CFD Modelling of Prevention and Mitigation of Coal Spontaneous Combustion in Longwall Goaf - A Comprehensive Review and Future Outlook

Abstract Coal spontaneous combustion (sponcom) in longwall goaf poses a major safety hazard and environmental risk for underground mining operations. As a powerful numerical simulation tool, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) offers high efficiency, low cost, and intuitive visualisation capabilities, playing a pivotal role in uncovering the mechanisms of coal self-heating and assessing large-scale prevention and control strategies in field application. This review examines recent advances in CFD-based modelling of coal sponcom onset mechanism, behaviour and prevention. Key applications are highlighted, including thermal-gas-solid Multiphysics coupling, analysis of airflow and temperature evolution, and inert gas injection techniques in longwall goaf. The paper critically evaluates the strengths and limitations of existing CFD-based sponcom modelling approaches and identifies current research gaps. Finally, it outlines potential directions for future studies, focusing on the development of multi-scale coupled models incorporating reaction kinetics and byproduct migration, investigation of indicator gas behaviours under engineering interventions, and the establishment of dynamic risk assessment frameworks based on artificial intelligence learning.