CSIR Central

Optimum Chain Pillar Design at the Deepest Multi-Seam Longwall Workings in India

IR@CIMFR: CSIR-Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research, Dhanbad


Field	Value

Title	Optimum Chain Pillar Design at the Deepest Multi-Seam Longwall Workings in India

Creator	Ghosh, Nilabjendu Agrawal, Harshit Singh, Satyendra Kumar Banerjee, Gautam

Subject	Geo-Mechanics and Mine Design

Description	High-production methods like longwall mining with hydraulic powered supports are necessary to increase underground coal production in India. Longwall mining had a mixed success record for Indian geo-mining conditions. In this paper, an analysis is presented to optimally design an array of chain pillars in multi-seam longwall mining panels in the deepest coal mine in India. The study found that a chain pillar of 80-m width and 195-m length is necessary for long-term stability without any reinforcement. It was also observed that an optimum chain pillar can be designed by providing suitable side reinforcement (side bolting) which will reduce the chain pillar dimensions to 55-m width and 160-m length. Optimum design of chain pillars will reduce the coal locked up in these chain pillars by ~ 77%. This will also reduce the gestation period of longwall mining panel development. This paper also evaluates the maximum tensile subsidence strain induced at the surface and finds that the values are within the safe working limit of 3 mm/m. Thus, this paper finds direct application in the design of future multi-seam retreating longwall mining panels in Indian geo-mining conditions

Publisher	Springer

Date	2020-04

Type	Article PeerReviewed

Relation	https://doi.org/10.1007/s42461-019-00138-z http://cimfr.csircentral.net/2242/

Identifier	Ghosh, Nilabjendu and Agrawal, Harshit and Singh, Satyendra Kumar and Banerjee, Gautam (2020) Optimum Chain Pillar Design at the Deepest Multi-Seam Longwall Workings in India. Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration, 37. pp. 651-664.