Study of gas emission law at the heading face in a coal‐mine tunnel based on the Lattice Boltzmann method

Abstract Gas distribution ahead of the coal tunnel is the key risk factor controlling coal and gas outburst. Based on an analysis of the influence of the stress state on the porosity of the coal seam, an improved quartet structure generation set (QSGS) random porous media generation tool is used to reconstruct the coal structure. Adopting the reconstructed pore structure of the coal as the boundary of the flow field, the Lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is used to simulate the gas dynamic distribution law ahead of the coal tunnel. The gas pressure of the coal seam decreases obviously in the fracture zone only, and the change in gas pressure is very small in the stress concentration zone and ahead of the coal seam. This research is of significance for gas drainage and the prevention of coal and gas outburst hazards in the working face during coal tunneling.