Numerical modeling of natural ventilation processes in an open pit mine at its various depths in inversion atmospheric conditions
P.V. Amosov1, A.A. Baklanov2, 3
1 Institute of North Industrial Ecology Problems of the Kola Science Centre of the Russian Academy of Science, Apatity, Russian Federation
2 World Meteorological Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
3 Russian State Hydrometeorological University, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation
Russian Mining Industry №5S / 2023 р. 65-71
Abstract: The research objective is to assess the influence of the background stratification parameter and the depth of an open pit mine on the time of natural ventilation of the mine and the level of atmospheric pollution at the upper side of the pit downwind of blasting operations in conditions of the North. An aerothermodynamic model of the atmosphere was used, in which the equations of dynamics in the approximation of incompressible fluid were supplemented with the heat transfer equation, and the buoyancy and background stratification mechanisms were taken into account. The model was created in a general-purpose COMSOL software package and makes it possible to study aerothermogasodynamics of the atmosphere in its various states. A two-dimensional CFD-model of the open pit atmosphere was tested using the recirculation ventilation process. The background stratification parameter (from 0.0 to +0.025 °С/m with the increment of 0.005 °С/m) and the quarry depth from 300 to 700 m were variated. The wind velocity of 1 m/s at the upper side of the pit, the initial location of the dust and gas cloud (in the center of the pit near its floor) and the slope angle of the pit wall of 45° were recorded. A significant increase in the time of natural ventilation of the open pit is demonstrated at intensifying inversion of the atmosphere. Two formation types of the maximum pollution area with the increasing pit depth are predicted: (1) displacement from the center to the lee side of the pit at neutral stratification; and (2) position in the center of the pit near its floor at positive background stratification. It is shown that increasing of both the pit depth and the background stratification parameter leads to a noticeable increase in the time to reach the maximum concentration at the upper side of the pit and a decrease in the value of this maximum. For the recirculation ventilation scheme, intensification of inversion in the atmosphere increases the time of natural ventilation, but reduces the level of atmospheric contamination at the upper side of the pit downstream.
Keywords: numerical modeling, blasting, open pit mine ventilation, neutral and inversion states of the atmosphere
Acknowledgments: The study was performed within the framework of Research Project "Processes of transformation of natural and anthropogenic systems under climate change in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation (using the case of the Murmansk region)" (state reg. No.1021051803680-5). Part of the research was financed from Grant №23-77-30008 of the Russian Science Foundation.
For citation: Amosov P.V., Baklanov A.A. Numerical modeling of natural ventilation processes in an open pit mine at its various depths in inversion atmospheric conditions. Russian Mining Industry. 2023;(5S):65–71. https://doi.org/10.30686/1609-9192-2023-5S-65-71
Article info
Received: 15.09.2023
Revised: 22.11.2023
Accepted: 02.12.2023
Information about the authors
Pavel V. Amosov – Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Senior Researcher, Institute of North Industrial Ecology Problems of the Kola Science Centre of the Russian Academy of Science, Apatity, Russian Federation; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7725-6261; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Alexander A. Baklanov – Dr. Sci. (Phys. & Math.), Professor, Chief Scientist, World Meteorological Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Chief Scientist, Russian State Hydrometeorological University, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5396-8440; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
References
1. Lukichev S.V. (ed.) Scientific and practical aspects of applying digital technologies in the mining industry. Apatity: Kola Science Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences; 2019. 192 p. (In Russ.)
2. Amosov P.V., Baklanov А.А. Development of a model of atmospheric aerothermodynamics for the study of dusting processes at tailings dumps using COMSOL software. Vestnik of MSTU. 2023;26(1):25–44. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.21443/1560-9278-2023-26-1-25-44
3. Lowndes I.S., Silvester S.A., Kingman S.W., Hargreaves D.M. Improved multi-scale computational modelling of fugitive dust dispersion from surface mining operations. Ukraїnskіi gіdrometeorologіchnii zhurnal. 2009;(4):178–186.
4. Raj K.V. Three dimensional computational fluid dynamics models of pollutant transport in a deep open pit mine under Arctic air inversion and mitigation measures. Ph.D. Thesis. Available at: https://scholarworks.alaska.edu/handle/11122/5756
5. Wang Y., Du C., Xu H. Key factor analysis and model establishment of blasting dust diffusion in a deep, sunken open-pit mine. ACS Omega. 2021;6(1):448–455. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.0c04881
6. Huang Z., Ge S., Jing D., Yang L. Numerical simulation of blasting dust pollution in open-pit mines. Applied Ecology and Environmental Research. 2021;17(5):10313–10333. https://doi.org/10.15666/aeer/1705_1031310333
7. Balogh M., Parente A., Benocci C. RANS simulation of ABL flow over complex terrains applying an enhanced k-ε model and wall function formulation: implementation and comparison for Fluent and OpenFOAM. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics. 2012;104–106:360–368. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jweia.2012.02.023
8. Flores F., Garreaud R., Munoz R.C. OpenFOAM applied to the CFD simulation of turbulent buoyant atmospheric flows and pollutant dispersion inside large open pit mines under intense insolation. Computers & Fluids. 2014;90:72–87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compfluid.2013.11.012
9. Bashirov N.R. Method for dynamic design of dumps in preliminary simulation of airflow. Izvestiya vysshikh uchebnykh zavedenii. Gornyi zhurnal. 2018;(2):40–47. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.21440/0536-1028-2018-2-40-47
10. Gridina E.B., Petrov I.A. Experience of mathematical modeling of ventilation Olenegorsk career in the software package FlowVision. Mining Informational and Analytical Bulletin. 2017;(S5-1):32–42. (In Russ.)
11. Yastrebova K.N. Simulation modeling of the natural wind flow over the walls of an open-pit mine face. Occupational Safety in Industry. 2014;(8):60–62. (In Russ.)
12. Gendler S.G., Borisovsky I.A. Estimation of peculiarities of temperature inversion formation in open mining in the arctic conditions. Izvestiya Tulskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Nauki o Zemle. 2021;(4):59–75. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.46689/2218-5194-2021-4-1-59-75
13. Amosov P.V., Kozyrev S.A., Nazarchuk O.V. The study of the thermal factor's impact on aerodynamic parameters of the open pit atmosphere based on 3d modelling. Mining Informational and Analytical Bulletin. 2019;(S37):322–332. (In Russ.)
14. Nazarchuk O.V. Investigation of pollution process of the atmosphere of open pit space from point stationary sources under conditions of temperature inversions and still. Problems of Subsoil Use. 2021;(4):97–104. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.25635/2313-1586.2021.04.097
15. Bublik S.A., Semin M.A. Mathematical modeling of heat and air distribution in open-pit mines with natural ventilation. Gornoe ekho. 2022;(1):126–133. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.7242/echo.2022.1.20
16. Amosov P.V. Dominant factor in the pair “blasting – wind mode”. Bulletin of the Saint Petersburg State Institute of Technology (Technical University). 2020;(54):93–98. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.36807/1998-9849-2020-54-80-93-98
17. Nikitin V.S., Bitkolov N.Z. Design of ventilation in open pit mines. Moscow: Nedra; 1980. 171 p. (In Russ.)
18. Marchuk G.I. Mathematical modeling of environmental issues. Moscow: Nedra; 1982. 320 p. (In Russ.)
19. Penenko V.V. (ed.) Methods of mathematical modeling in hydrodynamic environmental problems. Novosibirsk: Computing Center of the USSR Academy of Sciences; 1983. 168 p. (In Russ.)
20. Penenko V.V., Aloyan A.E. Models and methods for solutions of environmental problems. Novosibirsk: Nauka; 1985. 256 p. (In Russ.)
21. Bitkolov N.Z., Penenko V.V. (eds) Atmospheric normalization in deep open pits. Leningrad: Nauka; 1986. 296 p. (In Russ.)
22. Baklanov A.A. Numerical modeling in mining aerology. Apatity: Kazan Branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences; 1988. 200 p. (In Russ.)
23. Bitkolov N.Z., Medvedev I.I. Aerology of open-pit mines. Moscow: Nedra; 1992. 264 p. (In Russ.)
24. Filatov S.S. Ventilation in open pit mines. Moscow: Nedra; 1981. 206 p. (In Russ.)
