Work

Study on Rational Roadway Layout and Air Leakage Prevention in Shallow Close-Distance Coal Seam Mining

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: To address the issues of roadway instability and severe air leakage in goaf areas during overlapping coal pillar mining in shallow multi-seam coalfields, this study takes the 22,209 working face of Huojitu Shaft in the Shendong Daliuta Mine as the research object. Using the discrete element method (DEM), the optimal layout of roadways in the lower coal seam and the corresponding evolution of overburden fractures were simulated. In addition, the effectiveness of goaf backfilling in controlling overburden air leakage channels was analyzed and verified. The results indicate that the width of coal pillars in the upper seam should be greater than approximately 23 m to ensure that roadways remain in a stress-stable zone. Roadways in the lower seam should be horizontally arranged within a range of 35–55 m from the center of the overlying coal pillar. This layout effectively avoids placing the roadway beneath the high-stress concentration zone or the pressure-relief area of the goaf. After mining the upper coal seam, the overburden collapse zone takes on a “trapezoidal” shape, and mining-induced fractures develop upward to the surface, forming vertical and inclined fracture channels that penetrate to the surface, resulting in severe air leakage in the goaf. Following the mining of the lower seam, the interlayer strata are completely fractured, leading to secondary development of fractures in the overlying old goaf. This results in the formation of a connected fracture network spanning from the surface through the seam goaf linkage. Implementing goaf backfilling measures significantly reduces the vertical settlement of the overburden, prevents the formation of through-layer air leakage channels, and effectively mitigates interlayer air leakage problems during lower-seam mining.

Source: Processes

DOI: 10.3390/pr13061641

Author: Ying Liu

Institution: Beijing Information Science & Technology University

Language: English

Topic: Geomechanics and Mining Engineering

Subfield: Mechanics of Materials

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,896