Methods of Dealing with Mine Fires

2018 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 767-774

Author(s):

Magdalena Tutak

Keyword(s):

Fire Hazard ◽

Physical Parameters ◽

Gas Mixture ◽

New Approach ◽

Model Based ◽

Underground Coal Mines ◽

Mine Fires ◽

Underground Mine Workings ◽

The Subject ◽

Chemical Products

Abstract One of the most common and most dangerous hazards in underground coal mines is fire hazard. Mine fires can be exogenous or endogenous in nature. In the case of the former, a particular hazard is posed by methane fires that occur in dog headings and longwalls. Endogenous and exogenous fires are large hazard for working crew in mining headings and cause economics losses for mining plants. Mine fires result in emission of harmful chemical products and have a crucial impact on the physical parameters of the airflow. The subject of the article concerns the analysis of the consequences of methane fires in dog headings. These consequences were identified by means of model-based tests. For this purpose, a model was developed and boundary conditions were adopted to reflect the actual layout of the headings and the condition of the atmosphere in the area under analysis. The objective of the test was to determine the effects of methane fires on the chemical composition of the atmosphere and the physical parameters of the gas mixture generated in the process. The results obtained clearly indicate that fires have a significant impact on the above-mentioned values. The paper presents the distributions for the physical parameters of the resulting gas mixture and the concentration of fire gases. Moreover, it shows the distributions of temperature and oxygen concentration levels in the headings under analysis. The methodology developed for the application of model-based tests to analyse fire events in mine headings represents a new approach to the problem of investigating the consequences of such fires. It is also suitable for variant analyses of the processes related to the ventilation of underground mine workings as well as for analyses of emergency states. Model-based tests should support the assessment of the methane hazard levels and, subsequently, lead to an improvement of work safety in mines.

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A Brief Overview Of Development In The Use Of Indicator Gases For Coal Spontaneous Combustion And Prospects For Further Solution / Stručný Přehled Vývoje Využití Indikačních Plynů Samovznícení Uhlí A Výhled Dalšího Řešení

GeoScience Engineering ◽

10.2478/gse-2014-0037 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 58 (3) ◽

pp. 13-22 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lukáš Snopek ◽

Alois Adamus

Keyword(s):

Czech Republic ◽

Coal Mining ◽

Final Stage ◽

Spontaneous Combustion ◽

Development Trend ◽

Coal Spontaneous Combustion ◽

The Czech Republic ◽

Input Information ◽

Complicated Process ◽

Mine Fires

Abstract One of the most serious risks associated with mining using mainly underground methods is the risk of mine fires. Causes of these fires can be exogenous (external) or endogenous (internal). The authors of the article pay attention to endogenous fires in coal mines, especially to the timely indication of them. As already mentioned in many contributions, spontaneous combustion is a complicated process that passes, in the final stage, into a mine open fire. The localization of a place of such danger can be done by means of so-called indicator gases that are desorbed from the coal substance at a point of the originating seat of spontaneous combustion. The article deals with a development trend in the use of indicator gases for spontaneous combustion in coal mining. The objective of the authors was to arrange chronically and briefly knowledge of the use of indicator gases both abroad and in the Czech Republic and to provide input information about a research project being dealt with at present

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The Influence of the Sample Preparation on the Result of Coal Propensity to Spontaneous Combustion in the High-temperature Adiabatic Method

Inżynieria Mineralna ◽

10.29227/im-2021-02-06 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Dariusz OBRACAJ ◽

Marek KORZEC ◽

Tien Tung VU

Keyword(s):

High Temperature ◽

Coal Seam ◽

Spontaneous Combustion ◽

Spontaneous Heating ◽

Mine Fire ◽

Mine Fires ◽

Technical Factors ◽

Spontaneous Combustion Of Coal ◽

Seam Mining ◽

Very High

The liability of coal to spontaneous combustion is the principal cause of mine fires. Spontaneouscombustion is one of the main threats in Polish and Vietnamese coal mines. The article presents an analysisof the spontaneous combustion of coal in mines of both countries. It is related to the natural prone of coalto spontaneous heating and consequently to its self-ignition. Despite the relevant recognition of themethods of preventing this threat, in mines, spontaneous combustion occurs during the exploitation ofcoal seams with low and very high self-ignition tendency. Apart from the technical factors related to thedesign of coal seam mining, the properties of coal have a significant impact on the occurrence ofspontaneous combustion. Their correct recognition is essential to the precautions against spontaneouscombustion for minimalizing the risk of a mine fire. Therefore, it is necessary to study the factorsinfluencing the propensity of coal to spontaneous heating. A review of the methods used to determine thepropensity of coal to spontaneous combustion is presented in the article. Based on the high-temperaturemethod of determining the propensity of coals to spontaneous combustion, the influence of selectedfactors related to samples' preparation for testing on the determination result was investigated. Theinfluence of the fractional decomposition and the moisture content in the prepared samples on thedetermination result was demonstrated. The presented research results may improve research proceduresfor determining the propensity of coal to spontaneous combustion.

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PENNSYLVANIA’S ABANDONED MINE LAND (AML) EMERGENCY PROGRAM

Journal American Society of Mining and Reclamation ◽

10.21000/jasmr20040067 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 67-86

Author(s):

Eric E. Cavazza ◽

◽

John J. Stefanko ◽

Richard L. Beam

Keyword(s):

Structural Damage ◽

Large Scale ◽

Mine Drainage ◽

Abandoned Mine ◽

Annual Number ◽

House Construction ◽

Mine Fires ◽

Coal Refuse ◽

Eastern Pennsylvania ◽

Engineering Staff

Abstract. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation (BAMR) implements an Abandoned Mine Land (AML) Emergency Program to address high-priority, abandoned mine land (AML) problems that suddenly occur throughout Pennsylvania’s coal fields. BAMR maintains two field offices: one in eastern Pennsylvania (Anthracite Region) in Wilkes-Barre and one in western Pennsylvania (Bituminous Region) in Ebensburg. Both field offices maintain in-house construction crews with significant equipment available to respond to and address many small AML Emergencies (hazards) such as pothole (or cavehole), subsidences, and mine drainage breakouts. For larger AML Emergencies such as subsidence events causing structural damage to homes, businesses, and roads; mine fires; coal refuse fires; landslides; or other large-scale or complex AML problems, projects are completed by outside contractors. Project designs are completed by BAMR engineering staff. The contractors are then hired through solicitation of bids or proposals with very short timeframes between bid issue and bid opening. Since October of 2010, BAMR has addressed nearly 800 AML Emergencies which equates to approximately 80 AML Emergency projects each calendar year. The average construction cost to address those emergencies was just over $3.25 million per year. Due to the increased precipitation over the Commonwealth the last several years, that number has increased to an average of 86 AML Emergency projects over the last five (5) years (2015–2019) with a record number of 127 addressed in calendar year 2018. The average cost to address those AML Emergency projects over that five-year period was $4.66 million per year. This paper will provide some background on Pennsylvania’s AML Emergency Program, some summary statistics including the annual number and types of projects completed including costs, and also highlight through both photos and video links some typical projects recently completed by the program.

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