Authors: A.N. Starodubov

Title of the article: Justification of the application area of the technology of extracting thick flat-lying seams with controlled coal release by means of computer modeling

Year: 2025, Issue: 6, Pages: 171-181

Branch of knowledge: 2.8.8 Geotechnology, mining machines

Index UDK: 004.942; 622.3

DOI: 10.26730/1999-4125-2025-6-171-181

Abstract: Methods of underground mining of thick and gently dipping coal seams, which provide a significant share of global production (12%), are being improved in many countries. As a rule, thick seams contain substantial reserves of high-quality coal ranks that are in demand on the market. Technologies developed in the USSR and France, where coal is crushed under the influence of rock pressure and then released onto the face or waste conveyor, have been widely used. The need for efficient development of thick seams stimulates the advancement of new technologies and equipment, contributing to progress in the mining industry. The use of technology developed at the Institute of Coal of the FRC CCC SB RAS for mining thick coal seams with controlled release of coal of roof and interlayer strata onto the face conveyor, using mechanized support with a output window in the supporting part, an adjustable feeder, and a movable damper ensures high productivity and recovery dredging. This is achieved by forming a reversal of the coal flow during the movement of the mechanized support similar to the traditional technology with a cyclic stopping of the longwall combine for under-roof coal output. Numerical modeling on the developed models using the discrete element method has revealed that the technology is effective in most mining and geological conditions, except for situations with unstable false or immediate low-power roofs and stable main roof. The problem lies in the absence of constant area support on the coal seam, which leads to the wedging of draw rock into the coal mass and loss of coal. To increase efficiency and safety preliminary disintegration of main roof rocks is required in order to ensure constant support of the coal seam, minimize coal losses in the blockage space and consequently reduce the probability of dynamic phenomena and coal spontaneous combustion of coal.

Key words: subsurface mining under-roof coal output mechanized powered roof support numerical simulation discrete element method thick and gently dipping coal seam

Receiving date: 25.09.2025

Approval date: 15.11.2025

Publication date: 22.12.2025

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