Key technologies and equipment for a fully mechanized top-coal caving operation with a large mining height at ultra-thick coal seams

Thick and ultra-thick coal seams are main coal seams for high production rate and high efficiency in Chinese coal mines, which accounts for 44 % of the total minable coal reserve. A fully mechanized top-coal caving mining method is a main underground coal extraction method for ultra-thick coal seams. The coal extraction technologies for coal seams less than 14 m thick were extensively used in China. However, for coal seams with thickness greater than 14 m, there have been no reported cases in the world for underground mechanical extraction with safe performance, high efficiency and high coal recovery ratio. To deal with this case, China Coal Technology ＆ Engineering Group, Datong Coal Mine Group, and other 15 organizations in China launched a fundamental and big project to develop coal mining technologies and equipment for coal seams with thicknesses greater than 14 m. After the completion of the project, a coal extraction method was developed for top-coal caving with a large mining height, as well as a ground control theory for ultra-thick coal seams. In addition, the mining technology for top-coal caving with a large mining height, the ground support technology for roadway in coal seams with a large cross-section, and the prevention and control technology for gas and fire hazards were developed and applied. Furthermore, a hydraulic support with a mining height of 5.2 m, a shearer with high reliability, and auxiliary equipment were developed and manufactured. Practical implication on the technologies and equipment developed was successfully completed at the No. 8105 coal face in the Tashan coal mine, Datong, China. The major achievements of the project are summarized as follows： 1. A top-coal caving method for ultra-thick coal seams is proposed with a cutting height of 5 m and a top-coal caving height of 15 m. A structural mechanical model of overlying strata called cantilever beam-articulated rock beam is established. Based on the model, the load resistance of the hydraulic support with a large mining height for top-coal caving method is determined. With the analysis, the movement characteristics of the top coal and above strata are evaluated during top-coal caving operation at the coal face with a large mining height. Furthermore, there is successful development of comprehensive technologies for preventing and controlling spalling of the coal wall, and the top-coal caving technology with high efficiency and high recovery at the top-coal caving face with a large mining height. This means that the technologies developed have overcome the difficulties in strata control, top-coal caving with high efficiency and high coal recovery, and enabled to achieve a production rate of more than 10 Mtpa at a single top-coal caving face with a large mining height in ultra-thick coal seams; 2. A hydraulic support with 5.2 m supporting height and anti-rockburst capacity, a shearer with high reliability, a scraper conveyor with a large power at the back of face, and a large load and long distance headgate belt conveyor have been successfully developed for a top-coal caving face with large mining height. The study has developed the key technologies for improving the reliability of equipment at the coal face and has overcome the challenges in equipping the top-coal caving face with a large mining height in ultra-thick coal seams; 3. The deformation characteristics of a large cross-section roadway in ultra-thick coal seams are discovered. Based on the findings above, a series of bolt materials with a high yielding strength of 500-830 MPa and a high extension ratio, and cable bolt material with a 1 × 19 structure, large tonnage and high extension ratio are developed. In addition, in order to achieve a safe roadway and a fast face advance, installation equipment for high pre-tension bolt is developed to solve the problems with the support of roadway in coal seams for top-coal caving operation with a large mining height; 4. The characteristics of gas distribution and uneven emission at top-coal caving face with large mining height in ultra-thick coal seams are evaluated. With the application of the technologies of gas drainage in the roof, the difficulties in gas control for high intensive top-coal caving mining operations, known as ＂low gas content, high gas emission＂, are solved. In addition, large flow-rate underground mobile equipment for making nitrogen are developed to solve the problems with fire prevention and safe mining at a top-coal caving face with large mining height and production rate of more than 10 Mtpa. A case study to apply the developed technologies has been conducted at the No. 8105 face, the Tashan coal mine in Datong, China. The case study demonstrates that the three units of equipment, i.e., the support, shearer and scraper conveyor, are rationally equipped. Average equipment usage at the coal face is 92.1%. The coal recovery ratio at the coal face is up to 88.9 %. In 2011, the coal production at the No. 8105 face reached 10.849 Mtpa, exceeding the target of 10 Mtpa for a topcoal caving operation with large mining height performed by Chinese-made mining equipment. The technologies and equipment developed provide a way for extracting ultra-thick coal seams. Currently, the technologies and equipment are used in 13 mining areas in China including Datong, Pingshuo, Shendong and Xinjiang. With the exploitation of coal resources in Western China, there is great potential for the application of the technologies and equipment developed.

Similar material simulation research on movement law of roof over-lying strata in stope of fully mechanized caving face with large mining height

Similar material simulation test W9-15 101 fully mechanized caving face with was carried out in a geological model of large mining height in the Liuhuanggou Colliery, in Xinjiang Uigur Autonomous Region. The roof overlying strata movement law in the stope of a fully mechanized caving face with large mining height was studied and show that the roof overlying strata in the stope of a fully mechanized caving face with large mining height can be formed into a stable arch structure; the fracture rock beam is formed resembling a ＂bond beam＂, but it has essentially the structure of ＂multi-span beams＂ under the big structure of the stable arch. The roof overlying strata movement law in the stope of a fully mechanized caving face with large mining height is similar to that of the common, fully mechanized caving stope, which is determined by the deformation and instability of the structure of ＂multi-span beams＂. But because of the differences between the mining heights, the peak pressure in the stope of a fully mechanized caving face with large mining height is smaller while the affected area of abutment pressure is wider in the front of the working face; this is the obvious difference in abutment pressure between the stope of a fully mechanized caving face with large mining height and that of the common.

Technological optimization of fully mechanized caving mining face with large mining heights

Fully mechanized cave mining with large mining height is a new mining method, due to its large mining thickness and lower roadway excavation, the technology has been widely used in China＇s thick seam mining. In order to improve the top-coal recovery ratio of fully mechanized cave mining with large mining height, a study was conducted on optimizing the caving process, based on the mechanized caving face 1302N in Longgu Coal Mine. This was achieved by improving the PFC numerical calculation methods, and establishing a more accurate model system. On this basis, the recovery ratio of the top coal in different drawing intervals and technologies was investigated in order to achieve a reasonable caving process. The top-coal tracking system was used for practical surveying of the recovery ratio of top coal.

Technical parameters of drawing and coal-gangue field movements of a fully mechanized large mining height top coal caving working face

Under fully mechanized, large mining height top coal caving conditions, the shield beam slope angle of the support increases due to the enlargement of the top coal breaking and caving space. This results in a change of the caving window location and dimensions and, therefore, the granular coal-gangue movement and flows provide new characteristics during top coal caving. The main inferences we draw are as follows. Firstly, after shifting the supports, the caved top coal layer line and the coal gangue boundary line become steeper and are clearly larger than those under common mining heights. Secondly, during the top coal caving procedure, the speed of the coal-gangue flow increases and at the same drawing interval, the distance between the coal-gangue boundary line and the top beam end is reduced. Thirdly, affected by the drawing ratio, the slope angle of the shield beam and the dimensions of the caving window, it is easy to mix the gangue. A rational drawing interval will cause the coal-gangue boundary line to be slightly behind the down tail boom lower boundary. This rational drawing interval under conditions of large mining heights has been analyzed and determined.

Analysis and key control technologies to prevent spontaneous coal combustion occurring at a fully mechanized caving face with large obliquity in deep mines

In order to prevent spontaneous coal combustion occurring at a fully mechanized caving face with large obliquity in deep mines in China, we have analyzed the characteristics of spontaneous coal combustion and explain theoretically the factors affecting spontaneous coal combustion, such as rock bursts, high temperatures, high ventilation resistance, slow advancing speed and large obliquity mining. Key technologies to prevent spontaneous combustion occurring in sharply inclined seams in deep mines are pro- posed; these include pouring water, stopping leakage in upper and lower comers of the working face, choking off the goaf and cov- eting the coal. CO concentrations were controlled within two years to less than 15×10^-6 at the upper comer by applying these tech- nologies at the 1410 working face of the Huafeng coal mine. Our method has significant theoretical value and is of practical impor- tance in controlling spontaneous coal combustion occurring at a fully mechanized caving face with large obliquity in deep mines.

Rational cutting height for large cutting height fully mechanized top-coal caving

Large cutting height fully mechanized top-coal caving is a new mining method that improves recovery ratio and single-pass production. It also allows safe and efficient mining. A rational cutting height is one key parameter of this technique. Numerical simulation and a granular-media model experiment were used to analyze the effect of cutting height on the rock pressure of a fully mechanized top-coal caving work face. The recovery ratio was also studied. As the cutting height increases the top-coal thickness is reduced. Changing the ratio of cutting to drawing height intensifies the face pressure and the top-coal shattering. A maximum cutting height exists under a given set of conditions due to issues with surrounding rock-mass control. An increase in cutting height makes the top-coal cave better and the recovery ratio when drawing top-coal is then improved. A method of adjusting the face rock pressure is presented. Changing the cutting to drawing height ratio is the technique used to control face rock pressure. The recovery ratio when cutting coal exceeds that when caving top-coal so the face recovery ratio may be improved by over sizing the cutting height and increasing the top-coal drawing ratio. An optimum ratio of cutting to drawing height exists that maximizes the face recovery ratio. A rational cutting height is determined by comprehensively considering the surrounding rock-mass control and the recovery ratio. At the same time increasing the cutting height can improve single pass mining during fully mechanized top-coal caving.

Study on dangers of methane in the gob of fully mechanized caving mining

Divided the gob gas in different types according to falling structure and spatial patterns of gob of the fully mechanized caving mining and analyzed its main form of harm. This passage preliminarily studied the law of unusual gush of gob gas of the fully mechanized caving mining. According to the basic condition for the gas explosion, made comprehensive analysis and appraisal about the oxygen condition, gas concentration distribute and fire source conditions. And find that there is the dangerous district of gas explosion in a certain area of the producing gob and give the three zone theory of gob gas explosion.

STUDY ON PRODUCTION SYSTEM OPERATION REGULARITY OF FULLY MECHANIZED SUBLEVEL CAVING MINING AND SEQUENTIAL OPERATION

According to a lot of practical data in Liujialiang Mine and reliability theory and result of computer simulation, operation regularity of fully mechanized sublevel caving mining production system in the condition of gently inclined complicated geological structure and production shortcomings are found out and reliability of system and output of the working face are predicted finally.

Back-and-forth mining for hard and thick coal seams—research about the mining technology for fully mechanized caving working face of Datong Mine

The article introduced the key technology, mining process, and back-and-forth mining method for the caving working face of hard-thick coal seams in Datong mine, and researched this innovations process, optimized the systemic design and working face out-play, tried to perfect the caving mining technology of hard-thick coal seams further.

Development and prospect on fully mechanized mining in Chinese coal mines

Fully mechanized mining(FMM)technology has been applied in Chinese coal mines for more than 40 years.At present,the output of a FMM face has reached 10-million tons with Chinese-made equipment.In this study,the new developments in FMM technology and equipment in Chinese coal mines during past decades are introduced.The automatic FMM technology for thin seams,complete sets of FMM technology with ultra large shear height of 7 m for thick seams,complete sets of fully mechanized top coal caving technology with large shear height for ultra-thick seams of 20 m,complete sets of FMM technology for complex and difficult seams,including steeply inclined seams,soft coal seams with large inclination angle,and the mechanized filling mining technology and equipment are presented.Some typical case studies are also introduced.Finally,the existing problems with the FMM technology are discussed,and prospect of FMM technology and equipment applied in Chinese coal mines is put forward.

Systematic principles of surrounding rock control in longwall mining within thick coal seams

Effective surrounding rock control is a prerequisite for realizing safe mining in underground coal mines.In the past three decades, longwall top-coal caving mining(LTCC) and single pass large height longwall mining(SPLL) found expanded usage in extracting thick coal seams in China. The two mining methods lead to large void space left behind the working face, which increases the difficulty in ground control.Longwall face failure is a common problem in both LTCC and SPLL mining. Such failure is conventionally attributed to low strength and high fracture intensity of the coal seam. However, the stiffness of main components included in the surrounding rock system also greatly influences longwall face stability.Correspondingly, surrounding rock system is developed for LTCC and SPLL faces in this paper. The conditions for simultaneous balance of roof structure and longwall face are put forward by taking the stiffness of coal seam, roof strata and hydraulic support into account. The safety factor of the longwall face is defined as the ratio between the ultimate bearing capacity and actual load imposed on the coal wall.The influences provided by coal strength, coal stiffness, roof stiffness, and hydraulic support stiffness,as well as the movement of roof structure are analyzed. Finally, the key elements dominating longwall face stability are identified for improving surrounding rock control effectiveness in LTCC and SPLL faces.

Developing Technology of Fully Mechanized Mining with Sublevel Caving Posititvely and Reasonably

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Ground pressure and overlying strata structure for a repeated mining face of residual coal after room and pillar mining

To investigate the abnormal ground pressures and roof control problem in fully mechanized repeated mining of residual coal after room and pillar mining, the roof fracture structural model and mechanical model were developed using numerical simulation and theoretical analysis. The roof fracture characteristics of a repeated mining face were revealed and the ground pressure law and roof supporting condi- tions of the repeated mining face were obtained. The results indicate that when the repeated mining face passes the residual pillars, the sudden instability causes fracturing in the main roof above the old goal and forms an extra-large rock block above the mining face. A relatively stable ＂Voussoir beam＂ structure is formed after the advance fracturing of the main roof. When the repeated mining face passes the old goaf, as the large rock block revolves and touches gangue, the rock block will break secondarily under overburden rock loads. An example calculation was performed involving an integrated mine in Shanxi province, results showed that minimum working resistance values of support determined to be reason- able were respectively 11,412 kN and 10,743 kN when repeated mining face passed through residual pillar and goaf. On-site ground pressure monitoring results indicated that the mechanical model and support resistance calculation were reasonable.

厚煤层大采高综放工作面覆岩断裂演化规律研究

大采高综放开采易形成强烈的矿压显现,上覆岩层的断裂演化规律对工作面安全生产至关重要。以羊场湾煤矿160206工作面为工程背景,运用相似模拟试验、数值模拟和理论分析的综合研究方法,对大采高综放工作面覆岩的断裂过程与覆岩运移规律进行系统研究。研究表明:导水裂隙带内岩层随工作面推进表现为“台阶下沉”,同层岩层下沉趋势沿走向表现为“急剧下降—稳定(最大值)—快速上升—稳定(最小值)”。工作面覆岩运动场由两区分布(加速下沉区、缓慢下沉区)演化为三区分布(加速下沉区、缓慢下沉区、稳定区)。对离层演化与地表下沉规律进行了定量描述,运用理论计算表达式深入地剖析了地表的动态下沉机理及其相关因素。结合相似模拟与数值模拟的试验结果,提出了覆岩断裂演化的形态变化特征:覆岩断裂形态由“单等腰梯形”演化为“双等腰梯形”,表土层影响区由“矩形”演化为“倒梯形”。分析了覆岩中垮落区、离层区、压实区、裂隙富集区的动态演化过程:垮落区逐渐增大至一定程度,高度小幅度降低并趋于稳定,离层区由下至上逐渐发育并随工作面向前移动,离层区逐渐闭合形成压实区,且压实区逐渐增大并最终保持稳定,裂隙富集区位于采空区前后端部并随工作面向前移动。

大倾角大采高工作面煤壁失稳机理分析

大倾角大采高工作面煤壁灾变易诱使支架-围岩系统失衡,导致围岩稳定性控制复杂化,故煤壁灾变防控对保障工作面安全生产十分关键,而科学化防控技术的前提是明晰煤壁失稳孕育机制,为此采用数值计算及理论分析法展开研究。研究结果表明:大倾角大采高工作面煤壁承压倾向分区异化,下部区域应力集中程度较中部、上部高,集中区范围由下至上减小,垂向中部应力值较低,应力极值及走向位置与回采距具有正相关性,煤壁揭露前后邻域承压环境会突变,且承压态随煤体破坏演变异化,煤体承压结构会由非连续态经压实过渡为类连续状,而后整体移动至阈值后发生破断结构离散化。煤壁前方塑性区随采动作用不同幅度扩展,其稳定性受制于回采距及速度,低速回采、回采距离增加时煤壁稳定性逐步降低,塑性破裂发育区煤体为支承压力等动载、静载主承体,煤壁失稳是支承压力与扰动区内煤体自身抗压性能动态失衡,由运移、变形等承压行为量变诱发煤体结构质变而破断失稳,承压非对称性及多向耦合造成煤壁失稳分区及范围倾向扩展。

综放工作面围岩控制与智能化放煤技术现状及展望

分析了厚及特厚煤层智能化综放工作面围岩控制技术与智能化放顶煤技术发展现状及存在的问题,从巷道围岩高效支护、工作面超前支护、坚硬特厚顶煤冒放性、液压支架位姿监测及智能化放顶煤5个方面提出了工程实际需求。针对综放工作面实现安全、高效、智能化开采存在的技术难题与工程需求,对综放工作面围岩控制技术、智能化放煤技术进行了研究:构建了坚硬特厚煤层顶煤悬臂梁力学模型,研发了提高顶煤冒放性及放出率关键技术,实现了坚硬特厚煤层超大采高综放开采;研发了单元式超前液压支架顶梁可旋转自复位装置,实现了液压支架顶梁根据巷道顶板倾斜角度自动旋转支护,有效提高了单元式超前液压支架对巷道顶底板的适应性;提出了采用巷道支护液压支架替代传统锚网支护结构的思路,具有支护效率高、成本低、节省工作面超前支护等优点;开发了基于立柱与尾梁千斤顶行程的综放液压支架支护姿态监测装置与算法,提高了液压支架支护姿态解算效率与精度;提出了基于透明地质模型、煤量监测装置与煤矸识别装置融合的智能放煤控制方法,可有效解决多夹矸层特厚顶煤智能化放煤技术难题。提出智能地质保障技术、机器视觉精准测量与智能感知技术、综放工作面设备智能精准自适应控制技术、综放工作面数字孪生技术等是智能化综放开采技术与装备的发展趋势。

综采工作面采动覆岩导水裂隙带发育高度综合研究

针对因煤层开采易导致上覆岩层产生裂隙,贯通地下含水层引发矿井水灾的问题,以盘城岭煤业150105工作面为研究背景,采用理论公式、现场井下仰孔注水测漏法和钻孔电视成像探测法,以及FLAC3D和UDEC数值模拟综合分析导水裂隙带的高度和发育规律。理论计算导水裂隙带的最大高度为81.56 m;通过井下仰孔注水测漏法监测3个钻孔的注水渗透量梯度临界值为12 L/min,通过临界值判定导水裂隙带高度为78.56~79.99 m;通过钻孔电视成像探测法观测钻孔内裂隙分布判定导水裂隙带高度为78.39~79.46 m;利用FLAC3D和UDEC数值模拟,根据覆岩塑性区变化特征,当工作面推进至180 m时,裂隙发生贯通,塑性区最大高度达到76.4 m,并根据覆岩塑性区变化、垂直应力分布、垂直位移云图分析了导水裂隙带发育规律的3个阶段。对不同方法下的导水裂隙带高度进行了相互验证。

多频雷达融合的顶煤结构精准探测技术

顶煤结构的准确探测是实现综放智能化开采的重要依据,然而我国煤层结构复杂且内部常含多层夹矸,易影响综放智能化开采的水平。为此,提出一种多频雷达融合的顶煤结构精准探测方法,可提高雷达天线探测深度内的浅部探测精度,同时对顶煤内部的结构信息进行解释。主要研究步骤如下:首先,对不同频率的雷达数据进行预处理和空间对齐,建立不同频率雷达数据之间的空间对应关系;其次,利用滑动窗口与小波变换加权融合方法对多频率雷达数据进行处理,根据窗口内各分段小波信号的能量占比确定各频率信号的时变权重值,并引入边缘检测算法来提高小波变换对雷达数据的融合效率,实现多频雷达数据有效融合;最后,根据煤-矸-岩的介电常数差异和电磁波传播的衰减特性,建立顶煤内部回波强度模型,并利用分层识别方法计算出顶煤内部煤-矸-岩之间的界面信息,进而反演出顶煤内部结构(包括顶煤厚度、夹矸厚度及层数、夹矸层间距等)。试验结果表明:所提出的方法能有效地将不同频率雷达数据进行融合,并能有效地探测出顶煤内部结构特征,且顶煤厚度、夹矸厚度和夹矸层间距的探测误差均小于10%。该方法有助于实现顶煤结构的精准探测,为综放智能化开采提供理论技术支撑。

6~10 m厚煤层超大采高液压支架及其工作面系统自适应智能耦合控制

厚煤层储量及产量占我国原煤总储量及产量的一半,通过梳理厚煤层开采历史沿革,总结了我国厚煤层开采40年来的技术及装备研发实践,系统分析了以高端大采高液压支架及围岩智能耦合理论为代表的6~10 m大采高综采高效智能化综采技术及装备研究进展,提出了大采高支护理论及围岩智能耦合控制的突破是厚煤层一次开采高度突破的首要因素,完善的感知体系建立是液压支架自适应支护的前提,数字技术的应用为大采高工作面高效推进及装备智能协同控制提供了新的技术途径;阐明了大采高综放液压支架与围岩耦合关系,剖析了采高增加对硬煤层冒放性的有利影响,提出了基于煤矸识别、放煤机构控制的“纯煤段记忆放煤+煤岩分界模糊段人工反馈式干预放煤”的智能放煤控制策略;分析了大采高开采“采–运”协同智能耦合控制关键技术,构建了基于采煤机牵引速度与刮板输送机链速间联动调节的工作面装备间多机异构耦合自适应协同控制模型;研发了厚煤层开采中10 m超大采高液压支架,分析了厚煤层开采不断突破开采高度极限的新认识,从开采装备、控制系统等方面提出厚煤层一次开采高度的突破的研发方向。

基于微震监测的浅埋8 m超大采高综采面矿压规律现场监测研究

以陕北矿区某矿2203浅埋超大采高综采面为工程背景,采用微震监测技术,对浅埋超大采高综采面矿压规律进行了研究。结果表明:单日微震事件数达到峰值后,综采面继续回采8.25~11 m内,能量大于103J的事件增多,微震事件能量及支架压力达到峰值,随后顶板出现垮落现象。综采面初次来压前,微震总能量为6.40×10^(3)J,矿压显现期间为1.07×10^(4)J,总能量增长67%;由于综采面矿压显现与微震最大能量峰值出现一致,通过2次最大能量峰值时综采面位置可以确定综采面周期来压步距。2203综采面初次来压步距为24.75 m,周期来压步距为27~35.25 m,由此确定,顺槽超前支护距离为36 m,实践表明,2203综采面采用ZCZY10300/31/55D型超前液压支架满足巷道超前支护的要求。微震监测是矿压显现规律分析的有效手段,采用液压支架压力变化与微震能量协同分析的方法研究超大采高综采面的矿压规律是可行的。