Bulking factor of the strata overlying the gob and a three-dimensional numerical simulation of the air leakage flow field

The present study examines the results of the researches related to the gob bulking factor carried out at home and abroad. A mathematical function of a three-dimensional gob bulking factor is described based on a three-dimensional gob model. The method of taking value for interstice and permeability ratios is also proposed. The law of air leakage of fully mechanized top coal is researched in this study. The results show that the speed of air flow near the upper and lower crossheadings is higher than that in the central section of the gob at the same distance from the working face. When the amount of air at the working face exceeds a critical amount, the width of the spontaneous combustion zone in the upper and lower crossheadings is also larger than that in the central section. In this situation, the key is preventing the coal left in the upper and lower crossheadings from self-igniting. Reducing the amount of air at the working face can decrease the width of the spontaneous combustion zone, especially the width near the upper and lower crossheadings. This also moves the spontaneous combustion zone in the direction of the working face. It can prevent the coal in the gob from self-igniting by making the coal left in the crossheadings to be inert and by effectively controlling the amount of air at the working face.