Forecasting of Thermal Regime in an Oil Mine

Abstract

The aim of the present work was to assess the influence of oil freely flowing in a groove on the formation of the thermal regime of the haulageway of the oil mine and to justify the necessity (in case that this source of heat proves to be significant) of development of new technical solutions to decrease its intensity. To assess the significance of this heat source in the mine working on the increase of the air temperature, the gradients of thermal stream in the mine working with the presence of the oil flowing in the soil of the mine working and without it were compared. For the purpose of describing the process of formation of thermal conditions in the mine, a mathematical model was built and a system of differential equations was analytically solved. The absolute and relative error in predicting the magnitude of the thermal stream and temperature at the end of the mine was determined. The thermal stream and temperature at the end of the mine working was determined. According to the formulas obtained, variant calculations were carried out, the results of which are presented in the form of 3D graphs. It was found that errors in determining the thermal stream gradient, i.e. degree of heating of the mine air can reach significant values in practically important cases. If the thermal exchange of the oil flow with the air is not considered, the error in determination of the thermal flow gradient can be as high as 1.5–2.2. Importantly, the error cannot be included in the safety factor.