Experimental investigation of thermal conditions in face space of fully-mechanized blind heading of deep potash mine

Deep-level mining features high air temperatures in operating areas of underground mines. The current approaches to studying mine air parameters provide a reasonable accuracy of detection of the main heat liberation sources. However, the issue of the on-site investigation of factors that influence mine air quality, namely, rock mass, as well as mining and auxiliary equipment, remains yet insufficiently explored. A promising trend as of today is zoning of face spaces and development of engineering solutions on normalization of thermal conditions on individual sites. This approach is less energy-intensive as compared with the solutions on cooling of blind headings. For the implementation of the proposed engineering designs, full-scale investigations were carried out to reveal the main sources of heat liberation in face spaces of a deep potash mine. This article describes the experimental data on factors that form the heat environment in the study areas. The value of the geothermal gradient is determined at the test deposit. The metering of heat is performed on the surfaces of motors of mining and ventilation equipment, and on the surfaces of potash rock mass (sidewalls and face). Particular attention is given to the influence of a ventilation method on the temperature in a blind heading. The experimental data can help develop technical and organizational measures aimed at reduction of temperature in certain areas of a face space. The obtained results are also usable for building and adjustment of 3D CFD models for calculating temperature distribution in air of blind headings. 

Levin L. Y., Sukhanov A. E., Maltsev S. V., Perestoronin M. O. Experimental investigation of thermal conditions in face space of fully-mechanized blind heading of deep potash mine. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2026;(9):69-84. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2026_9_0_69.

The study was supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation within the framework of state contract, R&D Projects 
Nos. 124020500030-7 and 121111800053-1.

L.Y. Levin¹, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Corresponding Member of Russian Academy of Sciences, Head of Department, e-mail: aerolog_lev@mail.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0003-0767-9207,
A.E. Sukhanov¹, Junior Researcher, e-mail: asukhanov@aerologist.ru, ORCID ID: 0009-0002-7960-8344,
S.V. Maltsev¹, Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Assistant Professor, Head of Sector, e-mail: stasmalcev32@gmail.com, ORCID ID: 0009-0002-9887-1455,
M.O. Perestoronin¹, Engineer, e-mail: maksim.o.perestoronin@yandex.ru, ORCID ID: 0009-0003-0203-9304, 
¹ Mining Institute of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 614007, Perm, Russia.

A.E. Sukhanov, e-mail: asukhanov@aerologist.ru.

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