Comprehensive analysis of safe mining to heavy and steep coal seam under complex geophysics environment

In virtue of effect of N-S intensive ground stress and mining disturbance to +579E2EB_(1+2) mining site at Weihuliang Mine,the dip angle and section height is 65° and 52 m,respectively,the collapses happed frequently during mining.Firstly,mining condi- tions,spatial structure and parameters were investigated.Then physical simulation and dynamic numerical tracing and elaborate simulation relating roof and top-coal were ap- plied based on 2D-Block Program and quantitative regularity of stress at variable depths had been estimated.Furthermore,it was manifested that effective measures,i.e.,fast mining,control symmetrical top-coal-caving at dip and strike directions,optimizing ventila- tion system,active-stereo preventing gas were performed successfully in mining practice. Ultimately,the derived dynamic hazard were prevented so as to safety mining.

Application of preblasting to high-section top coal caving for steepthick coal sea

For mining extra-steep-thick coal seam, the sublevel top coal caving is a high efficient method in practical engineering. However, major challenges associated with mining high-section top-coal-caving （HSTCC） are related to the resulting high ground stresses. Inevitability, using the high-section sublevel top coal caving for extra-steep-thick coal seam, the large scale of mined-out area appears. If the prefracture blasting and hydraulic fracture techniques are utilized, the top coal damage and cracks will develop, and the mining complexity will increase, such as seam inclination, continuity, mechanical characteristics of roof and susceptibility of top coal, etc. First, the field conditions of B1＋2 seam were investigated at the ＋588 level of the Weihuliang Underground Mine of China. Subsequently, according to caving mechanism of strata response obtained from several special models including physical simulation tests and numerical simulation models, the prefracture process including blasting and injecting water were analyzed. Then, the prefracture blasting technique was successfully applied to the caving of 52 m-sublevel seam. Finally, the effects were verified by advanced detecting instruments, and the results show these methods and measurements are feasible and valid.

Top coal flows in an excavation disturbed zone of high section top coal caving of an extremely steep and thick seam

Compared with gentle dip long-wall caving,the length of a working face in fully-mechanized top-coal caving for extremely steep and thick seams is short,while its horizontal section is high with increasing production.But the caving ratio is low,which might result in some disasters,such as roof falls,induced by local and large area collapse of the top coal in a working face and dangers induced by gas accumulation. After the development of cracks and weakening of the coal body,the tall,broken section of the top coal（a granular medium）of an extremely steep seam（over 60°）shows clear characteristics of nonlinear movement.We have thoroughly analyzed the geological environment and mining conditions of an excavation disturbed zone.Based on the results from a physical experiment of large-scale 3D modeling and coupling simulation of top coal-water-gas,we conclude that the weakened top coal can be regarded as a non-continuous medium.We used a particle flow code program to compare and analyze migration processes and the movements of a 30 m high section top coal over time before and after weakening of an extremely steep seam in the Weihuliang coal mine.The results of our simulation, experiment and monitoring show that pre-injection of water and pre-splitting blasting improve caving ability and symmetrical caving,relieve space for large area dynamic collapse of top coal,prolong migration time of noxious gases and release them from the mined out area and so achieve safety in mining.