Experimental Study on the Efficacy of Water Infusion for Underground Mining of a Coal Seam

The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of the water infusion method for various coalfaces of a coal seam by an experimental study. First, laboratory tests were performed on several coal samples taken from actual coalfaces to determine the general characteristics, especially the strength properties, with respect to the moisture content and time. The results obtained from the laboratory were employed to evaluate the appropriate parameters (e.g., water injection time and the optimum moisture content) for water infusion works in the field. A field test was then performed in order to assess the efficacy of water infusion for underground mining. The spalling depth (i.e., longwall face failure of coal wall, involving the stability of underground mining coalfaces) and mining velocity (i.e., involving the cost-effectiveness of mining constructions) were monitored at various coalfaces for both case studies (i.e., with and without water infusion). Expectedly, the field test results revealed that the spalling depth decreased significantly, whereas the mining velocity sped up considerably, at coalfaces using water infusion compared to at those without using the water infusion method. In conclusion, the promising findings obtained from the field test reinforced the efficacy of water infusion for underground mining coalfaces.