Technological, economic and ecological aspects of selective coal mining from ultra-thin seams in conditions of Ukraine

Abstract

Purpose. At present one of the topical problems associated with coal seams mining is the issue of induced wall-rock coal-cutting with stone, which results in coal getting clogged with refuse stone and turning into the rock mass. All mines of Western Donbas produce coal with average ash content of 31 -49%. Selective mining can become a solution to this problem as it allows to incorporate reserves with unconventional thickness that are in the mine balance sheet. The main objective of the present research is to substantiate selective technology of coal extraction applicability for mining of ultra thin coal seams in conditions of Ukrainian mines. Methods.Hazardous substances' emissions into the atmosphere arising from implementation of bulk technology of coal extraction are estimated by analytical method.Findings. Consequences of the increase in power plants' production capacity achieved by utilizing low-ash coal extracted by selective technology are presented.Originality. The research looks into economic efficiency of implementing selective extracting technology for mining reserves with unconventional thickness in Ukrainian mines, particularly in Western Donbas. Practical implications.The conducted analysis demonstrated that implementation of new technology will allow to resolve complex issues of coal quality increase, maintenance, reinforcement and reuse of mine workings, backfilling of worked-out area and improvement of ecological situation in coal mining regions.

The Philosophy of Mining: Historical Aspect and Future Prospect

“…Schemes of a flat and a shaft surface are radically simplified. The predicted efficiency of thin coal seams development will increase by 5-7 times in comparison with traditional technologies [Astafiev et al, 2016;Snihur et al, 2016;Petlovanyi et al, 2018].…”

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“…Schemes of a flat and a shaft surface are radically simplified. The predicted efficiency of thin coal seams development will increase by 5-7 times in comparison with traditional technologies [Astafiev et al, 2016;Snihur et al, 2016;.…”

Effectiveness of Geo-Energy Usage during Underground Mining of Deposits

“…Fig. 2: Regular it y of specific prime cost of drivage operations from used energy of the massif Usage of up to 10% relative amount of the energy that concentrated around stoping chambers on linear dependence increases specific cost efficiency of stoping operations and will allow to cut down expenses up to $0.001 for 1 t for primary and secondary crushing of ore due to change of the direction of drilling of operational boreholes on the mines of PJSC "Zaporizsky IOP"; to decrease costs on $0.15 for 1 t for drilling, loading and secondary crushing of ore due to increase in distance between operational boreholes at mines of SE "Vostochny MPP"; to cut down expenses on $0.19 for 1 t during increasing in stability of ore and rock exposures in stoping chambers, decreasing in losses and impoverishment of ore due to giving of a steady shape to structural elements of blocks in mines of PJSC "Kryvorizsky IOP; to decrease costs for $0.21 for 1 t with giving of a steady shape of developments of cutting undercutting that excludes unauthorized collapses of ore in stopping chambers at mines of PJSC "Zaporizsky IOP" [12].…”