Effects of oxygen consumption characteristics of goaf on the low oxygen formation mechanism in the working face

Abstract

Low oxygen at a coal mine's working face has a detrimental impact on working conditions and productivity. This study conducted an experiment on oxygen consumption at low temperatures, quantified the rate of air infiltration, and scrutinised and examined the zoning division of coal seam gas occurrences. The gas change rules in the return air corner and the goaf and the gas outflow rules in the goaf to the working face are analysed. Experiment results reveal that residual coal predominantly consumes oxygen through a combination of physical adsorption and chemical reaction, which is the key factor in the decrease in oxygen concentration. The examination showed, that the gas emission rate of air from the surface cracks to the working face is 0.09–0.13 m·s⁻¹. Air leakage in the goaf results in the oxidation of residual coal and consequently leads to significant oxygen consumption. The release of low-oxygen gases from the oxidation of residual coal in the goaf to the working face is facilitated by atmospheric pressure and negative pressure ventilation methods, which act as sources of power. The research findings offer direction for examining and managing the problem of low oxygen in coal mine working faces.