, J. A numerical simulation of gas flow during coal/gas outbursts. Geotech Geol Eng 12, 15–34 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00425934

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00425934

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