The authors propose a mathematical model of salt particulate dynamics in a roadway, including convection and diffusion of particles with air flow, coagulation of particles, condensation of water on them, and gravity deposition of particles on the roadway floor. Using the finite difference method, the problem on flow of salt particulates in a roadway is solved, and the particulate concentrations and the average size of particles are determined. The calculations are compared with the analytical model and full-scale test data. The found correlation between the particulate deposition velocity and the aerosol parameters can be used for the parametrization of mathematical models of air–dust mixture flow in ventilation networks of potash mines.

Effective fire prevention in mine workings and tunnels requires a thorough theoretical analysis of the heat and mass transfer processes within these structures. This involves using established models to calculate non-isothermal air flow dynamics in long tunnels and mine workings. While the ventilation of tunnels has been extensively studied, significant challenges persist regarding mine ventilation systems, particularly due to their complex and branched topology. This study aimed to address these challenges and gaps in mine ventilation. We designed a laboratory bench to simulate an inclined mine working with a heat source (fire) and validated a mathematical model of heat and mass transfer in such settings. Using experimental measurements, we verified the model’s accuracy. It is important to note that our experimental and theoretical analyses focused solely on the thermal effects of a fire, without considering the release of harmful impurities. Using the validated model, we conducted multiparameter simulations to identify the conditions leading to the formation of a thermal slug in an inclined mine working and the subsequent reversal of air flow. The simulation data enabled us to determine the dependency of the critical heat release rate on the aerodynamic parameters of the mine working. Additionally, we evaluated the changes in average air density within a mine working at the critical heat release rate. These findings are crucial for the further development of a network-based method to analyze air flow stability in mine ventilation networks during fires.