Abstract: For Tashan coal mine, Coal Seam #5(3-5) belongs to Permian-Carboniferous ultra thick coal seam. With mining in the overlying Coal Seam #2, more concerns are pulled for mining activity of underlying coal seams. This article focuses on fully-mechanized workface with top coal caving in the ultra thick coal seam, and analyzes caving ability and characteristic of top roof coal as well as the selection and calculation for mining equipment in the working face. It is determined on the issues of the feasibility of top caving mining method in ultra thick coal seam, and corresponding parameters of working face design and mining equipment selection. The article could provide practical reference for future similar working face mining design.

Key words: ultra thick coal seam, mining design, top-coal caving characteristics, working face equipment.