Numerical simulation to determine the gas explosion risk in longwall goaf areas: A case study of Xutuan Colliery

Abstract

Underground gassy longwall mining goafs may suffer potential gas explosions during the mining process because of the irregularity of gas emissions in the goaf and poor ventilation of the working face, which are risks difficult to control. In this work, the 3235 working face of the Xutuan Colliery in Suzhou City, China, was researched as a case study. The effects of air quantity and gas emission on the three-dimensional distribution of oxygen and methane concentration in the longwall goaf were studied. Based on the revised Coward’s triangle and linear coupling region formula, the coupled methane-oxygen explosive hazard zones (CEHZs) were drawn. Furthermore, a simple practical index was proposed to quantitatively determine the gas explosion risk in the longwall goaf. The results showed that the CEHZs mainly focus on the intake side where the risk of gas explosion is greatest. The CEHZ is reduced with increasing air quantity. Moreover, the higher the gas emission, the larger the CEHZ, which moves towards the intake side at low goaf heights and shifts to the deeper parts of the goaf at high heights. In addition, the risk of gas explosion is reduced as air quantities increase, but when gas emissions increase to a higher level (greater than 50 m3/min), the volume of the CEHZ does not decrease with the increase of air quantity, and the risk of gas explosion no longer shows a linear downward trend. This study is of significance as it seeks to reduce gas explosion accidents and improve mine production safety.