Water Preservation and Conservation above Coal Mines Using an Innovative Approach: A Case Study
To better protect the ecological environment during large scale underground coal mining operations in the northwest of China, the authors have proposed a water-conservation coal mining (WCCM) method. This case study demonstrated the successful application of WCCM in the Yu-Shen mining area. Firstly,...
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MDPI AG
2020-06-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/11/2818 |
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| author | Yujun Xu Liqiang Ma Yihe Yu |
| author_facet | Yujun Xu Liqiang Ma Yihe Yu |
| author_sort | Yujun Xu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | To better protect the ecological environment during large scale underground coal mining operations in the northwest of China, the authors have proposed a water-conservation coal mining (WCCM) method. This case study demonstrated the successful application of WCCM in the Yu-Shen mining area. Firstly, by using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), the influencing factors of WCCM were identified and the identification model with a multilevel structure was developed, to determine the weight of each influencing factor. Based on this, the five maps: overburden thickness contour, stratigraphic structure map, water-rich zoning map of aquifers, aquiclude thickness contour and coal seam thickness contour, were analyzed and determined. This formed the basis for studying WCCM in the mining area. Using the geological conditions of the Yu-Shen mining area, the features of caved zone, water conductive fractured zone (WCFZ) and protective zone were studied. The equations for calculating the height of the “three zones” were proposed. Considering the hydrogeological condition of Yu-Shen mining area, the criteria were put forward to evaluate the impact of coal mining on groundwater, which were then used to determine the distribution of different impact levels. Using strata control theory, the mechanism and applicability of WCCM methods, including height-restricted mining, (partial) backfill mining and narrow strip mining, together with the applicable zone of these methods, were analyzed and identified. Under the guidance of “two zoning” (zoning based on coal mining’s impact level on groundwater and zoning based on applicability of WCCM methods), the WCCM practice was carried out in Yu-Shen mining area. The research findings will provide theoretical and practical instruction for the WCCM in the northwest mining area of China, which is important to reduce the impact of mining on surface and groundwater. |
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-45f3e34d2d924f278971d5126f3e5613 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:25:50Z |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-45f3e34d2d924f278971d5126f3e56132023-11-20T02:35:21ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732020-06-011311281810.3390/en13112818Water Preservation and Conservation above Coal Mines Using an Innovative Approach: A Case StudyYujun Xu0Liqiang Ma1Yihe Yu2State Key Laboratory of Coal Resources and Mine Safety, School of Mines, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Coal Resources and Mine Safety, School of Mines, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Coal Resources and Mine Safety, School of Mines, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, ChinaTo better protect the ecological environment during large scale underground coal mining operations in the northwest of China, the authors have proposed a water-conservation coal mining (WCCM) method. This case study demonstrated the successful application of WCCM in the Yu-Shen mining area. Firstly, by using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), the influencing factors of WCCM were identified and the identification model with a multilevel structure was developed, to determine the weight of each influencing factor. Based on this, the five maps: overburden thickness contour, stratigraphic structure map, water-rich zoning map of aquifers, aquiclude thickness contour and coal seam thickness contour, were analyzed and determined. This formed the basis for studying WCCM in the mining area. Using the geological conditions of the Yu-Shen mining area, the features of caved zone, water conductive fractured zone (WCFZ) and protective zone were studied. The equations for calculating the height of the “three zones” were proposed. Considering the hydrogeological condition of Yu-Shen mining area, the criteria were put forward to evaluate the impact of coal mining on groundwater, which were then used to determine the distribution of different impact levels. Using strata control theory, the mechanism and applicability of WCCM methods, including height-restricted mining, (partial) backfill mining and narrow strip mining, together with the applicable zone of these methods, were analyzed and identified. Under the guidance of “two zoning” (zoning based on coal mining’s impact level on groundwater and zoning based on applicability of WCCM methods), the WCCM practice was carried out in Yu-Shen mining area. The research findings will provide theoretical and practical instruction for the WCCM in the northwest mining area of China, which is important to reduce the impact of mining on surface and groundwater.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/11/2818water protectionwater-conservation coal mining (WCCM)influencing factors“five mapsthree zonesand two zoning plans” |
| spellingShingle | Yujun Xu Liqiang Ma Yihe Yu Water Preservation and Conservation above Coal Mines Using an Innovative Approach: A Case Study Energies water protection water-conservation coal mining (WCCM) influencing factors “five maps three zones and two zoning plans” |
| title | Water Preservation and Conservation above Coal Mines Using an Innovative Approach: A Case Study |
| title_full | Water Preservation and Conservation above Coal Mines Using an Innovative Approach: A Case Study |
| title_fullStr | Water Preservation and Conservation above Coal Mines Using an Innovative Approach: A Case Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Water Preservation and Conservation above Coal Mines Using an Innovative Approach: A Case Study |
| title_short | Water Preservation and Conservation above Coal Mines Using an Innovative Approach: A Case Study |
| title_sort | water preservation and conservation above coal mines using an innovative approach a case study |
| topic | water protection water-conservation coal mining (WCCM) influencing factors “five maps three zones and two zoning plans” |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/11/2818 |
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