Coal and oil shale are often mined and utilized together, and mixed dust is easily formed in these processes. In order to ensure safe production in these processes, the explosion characteristics of mixed dust were studied. Using a Godbert-Greenwold (G-G) Furnace experimental device, Hartmann tube experimental device, and 20 L explosion vessel, the oil shale and coal mixed dust ignition sensitivity experiment, flame propagation experiment, and explosion characteristics experiment were carried out. The minimum ignition temperature (MIT), minimum ignition energy (MIE), maximum explosion pressure (Pmax), maximum rate of pressure rise ((dp/dt)max), and explosibility index (KSt) parameters and the flame propagation behavior of the mixed dust were analyzed in detail. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis of the coal and oil shale dust before and after the explosion was carried out to study the changes in the microscopic morphology of the dust particles. The results show that due to the oil shale having a high volatile content and low moisture content, in the mixture, the greater the percentage of oil shale, the more likely the dust cloud is to be ignited and the faster the explosion flame is propagated; the greater the percentage of oil shale, the greater the (dP/dt)max and KSt will be and, under a high dust concentration, a greater Pmax will be produced. During explosion, coal dust will experience particle pyrolysis and the gas phase combustion of the volatile matter, followed by solid phase combustion of coal char, whereas oil shale dust will only experience particle pyrolysis and the gas phase combustion of the volatile matter.
Modeling of the flame propagation in coal-dust- methane air mixture in an enclosed sphere volume.
