Behavior of diesel particulate matter transport from subsidiary transportation vehicle in mine

Highlights: • Established a full-scale, 3D model of the WC40Y shield carrier. • This study has focused on the type in which the exhaust pipe is installed on the sides. • Analyze the diffusion of DPM when the WC40Y shield carrier is traveling in the mine. • Get the optimal airflow velocity in the tunnel, when the shield carrier traveled in the tunnel. The aim of this study was to investigate thoroughly the diffusion and distribution of diesel particulate matter (DPM) discharged from a mine subsidiary transportation vehicle to improve the air quality in tunnels by reducing exhaust pollution and to propose targeted prevention measures. More specifically, the diffusion of DPM from a WC40Y shield carrier during its travel was examined in depth with numerical simulations. The results show that, under the current ventilation conditions, the airflow in the tunnel was insufficient for diluting the DPM discharged from the shield carrier during starting, accelerated traveling, and turning; this can be effectively addressed by increasing the ventilation rate to 1.8 m/s. However, during high-velocity travel, the carrier was affected by the piston wind could not be diluted effectively by increasing ventilation rate. The velocity limit can lower the DPM concentration in the tunnel and alleviate DPM pollution from the shield carrier. To reduce DPM emissions, the travel velocity should be limited to 30 km/h. Summary: Determine the optimal airflow velocity in the tunnel that ensures that the discharged DPM is effectively diluted during the travel of the shield carrier.