Efficient application conditions for heat insulation of underground openings to improve microclimate in mines

The article describes research findings on application conditions of heat insulation of underground openings toward improvement of mine microclimate. Using the multivariate mathematical modeling of thermal conditions in AeroSet, the influence of the key factors on the heat insulation efficiency is analyzed: ventilation time, air flow rate, air–rock mass temperature difference and heat resistance of heat insulation. It is found that the maximal efficiency of heat insulation is achieved in the first 4–5 months of service life of an underground opening, and then the heat insulation becomes inefficient in 4–5 years. The criteria of a mine opening to be heat insulated are determined: air flow rate is not more than 60 m3/s, temperature difference between air and rock mass is not less than 7–10 °C, air temperature at the inlet of an opening is not higher than the allowable value. The critical heat resistance of thermal insulation is 5.2 m2·°C/W, and the exceedance of this value is economically inexpedient in view of the attained peak of efficiency. An engineering algorithm is developed for selecting sites for heat insulation and for calculating the heat insulation parameters (heat insulation site length and heat resistance). The proposed solutions allow optimization of expenditures connected with air temperature reduction in mine openings and enable enhancement of mining safety in the conditions of high temperature and intense heat liberation from rock mass. 

Perestoronin M. O., Zaitsev A. V., Parshakov O. S. Efficient application conditions for heat insulation of underground openings to improve microclimate in mines. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2026;(10):84-100. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2026_10_0_84.

The study was supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation within the framework of state contract, R&D State Registration No. 126012716039-2.

M.O. Perestoronin¹, Graduate Student, Engineer, e-mail: maksim.o.perestoronin@yandex.ru, ORCID ID: 0009-0003-0203-9304,
A.V. Zaitsev¹, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Professor, Perm National Research Polytechnic University, Perm, Russia; Head of Laboratory, e-mail: artem.v.zaitsev@yandex.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0002-2314-0482,
O.S. Parshakov¹, Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Researcher, e-mail: olegparshakov@gmail.com, ORCID ID: 0000-0001-5545-442X,
¹ Mining Institute of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Laboratory for the Development of Mining Industrial, 614007, Perm, Russia.

M.O. Perestoronin, e-mail: maksim.o.perestoronin@yandex.ru.

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