SYNOPSIS

Research Topic: “Prevention of spontaneous combustion in coal Stockpiles”

Introduction

Large coal mines must have enough coal reserves to meet the continuous demand of electricity generation in
power plants. But through a long period of accumulation, the stockpiled coal would generate oxidation
reaction for the reason of the oxygen accumulated in the gaps of the coal seam, resulting in lots of heat,
which leads to the temperature of coal gradually increased, ultimately causes combustion and serious
environmental pollution In order to prevent environmental pollution and potential safety hazard, it needs to
monitor the stockpiled coal to prevent spontaneous combustion from happening. To find new methods and
theories to inhibit spontaneous combustion of coal pile, to explore the influencing factors of spontaneous
combustion of coal pile and prediction methods of spontaneous combustion based on these factors, is of
great significance for efficient prevention and control of spontaneous combustion which often results in
chronic and severe environmental pollution with a higher PM2.5 index.

The spontaneous combustion of coal stockpile can cause serious environmental

pollution. Inducing factors of spontaneous combustion involves various components such as oxygen
concentration, shape of coal pile, moisture content, ash content and environmental temperature under certain
ventilation situation. The resulting environment pollution is chronic and serious; for example, the increase of
environmental indicative value PM2.5 is a gradually developing process, which is induced by fine particles
emitted from the burning coal pile and various volatile mash gas such as CH 4, SO2, CO, CO2.
Spontaneous combustion is a complex physical and chemical phenomena associated with many certain and
uncertain factors, which requires scientific detection methods and prediction theories to prevent serious
pollution to the environment. However, up to date, no precise mathematical model can be developed to
describe this phenomena. Although many experimental explorations have been made by physical and
chemical analysis method, it is still time-consuming and strenuous to find the potential relationship among
combustion related influencing factors. Therefore, it is inefficient to predict the tendency of spontaneous
combustion by using physical and chemical analysis method. Instead, direct and efficient methods should be
explored.

If the internal parameters in the coal pile are detected by instrument ,the
possibility of spontaneous combustion can be obtained directly. Therefore, it is the more effective safety
control method for it does not require tedious and laborious physical and chemical analyses on spontaneous
combustion. Accordingly, it has universal applicability to any type of stockpiled coal. However, the traditional

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detection methods by instrument are old-fashioned, low efficiency, time-consuming and strenuous, leading to
poor accuracy of measurement

Spontaneous combustion:

The spontaneous combustion of coal is a common concern within the coal stockyard and inter-burden layers
in coal mines. It is a process of self-heating without the application of external heat. When coal comes in
contact with oxygen, the oxidation process starts and heat is produced.Each side of the triangle represents
one of three components needed to have a fire – oxygen, fuel and heat. Fire is a chemical reaction and
without one of these components, fire cannot exist or be sustained. The air that surrounds us contains
approximately 21% oxygen. Air supporting a fire must be at least 16% oxygen content to burn. Fuel is
considered any material capable of burning and is characterized by its moisture content (how wet the fuel is),
size, shape, quantity, and the arrangement in which it is spread over the landscape.

Factors determining the siting and design of coal stockpiles

 The nature of the quarried material.
 The ground used for the stockpiles- It should be firm and provide a stable foundation.

 The volume of product.

 The area available and required.

 Other potential hazards.

 Environmental considerations.

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Coal Stock Pile Spontaneous Combustion

Spontaneous combustion is a common occurrence when storing coal for extended periods of time. This may
also be problematic when stockpiling waste/spoil materials that contain large quantities of coal. Early
detection and prevention of spontaneous combustion is critical in order to prevent serious incidents occurring.

How Does Spontaneous Combustion Occur?

Coal naturally oxidises over time. This causes an exothermic reaction that produces heat. The reaction is
accelerated by the addition of further heat (sunlight, hot winds,etc). If the heat from the coal oxidising is
trapped it will continue to self-heat and will eventually rise above the ignition temperature. Once the ignition
temperature is reached the risk of spontaneous combustion is extremely high. At this moment only oxygen is
needed to cause the coal to ignite and spontaneously combust. Since coal is a fuel source and is able to
generate its own heat, the risk of a small fire quickly getting out of control is quite high.

Spontaneous combustion can happen with any soil with high coal content. This includes
waste/spoil which may cause scrub fires if not disposed of properly. Once a stockpile has spontaneous
combusted it is hard to contain and extinguish. Typically the burning coal must be spread thinly over a wide
area and be allowed to cool and extinguished with sprinklers. Applying sprinklers to the surface of a coal
stockpile that has spontaneously combusted is typically not an effective method. If the coal is not spread out
and extinguished, the coal will continue to self-heat enlarging the problem.

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Risks Associated With Spontaneous Combustion

Besides the obvious risk of being a fire hazard and being hard to extinguish once established, the following
risks are realised:

 Harmful green house gases are emitted (S02, NOx, H2S, CO)
 Fine particles will be emitted as a result of the combustion
 Harmful/Toxic air pollutants
 Odours that can travel via wind
 Hazard to the general public, waste/spoil piles can cause scrub fires
 Long-term problems such as soil contamination, rehabilitation in the case of spoil/waste piles
 Fines and restrictions

Spontaneous Combustion Prevention

To prevent spontaneous combustion one of the following factors must be removed:

 Fuel (The coal itself)

 Heat (Which can be either generated by the coal and/or solar radiation from the sun)
 Oxygen (Which is supplied readily through contact with air)

The fuel itself cannot be removed in coal stock piles. In waste/spoils the ratio of coal and be diluted to a level
where the fuels are evenly spread over a large area.Heat will always be generated if a large quantity of coal
is lumped together. The problem is accelerated if the heat is allowed to be trapped and cannot escape.
Typically moving the stock pile to another location every 2-3days can prevent the coal from accumulating
enough heat to spontaneously combust. This method allows it to cool as it is travels on conveyors. Sprinklers
can assist in curbing dust and lowering the risk of spontaneous combustion.

Oxygen can be removed by covering the coal with a sufficient quantity of top soil. This is only
really applicable if the pile is waste/spoil.None of these methods ensure that spontaneous combustion will not
occur, they merely minimise the risk of the event occurring.

Spontaneous Combustion Early Detection

Early detection is critical in preventing spontaneous combustion. The first stage of spontaneous combustion
is accumulating enough heat to ignite. The use of a radiometric thermal camera allows early detection of
problem areas before they spontaneously combust. A radiometric thermal camera takes the guess work out
of fire detection and prevention. It provides a means of detecting hotspots in stockpiles before they become
problematic and cause downtime.

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The proposed stockpile management system consist of

1. Stockpile Temperature Monitoring

 Temperature measurement frequency

 Temperature monitoring locations
 Method of Thermometer installation

2. Pre-caution to take for prevention of Spontaneous combustion and effect

 External precautions
 Internal precautions
3. Measures to prevent spontaneous combustion

 Prevention of combustion by air isolation

 Cooling by water injection
 Don’t stock long-term of high volatile coals

4. Proposed actions to measure temperatures

Fixing the boundary temperature and dangerous temperature to the coal stockpiles to estimate the time
associated to lift the stock

Work Plan
Activity Start Date - End Date
Literature Survey, Identification of work place for
instrumentation and Course Work
Stockpile analysis and investigations of study in mines May 2022
Preventive measures to avoid spontaneous combustion and to
coal stockpile management system establishment. Oct 2022
Thesis Preparation and Submission

Signature of the Candidate

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 REFERENCES

1. Nandy D.K, Banerjee D.D and Chakravorty R.N, Application of crossing point
temperature for determining the spontaneous heating characteristics of coal, J.
Mines Met. Fuels 20 (2), 1972, pp. 41–48.
2. Feng, K.K., Chakravorty, R.N., Cochrane, T.S., Spontaneous combustion - a coal
mining hazard, Can Min Metall Bull 66 (738), 1973, pp. 75-84
3. Mahajan, O.P., Tomita, A., Walker Jr., P.L., Differential scanning calorimetry studies
on coal. 1. Pyrolysis in an inert atmosphere Fuel, 55 (1), 1976, pp. 63-69.
4. Tian, D.X., Technique for detecting the early spontaneous combustion of coal in the
underground, Mining and Safety (Japanese) 3, 1979, pp. 18-31
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classification of coal with respect to proneness to spontaneous combustion, Q. J.
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spontaneous combustion, Proc. Int. Conf. Coal Sci. Sydney, N.S.W., Australia, 1985,
pp. 467–470.
7. Mahadevan, V., Ramlu, M.A., Fire risk rating of coal mines due to spontaneous
heating, Journal of Mines, Metals and Fuels 33 (8), 1985, pp. 357-362 10. Gosh
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considerations, Fuel Volume 65, Issue 8, 1986, pp 1042-1046

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