Numerical simulation study on radon migration in roadway surrounding rock under heat- moisture -force coupling

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Mining Engineering
• Geophysics

Background:

• Radon pollution is a significant issue in underground mines due to increasing uranium resource development and deeper mining operations.
• Understanding radon migration in surrounding rocks is crucial for mitigating health risks and environmental impact.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of temperature, humidity, ventilation pressure, and rock stress on radon migration in underground roadway surrounding rocks.
• To quantify the relationship between environmental factors and radon exhalation rates in deep mining environments.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations.
• Employed a heat-moisture-force coupling model to simulate complex environmental interactions.
• Analyzed the effects of varying parameters like air speed, temperature, humidity, and rock stress.

Main Results:

• Radon exhalation rate positively correlates with pressure difference on the roadway wall.
• Increased inlet air speed in ventilation systems reduces radon exhalation rates.
• Temperature has a more significant impact on radon exhalation than humidity, especially post-excavation.
• Deeper roadways, higher surrounding rock temperatures, and increased stress exacerbate radon exhalation.

Conclusions:

• Ventilation strategies and environmental factor management are critical for controlling radon concentrations in underground mines.
• Findings provide a theoretical basis for addressing radon migration challenges in deep underground environments.
• Further research into radon migration dynamics in complex geological settings is warranted.