Determination of the Parameters of Technological Schemes for the Development of Coal Seams Prone to Spontaneous Combustion using Computer Simulation

Sergey Meshkov,M Tyulenev,Y Tan,P Stefanek,S Zhironkin,D Nuray,J Janocko,M Cehlár,A Khoreshok,D Marasová,S Anyona,A Abay,S Vöth

doi:10.1051/e3sconf/201910501016

Abstract

The study considers thr problem of endogenous fire hazard in underground mining of coal seams prone to spontaneous combustion. The main trends in the development of modern technology of underground coal mining are shown. The interaction of air-gas-dynamic and geomechanical processes in the development of coal seams by longwall mining is considered. The possibilities of computer simulation of air-gas-dynamic processes in the extraction districts of modern coal mines are considered. The significant influence of geological and mining conditions of mining operations on the distribution of air flow in extraction districts and the efficiency of gas emission control in the workings of the extraction districts are shown. The design scheme and the results of numerical studies (methane and oxygen concentration fields) are given. It is concluded that it is necessary to determine the rational parameters of the preparation, ventilation, isolated drainage and degassing schemes when developing gas-bearing coal seams that are prone to spontaneous combustion. Recommendations are given on improvement of the safety in mining coal seams that are prone to spontaneous combustion.

Highlights

Endogenous fires present one of the most severe types of accidents in coal mines, causing significant economic damage associated with both the direct costs of their liquidation and long downtime of coal mining enterprises, as well as the loss of reserves prepared for extraction
Increasing output per coal faces during the mining of gas-bearing coal seams leads to an increase in the methane content of extraction districts
Computer simulation is a modern tool for substantiating the parameters of technological schemes for mining gas-bearing coal seams that are prone to spontaneous combustion

Summary

Introduction

Endogenous fires present one of the most severe types of accidents in coal mines, causing significant economic damage associated with both the direct costs of their liquidation and long downtime of coal mining enterprises, as well as the loss of reserves prepared for extraction. Increasing output per coal faces during the mining of gas-bearing coal seams leads to an increase in the methane content of extraction districts. Due to the controlled air leakage through the goaf, isolation of the longwall face is ensured, the use of such a scheme requires additional substantiation of its parameters to reduce production costs and eliminate spontaneous combustion of coal in the goaf area. The increase in the length of the longwall and in the output per face led to a significant change in the air-gas-dynamic conditions in the extraction districts, preventing the effective use of the previously obtained dependencies and effective management of the methane release. The analysis of world experience shows that three-dimensional computer modeling using the methods and approaches of continuum mechanics is successfully used to substantiate the parameters of preparation, ventilation and degassing schemes [11,12], and to ensure endogenous fire safety [13,14,15,16]

Methods

Results

Conclusion