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.

Mining pressure monitoring and analysis in fully mechanized backfilling coal mining face-A case study in Zhai Zhen Coal Mine

Fully mechanized solid backfill mining(FMSBM) technology adopts dense backfill body to support the roof. Based on the distinguishing characteristics and mine pressure control principle in this technology, the basic principles and methods for mining pressure monitoring were analyzed and established. And the characteristics of overburden strata movement were analyzed by monitoring the support resistance of hydraulic support, the dynamic subsidence of immediate roof, the stress of backfill body, the front abutment pressure, and the mass ratio of cut coal to backfilled materials. On-site strata behavior measurements of 7403 W solid backfilling working face in Zhai Zhen Coal Mine show that the backfill body can effectively support the overburden load, obviously control the overburden strata movement, and weaken the strata behaviors distinctly. Specific performances are as follows. The support resistance decreases obviously; the dynamic subsidence of immediate roof keeps consistent to the variation of backfill body stress, and tends to be stable after the face retreating to 120-150 m away from the cut. The peak value of front abutment pressure arises at 5-12 m before the operating face, and mass ratio is greater than the designed value of 1.15, which effectively ensures the control of strata movement. The research results are bases for intensively studying basic theories of solid backfill mining strata behaviors and its control, and provide theoretical guidance for engineering design in FMSBM.

Effect of suppressing dust by multi-direction whirling air curtain on fully mechanized mining face

A combined method of numerical simulation and field testing was adopted in this study in the interest of solving the problem of hard to control high concentrate dusts on a fully mechanized mining face. In addi- tion, the dust suppression effect of a multi-direction whirling air curtain was studied in this paper. Under the influence of the wall attachment effect, the compressed air which blows out from the two-phase or three-phase radial outlets on the generator of the air curtain can form a multi-direction whirling air curtain, which can cover the whole roadway section of a fully mechanized mining face. The traditional method of controlling dust is a forcing system with exhaust overlap which has the major disadvantage of lacking a jet effect and consequently results in poor dust control. It is difficult to form the air flow field within the range of Lp ≤ 5√S. However, due to the effect of this novel system, the radial airflow can be turned into axial airflow allowing fresh air to flow through the length of the heading. The air flow field which is good at controlling dust diffusion can be formed 12.8 m from the heading face. Furthermore, the field measurement results show that before the application of a multi-direction whirling air curtain, the dust concentration is 348.6 mg/m^3 and 271.4 mg/m^3 respectively at the roadway cross-section measurement points which are 5 m and 10 m from the heading face. However, after the application of the multi-direction whirling air curtain, the dust concentration is only 61.2 mg/m3 and 14.8 mg/m^3, respectively. Therefore, the dust control effect of a multi-direction whirling air curtain is obvious.

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.

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.

Fracture mechanics model of fully mechanized top coal caving of shallow coal seams and its application

Based on break characteristics of roofs in fully mechanized top-coal mining of thick shallow coal seams, a fracture mechanics model was built, and the criterion of crack propagation in the main roof was derived using the fracture mechanics theory. The relationships between the fracture length of the roof and the working resistance of the supports were discovered, and the correlations between the load on the overlying strata and the ratio of the crack's length to the thickness of the roof were obtained. Using a working face of Jindi Coal Mine, Xing county Shanxi province as an example, the relationships between the fracture length of the roof and the working resistance of the supports were analysed in detail. The results give a design basis in hydraulic top coal caving supports, which could provide useful references in the practical application. On-site experiment proves that the periodic weighting step interval of the caving face is 15–16 m, which is basically consistent with the theoretical analysis results, and indicates that the mechanized caving hydraulic support is capable of meeting the support requirements in the mining of a super-thick but shallowly buried coal seam.

Vertical transportation system of solid material for backfilling coal mining technology

For transportation of solid backfill material such as waste and fly ash from the surface to the bottom of the shaft in a fully mechanized backfilling coal backfilling coal mining technology, we developed a new vertical transportation system to transport this type of solid backfill material. Given the demands imposed on safely in feeding this material, we also investigated the structure and basic parameter of this system. For a mine in the Xingtai mining area the results show that: (1) a vertical transportation system should include three main parts, i.e., a feeding borehole, a maintenance chamber and a storage silo; (2) we determined that 486 mm is a suitable diameter for bore holes, the diameter of the storage silo is 6 m and its height 30 m in this vertical transportation system; (3) a conical buffer was developed to absorb the impact during the feeding process. To ensure normal implementation of fully mechanized backfilling coal mining technology and the safety of underground personnel, we propose a series of security technologies for anti-blockage, storage silo cleaning, high pressure air release and aspiration. This vertical transporting system has been applied in one this particular mine, which has fed about 4 million tons solid material with a feeding depth of 350 m and safely exploited 3 million tons of coal.

Application of deep borehole blasting on fully mechanized hard top-coal pre-splitting and gas extraction in the special thick seam

In order to solve the problems of top-coal inadequate destruction and large amounts of gas emission in mining extra thick and hard coal seam,this study investigated the pre-splitting for deep borehole blasting and gas pre-draining technologies on top coal.The mechanism of the technologies was systematically expounded based on hard top-coal cracks development obtained by numerical simulation and theoretical analysis.The results show that explosive blasting in the hard rock results in a large number of cracks and large displacement in the rock mass due to the effect of explosion stress.Meanwhile,the thick top-coal caves,and desorbing gas flows along the cracks improve gas extraction.Finally,the pre-splitting for deep borehole blasting and gas pre-draining technologies was applied in No.3802 working face of Shui Liandong Coal Mine,which increases monthly output in the face to 67.34 kt and the drained gas concentration to 86.2%.The drained gas average concentration from each borehole reaches 40%,and the effect is remarkable.

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.

我国大倾角煤层开采技术变革与展望

大倾角煤层是我国煤炭资源的主要赋存样式之一。在地域分布上呈现出广泛性与区域性,据不完全统计,全国25个省、自治区、直辖市均涉及该类煤层开采,在中西部地区储量丰富、产量大、生产集中程度高。在赋存条件上呈现出多样性与复杂性,不同区域成煤时期不一,构造控煤过程迥异,形成了多样且复杂的开采条件,催生了不同的开采技术要求。大倾角煤层开采的技术难度大。煤层倾角导致采场围岩运动破坏呈现非对称性显现特征,支护系统稳定性控制与“三机”配套与协同、采准巷道布置与支护、工作面“人-机”环境安全保障等工作的难度显著加剧,严重制约了矿井安全高效开采。大倾角煤层开采的区域经济需求强,该类煤层赋存与生产较集中的区域多见以煤炭工业为主的资源型城市,经济结构相对单一,煤炭资源安全高效开发利用对区域能源保供、民生保障、经济保稳具有兜底作用。长期以来,大倾角煤层开采技术变革聚焦于解决“难”与“需”的矛盾,在采煤方法与工艺、岩层控制理论与技术、成套装备研制与应用3个方面不断完善、创新、发展,实现了由非机械化向机械化开采的转变,安全产效水平大幅提升,人员劳动强度大幅下降,作业环境显著改善。20世纪90年代中期,川煤集团绿水洞煤矿首次成功实现了大倾角中厚煤层长壁综采,冲破了大倾角煤层机械化开采技术“禁区”。在此示范作用下,大倾角厚煤层长壁综放开采、大采高综采、薄煤层伪俯斜长壁综采三项首创性工程实践先后取得成功。这一过程中创新了工作面非线性限位布置与调斜方式,确立了“支架-围岩”系统稳定性多维交互控制模式,研发了工作面成套装备,取得良好收效,综合机械化开采技术适用范围进一步拓宽。与此同时,大倾角煤层开采仍存在许多亟待突破的关键科学问题与技术瓶颈,导致自动化、智能化水平提升与近水平/缓倾斜煤层相较仍存在较大差距。需进一步强化倾斜层状煤系地层煤岩体采动力学行为研究,揭示其对采场围岩灾变的控制机制,并实现量化表征;需进一步阐明岩体承载结构-采场装备群组系统间的多维动态作用过程与规律,完善装备与围岩多维动态多目标协同控制理论与技术基础,实现技术转化应用。在科学问题取得突破的基础上进行采煤方法、回采工艺、岩层控制、成套装备的系统性技术创新与研发,破解大倾角煤层开采安全-产效双提升的制约技术瓶颈,使大倾角煤层综合机械化开采倾角上限在有可靠技术保障的前提下向上延伸(扩展),为实现自动化、智能化开采奠定基础。

基于双曲嵌入的露天矿区暗光环境下道路多目标检测模型

露天矿环境特殊,道路场景复杂多变,在光照不足时会导致矿区道路多目标识别不清、定位不准,进而影响检测效果,给矿区无人矿用卡车的安全行驶带来严重安全隐患。目前的道路障碍物检测模型不能有效解决矿区暗光环境对模型检测效果的影响,同时对矿区小目标障碍物的识别也有较大误差,不适用于矿区特殊环境下障碍物的检测与识别。针对上述问题,提出了一种基于双曲嵌入的露天矿区暗光环境下多目标检测模型。首先,在模型的图像预处理阶段引入卷积神经网路Retinex-Net对暗图像进行增强,提高图像清晰度;然后,针对数据集中特征过多而无重点偏好的问题,在加强特征提取部分添加全局注意力机制,聚集3个维度上更关键的特征信息;最后,在检测模型预测阶段引入双曲全连接层,以减少特征丢失,并防止过拟合现象。实验结果表明:(1)基于双曲嵌入的露天矿区暗光环境下道路多目标检测模型不仅对露天矿区暗光环境下的大尺度目标具有较高的分类与定位精度,对矿用卡车及较远距离的小尺度目标即行人也可准确检测与定位,能够满足无人矿用卡车在矿区特殊环境下驾驶的安全需求。(2)模型的检测准确率达98.6%,检测速度为51.52帧/s,较SSD、YOLOv4、YOLOv5、YOLOx、YOLOv7分别提高20.31%,18.51%,10.53%,8.39%,13.24%,对于矿区道路上的行人、矿用卡车及挖机的检测精度达97%以上。

煤矿井下非均匀照度图像去噪研究

煤矿综采工作面空间小、照明环境复杂多变,采煤过程中伴随着大量的粉尘、大雾,导致采集的图像出现曝光、细节特征减弱等问题,难以对井下照明区域光照强度过大的图像进行有效的特征提取。针对上述问题,提出了一种煤矿井下非均匀照度图像去噪算法。首先,将视频截取为图像,判断图像是否需要进行光照抑制,将需要进行光照抑制的RGB图像拆分通道,并计算每个通道的光照调节因子,实现图像的整体光照调节;然后,将未进行整体光照抑制的图像和经整体光照抑制的图像进行反射分量提取,即将输入的图像转换为HSV空间图像,使用单尺度Retinex(SSR)算法对V通道图像中的光照分量进行单独处理,将V分量中的入射分量去除,保留反射分量,并对反射分量使用直方图均衡算法实现光照均衡化处理;最后,使用基于引导滤波的暗通道先验算法对经过光照处理后的图像进行去雾处理,并使用伽马校正函数重新调节亮度不均的图像。主观评价结果表明:提出的煤矿井下非均匀照度图像去噪算法有效抑制了因光照导致整体亮度较高的问题,且由于大雾、粉尘等因素导致图像模糊的部分更加清晰,图像的细节特征更加突出。采用信息熵、均值、标准差、空间频率4种评价指标对提出的算法效果进行客观评价,结果表明,提出的算法在信息熵、均值、标准差、空间频率上较多尺度Retinex(MSR)算法分别平均提升了21.87%,-56.06%,153.43%,294.45%,较基于颜色保持的多尺度视网膜增强(MSRCP)算法分别平均提升了1.18%,-39.56%,33.29%,-4.71%,较带色彩恢复的多尺度视网膜增强(MSRCR)算法分别平均提升了38.06%,-55.27%,462.10%,300.96%,说明提出的算法能更有效地增加图像信息量、抑制光照强度、提升边缘信息及图像清晰度。

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。

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。

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。

综采工作面分布式蓄能供液系统研究及应用

为解决综采工作面跟机移架速度慢的问题,提出了基于蓄能器的分布式供液系统,并在柠条塔S1204工作面开展了试验应用。根据工作面的采煤工艺和产能要求确定了跟机移架速度,建立了全工作面供液系统仿真模型,对液压支架单架、双架和三架同时移架的动作过程进行模拟并分析影响移架时间的因素,结果表明:为使工作面生产能力提升到1000万t/a,中部液压支架跟机速度要达到12 m/min以上,需采用双架或三架成组移架来满足其移架时间的要求。为解决该工况压力波动大且易产生丢架的现象,提出在液压支架上设置“蓄能器+单向阀”的分布式蓄能稳压方案,以平衡工作面液压系统瞬时大流量供给不足与平均供液能力过剩的矛盾,并给出了基于流量补偿的蓄能器选型方法。仿真分析表明在安装分布式稳压供液系统后,双架和三架成组移架时间分别减少6.2%和11.5%,尤其在受到其他系统用液扰动条件下,双架成组移架时间可缩短15%以上。井下应用结果表明,安装的分布式蓄能供液系统显著降低了成组拉架中的丢架现象,保证了采煤机运行速度达12 m/min以上;对工作面平均日进尺由16.7刀提高到19.8刀起到重要支撑作用,实现了常态化日进尺22刀,达到了年产1000万t的生产能力,研究工作为综采工作面快速成组跟机移架提供了有效解决方案。

智能综采工作面系统设计及关键技术研究

针对当前煤矿智能综采工作面系统功能划分不明确、设备协同运行存在困难等问题,基于智能综采工作面要素,在现有研究的基础上设计了智能综采工作面系统总体架构,并深入分析了远程集控中心、设备协同控制系统、智能监控预警系统、通讯网络系统、透明地质系统、智能负荷系统六大子系统功能、组成和工作流程。此外,对智能综采工作面三维透明地质建模技术、远程通信及数据传输技术以及多源异构数据融合技术进行了详细阐述,并结合系统架构构建了智能综采工作面系统的集成模型,完成了单系统向多系统智能化、系统化的转变,增强了系统的抗干扰能力。通过在河南龙宇能源股份有限公司陈四楼煤矿实际应用表明,该系统能够帮助作业人员更加直观精准地掌握综采工作面工况,可以有效提高了各系统的联动性,为矿井智能化建设提供了有力保障。