Optimization of Caving Technology in an Extrathick Seam with Longwall Top Coal Caving Mining

The optimization of top coal caving technology is an efficient method to improve the recovery ratio in longwall top coal caving (LTCC). In extrathick coal seams, the conventional single-opening sequential caving technology (SOSCT) shows the following problems: low recovery ratio, high rock mixed rat...

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Main Authors: Liu Yang, Lianghui Li, Weijie Wei
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-01-01
Series:Advances in Materials Science and Engineering
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/7725159
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author Liu Yang
Lianghui Li
Weijie Wei
author_facet Liu Yang
Lianghui Li
Weijie Wei
author_sort Liu Yang
collection DOAJ
description The optimization of top coal caving technology is an efficient method to improve the recovery ratio in longwall top coal caving (LTCC). In extrathick coal seams, the conventional single-opening sequential caving technology (SOSCT) shows the following problems: low recovery ratio, high rock mixed ratio, and poor drawing balance. For these problems, this research verifies the applicability of multiopening caving technology (MOCT) in extrathick coal seams theoretically. However, different drawing sequences have a great effect on the drawing mechanism. Based on the progressive drawing sequence of cluster-group-support, this paper firstly proposes a systematic naming method for the top coal caving technology. Furthermore, an independent cluster-group caving technology (ICGCT) is given, meaning that all supports are divided into several clusters, a cluster is divided into several groups, and clusters extract top coal in positive order while groups are in reverse order in the drawing process. By establishing an experimental model by the discrete element method PFC2D, the drawing mechanism is investigated under different caving technologies. The results show that ICGCT significantly improves the recovery ratio of the panel and mainly increases the drawing volume of top coal in the middle and upper end of the panel. The shape of the top coal boundary reflects the drawing efficiency. Due to the effect of drawing sequence in ICGCT, the generation and disappearance processes of coal ridge greatly decrease the residual top coal in the middle of the panel. The drawing body shape has a direct influence on the recovery ratio. Multiple complete drawing bodies exist in ICGCT, and the dispersion coefficient of drawing volume changes periodically in the range of 0.5–1.7, which is conducive to the management of drawing processes. In addition, discussing ICGCT and the dependent cluster-group caving technology (DCGCT), it is found that the recovery ratio of DCGCT has a slight increase, which enlarges the maximum drawing range of top coal at both panel ends, shortening the total drawing time of the panel. In summary, ICGCT provides a new approach for improving the recovery ratio and drawing balance in LTCC with an extrathick coal seam.
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spelling doaj-art-923521a4c1534e3893baa93a9e0cb9422025-02-03T07:23:29ZengWileyAdvances in Materials Science and Engineering1687-84341687-84422021-01-01202110.1155/2021/77251597725159Optimization of Caving Technology in an Extrathick Seam with Longwall Top Coal Caving MiningLiu Yang0Lianghui Li1Weijie Wei2School of Energy and Mining Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology-Beijing, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Energy and Mining Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology-Beijing, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Energy and Mining Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology-Beijing, Beijing 100083, ChinaThe optimization of top coal caving technology is an efficient method to improve the recovery ratio in longwall top coal caving (LTCC). In extrathick coal seams, the conventional single-opening sequential caving technology (SOSCT) shows the following problems: low recovery ratio, high rock mixed ratio, and poor drawing balance. For these problems, this research verifies the applicability of multiopening caving technology (MOCT) in extrathick coal seams theoretically. However, different drawing sequences have a great effect on the drawing mechanism. Based on the progressive drawing sequence of cluster-group-support, this paper firstly proposes a systematic naming method for the top coal caving technology. Furthermore, an independent cluster-group caving technology (ICGCT) is given, meaning that all supports are divided into several clusters, a cluster is divided into several groups, and clusters extract top coal in positive order while groups are in reverse order in the drawing process. By establishing an experimental model by the discrete element method PFC2D, the drawing mechanism is investigated under different caving technologies. The results show that ICGCT significantly improves the recovery ratio of the panel and mainly increases the drawing volume of top coal in the middle and upper end of the panel. The shape of the top coal boundary reflects the drawing efficiency. Due to the effect of drawing sequence in ICGCT, the generation and disappearance processes of coal ridge greatly decrease the residual top coal in the middle of the panel. The drawing body shape has a direct influence on the recovery ratio. Multiple complete drawing bodies exist in ICGCT, and the dispersion coefficient of drawing volume changes periodically in the range of 0.5–1.7, which is conducive to the management of drawing processes. In addition, discussing ICGCT and the dependent cluster-group caving technology (DCGCT), it is found that the recovery ratio of DCGCT has a slight increase, which enlarges the maximum drawing range of top coal at both panel ends, shortening the total drawing time of the panel. In summary, ICGCT provides a new approach for improving the recovery ratio and drawing balance in LTCC with an extrathick coal seam.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/7725159
spellingShingle Liu Yang
Lianghui Li
Weijie Wei
Optimization of Caving Technology in an Extrathick Seam with Longwall Top Coal Caving Mining
Advances in Materials Science and Engineering
title Optimization of Caving Technology in an Extrathick Seam with Longwall Top Coal Caving Mining
title_full Optimization of Caving Technology in an Extrathick Seam with Longwall Top Coal Caving Mining
title_fullStr Optimization of Caving Technology in an Extrathick Seam with Longwall Top Coal Caving Mining
title_full_unstemmed Optimization of Caving Technology in an Extrathick Seam with Longwall Top Coal Caving Mining
title_short Optimization of Caving Technology in an Extrathick Seam with Longwall Top Coal Caving Mining
title_sort optimization of caving technology in an extrathick seam with longwall top coal caving mining
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/7725159
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AT lianghuili optimizationofcavingtechnologyinanextrathickseamwithlongwalltopcoalcavingmining
AT weijiewei optimizationofcavingtechnologyinanextrathickseamwithlongwalltopcoalcavingmining