Numerical modelling of loose top coal and roof mass movement for a re-mined seam using the top coal caving method

The re-mined face using top coal caving system is the most applicable method for recovering the remaining reserves of a previous partially-mined thick coal seam. However, this mining method may encounter the problems of low recovery and unpredicted geological conditions. A numerical model is developed using PFC2D for studying the movement of top coal mass and development of coal-rock mass interface at a longwall top coal caving re-mined face. The re-mined face advances in the lower seam below the upper solid coal pillar, previous entries and gob. A theoretical analysis according to the unsteady flow model is developed to calculate the proper time duration of caving operation. The results showed that the top coal to be recovered through the caving window before the initiation of caving operation is a partial spheroid-shaped geometry. The boundary between the coal and rock mass then develops to a funnel-shaped coal-roof interface as the caving operation continues. The top coal recovery is 98.1%, 77.1% and 70.5% for caving operations below the solid coal, entries and gob area in the upper seam, respectively. The proper timing of caving and interval of caving operation is important for obtaining a high coal recovery. Good agreement is achieved between the proposed model and the improved Boundary-Release model for short of B-R model. The study in this work may provide reference for the safety and efficiency of the extraction of the longwall top coal caving re-mined face.