Optimal refuge chamber position in underground mines based on tree network.

Area of Science:

• Mining Engineering
• Operations Research
• Safety Management

Background:

• Underground mining safety is paramount, aiming for zero accidents and fatalities.
• Refuge chambers are critical for worker survival during emergencies.
• Optimal placement of refuge chambers is essential due to varying worker distribution and site conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine optimal locations for refuge chambers in underground mining networks.
• To develop a formula for quantifying worksite importance.
• To present feasible localization strategies for refuge chambers.

Main Methods:

• Modeling the underground network as a tree structure.
• Developing a formula to quantify the importance of each worksite.
• Implementing a recursive solution for the 'Absolute Weighted P-centre Problem'.
• Applying a spiral approach to the 'Total Covering problem'.

Main Results:

• The proposed methods successfully identify viable refuge chamber locations.
• The solutions effectively address varied maximum safety distance requirements for different working areas.
• Case studies demonstrate the practical application and functionality of the approaches.

Conclusions:

• The developed strategies provide effective solutions for refuge chamber localization in underground mines.
• Optimal placement enhances worker safety by ensuring rapid emergency access.
• The methods account for the dynamic nature of underground operations and associated risks.