Underground ancient mine work ventilation modeling

Excavations at the Giro mine located in commune of Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines (France) have revealed a metallic and cylindrical artifact that resembles connecting element for wooden duct sections. Early modern literature, especially De Re Metallica, mention such technologies intended particular to force ventilation underground mines which air quality was harmful miners. The found gallery leading stope seems problematic. numerical simulation flow tunnel makes it possible test hypotheses formulated from archaeological data. These simulations are performed with OpenFOAM, free open source software computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Simulating not only flow, but also heat CO2 production five miners work highlights need system. It appears construction scaffolding can fulfill double function facilitating circulation improving ventilation. This first quantitative approach one main obstacles mining offers new method testing solutions implemented by past.