China University of Mining and Technology Develops Innovative Coal Mining Technology

Strategic Insights -

A team of inventors at China University of Mining and Technology has patented a coal mining system and method that uses dual circulation drilling with mechanical reaming and abrasive jet technology. The system, which was published on June 24, 2025, involves a complex process that includes rotary cutting, drilling, and slotting operations on a coal seam in a borehole, followed by coal breaking operations using an abrasive jet.

According to the inventors, the system addresses the limitations of traditional coal mining techniques and provides a safer and more efficient method for coal mining operations. The system includes a mechanical coal breaking module, an air lift reverse circulation module, a jet coal breaking module, and a coal-air-water separation module. The mechanical coal breaking module performs rotary cutting, drilling, and slotting operations on the coal seam, while the air lift reverse circulation module transports the coal-air-water mixture to the coal-air-water separation module. The jet coal breaking module performs coal breaking operations on the coal seam using an abrasive jet.

Key Takeaways:

  • The patented system uses dual circulation drilling with mechanical reaming and abrasive jet technology to extract coal seams.
  • The system involves a complex process that includes rotary cutting, drilling, and slotting operations, followed by coal breaking operations using an abrasive jet.
  • The mechanical coal breaking module includes a drill pipe rotating device, a drill pipe, and a reamer bit, which are connected sequentially to perform the cutting, drilling, and slotting operations.
  • The air lift reverse circulation module includes an air compressor and a dual-wall drill pipe, which transports the coal-air-water mixture to the coal-air-water separation module through a single wall drill pipe.
  • The jet coal breaking module includes a mixing truck, an abrasive tank, and a water tank, which supply mixed abrasive to the fracturing truck to perform coal breaking operations.
  • The system addresses the limitations of traditional coal mining techniques, providing a safer and more efficient method for coal mining operations.
  • The claims of the patent include four specific embodiments of the mining method, which detail the steps involved in the coal mining process.

Statistics:

  • The patent number is 12338721.
  • The patent was filed on July 1, 2024, and published online on June 24, 2025.
  • The system involves a complex process that includes four separate modules: mechanical coal breaking, air lift reverse circulation, jet coal breaking, and coal-air-water separation.
  • The mechanical coal breaking module performs rotary cutting, drilling, and slotting operations on the coal seam using a drill pipe rotating device, a drill pipe, and a reamer bit.
  • The air lift reverse circulation module transports the coal-air-water mixture to the coal-air-water separation module through a single wall drill pipe.
  • The jet coal breaking module performs coal breaking operations on the coal seam using an abrasive jet.

Sources:

  • Li, Hao. Coal mining system and method of dual circulation drilling with mechanical reaming and abrasive jet. U.S. Patent Number 12338721, filed July 1, 2024, and published online on June 24, 2025. Patent URL (for desktop use only): https://ppubs.uspto.gov/pubwebapp/external.html?q=(12338721)&db=USPAT&type=ids