Technology progress in horizontal sublevel top coal caving mining for near-vertical extra-thick coal seams:A case study of Wudong Coal Mine
WANG Jiachen
WEI Weijie
YANG Shengli
ZAHNG Jinwang
LI Lianghui
Abstract：Horizontal sublevel top coal caving mining technology(HSTCC)is currently one of the effective mining methods for steeply inclined extra-thick coal seams.With the continuous improvement of equipment and technical levels,the sublevel height and production capacity of the panel are constantly increasing,and the level of intelligence is also continuously improving.This paper systematically summarized the historical process of HSTCC,and took the Wudong Coal Mine of Xinjiang Energy as an example to introduce the latest progress of HSTCC with the near-vertical seam,which belongs the relatively large dip angle in steeply inclined seams.The stress distribution characteristics and evolution laws of HSTCC were investigated,and the fracture models of the roof and floor of the panel and the rock pillars of the coal seam group were established.The reasonable roadway layout position was discussed,ensuring the dual goals of maximizing the top coal recovery ratio and economic rationalization.The theoretical e-quations of the drawing body and the top coal boundary under the influence of the inclination boundary of the roof and floor were derived.The end-full and multi-round sublevel reverse se-quence caving methods have been developed,which greatly reduced the coal loss of the whole HSTCC panel.High recognition accuracy and self-cleaning dust-proof cameras have been de-veloped,and an image recognition intelligent caving system and electro-hydraulic control signal communication architecture have been established,achieving intelligent caving control in HSTCC panels.The research results have scientific guiding significance for improving the top coal recovery and the stability of surrounding rock in HSTCC panels.
Keywords：near-vertical coal seamhorizontal sublevel top coal caving miningstress evolu-tionroof fracturecaving methodintelligent caving
Publication Date：2025-11-30
Online Publishing Date：2026-01-09(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：19( 1223-1241 )