Study of the Influence of Heavy Equipment Activity on Effective Temperature in Underground Mining Models
Safira Salsabila(a*), Deksarina(a), &#8288-Shulha Muzakkir(a), Nandita Suri Kallo(a), Nurhindro Priagung Widodo(a), &#8288-Ririn Yulianti(a,b), Fadli Zaka Waly(a)

a) Rekayasa Pertambangan, Fakultas Teknik Pertambangan dan Perminyakan (FTTM), Institut Teknologi Bandung, Bandung 400191, Indonesia
*safirasalsabila19[at]gmail.com
b) Teknik Pertambangan, Fakultas Teknologi Kebumian dan Energi, Universitas Trisakti, Jakarta 1140, Indonesia

Abstract

Creating a safe and comfortable workplace for underground miners depends on optimal air ventilation. However, the use of heavy machinery, such as Load Haul Dump (LHD) equipment, poses challenges in mine ventilation planning to maintain temperature within the tunnel. Regulation Decision of the Director General of Minerals and Coal, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of the Republic Indonesia Number 185.K/37.04/DJB/2019 stipulates that the effective temperature standard in underground mines is 18-27 degrees Celsius. Effective temperature is a parameter for evaluating thermal conditions based on a combination of dry bulb temperature, wet bulb temperature, air velocity, and H2O mass fraction. In this study, modeling the impact of heavy machinery such as the 120kW LHD on mining activities was conducted using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) method and Ansys Fluent software. The tunnel model studied in this research has dimensions of 65m x 4m x 4m for stopes and cross cuts of 20m x 4m x 3.5m. Based on CFD simulation results when the 120kW LHD is not operating, the effective temperature throughout the tunnel model has a uniform distribution with an average of 22.00 degrees Celsius, indicating that the thermal conditions in the tunnel model still comply with the applicable regulations. However, when the 120kW LHD is operating, the effective temperature increases to 22.80-27.30 degrees Celsius. This condition indicates an uneven distribution of temperature increase, causing one area of the tunnel to have thermal conditions that do not meet the applicable regulations. Therefore, it is important to understand the influence of heavy machinery activities on the effective temperature in underground mine models to ensure the safety and health of workers in underground mines.

Keywords: Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)- Effective temperature- Air flow velocity

Topic: Healthy, Safety, Environmental (HSE), and Hazard Mitigation