DETECTION OF SPONTANEOUS HEATING

AND ITS SUPRESSIONS METHODS

Under the guidance of,

Mr. TANMAY DAS GUPTA
Presented by,
ABHISHEK KUMAR
ANKIT KUMAR BHAGAT

DHERAJ KUMAR BHARDOWAJ

SANDEEP MAHATO
MINING ENGINEERING 2K15
 WHAT IS SPONTANEOUS HEATING?
• The process of self heating of coal or other carbonaceous material due to
auto oxidation resulting eventually in its ignition is termed as
“spontaneous heating”.
• It has been a major problem in the leading coal producing countries like
China, Australia, USA, Germany and India.
• The first fire is recorded in JCF Bhowrah Colliery in Seam XII in 1916.
• In Indian coal mines, 75% of the coal fires occur due to spontaneous
heating.
• Over 140 years, fires have been reported from both Jharia and Raniganj
coalfields. In JCF 1864 MT of coal is blocked in a total area of 17.32 sq.
Km.
THEORIES OF SPONTANEOUS HEATING OF COAL

Most important theories of spontaneous combustion:

• The Coal-Oxygen Complex Theory (Rhead and Wheeler)

• Pyrite Theory (Plot)

• The Bacterium Theory (Potter)

• The Phenol Theory (Fischer)

• The Electro-Chemical Theory

COAL OXYGEN COMPLEX
THEORY
 PYRITE THEORY
• Pure pyrite (polysulphide of iron) contains 46.37% Fe and 53.33% S and also reacts
with oxygen of air at room temperature emancipating heat and responsible for sp.
Combustion.
• The reaction of iron pyrites with oxygen and moisture gives products of larger
volume than the original pyrite hence opening more pore area of exposure for
oxygen, which is a exothermic reaction.
• Sulphonated coal have greater reactivity towards oxygen, especially in the presence
of iron oxide.
 THE PHENOL THEORY

Many experiments have shown that phenolic hydroxyls and

polyphenols oxidize faster than other groups.

The Electro-Chemical Theory

 It describes auto-oxidation of coals as oxidation-reduction processes takes

place in micro galvanic cells made by the coal components.
 THE BACTERIUM THEORY

• Bacteria also encourage self- ignition of coal due to bacterial action.

• Spontaneous heating observed in haystacks and in wood are known to be mainly due
to the activity of bacteria.

• However, there is no conclusive proof to authenticate or dispose this theory. Hence it

is concluded that bacteria could cause only a slight heating which may not play any
important role.
 THE PHENOMENON OF THE SPONTANEOUS HEATING
DEPENDS ON CERTAIN FACTORS:

• Seam Factor • Geological Factor • Mining factor

1. Rank 1. Seam thickness 1. Mining Method
2. Petrographic composition 2. Seam gradient 2. Stowing

3. Temperature 3. Coal Outburst 3. Leakage

4. Moisture 4. Friability 4. Rate of Advance
5. Particle size 5. Faults or dykes etc. 5. Humidity etc.

6. Pyrites etc.
STAGES IN SPONTANEOUS HEATING

Active combustion leading to ignition(>2750

C)
Self sustained process of combustion(2750 C)

Thermal Decomposition(2200 C)

Evolution of oxides of carbon(1800 C)

Steady State oxidation due to moisture
removal(1200 C)
Comparatively Accelerated Oxidation(800 C)

Very Slow Oxidation(Upto 500 C)

Coal Complexes + Oxygen

 “INCUBATION PERIODS”
Incubation Period is used in border sense to denote the period between the first
roof fall after beginning of coal extraction in a district or panel and the appearance
of the first signs of heating.

“The Indication Periods”

The indication periods is marked by sweating and hazing in the air, caused by the
warmed air from fire coming into contact with the cooler coal, rock, and metallic surfaces
and depositing moistures

“OPEN FIRE”

After the indication period, open fire with visible active combustion breaks out.
In open fires, seams seldom burn with a bright flame but they glow developing bluish-white clouds
of smoke.
WHY SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED ABOUT IT?
IMPACTS
• Environmental Pollution: Besides destruction of the affected areas, coal
fires often emit tonnes of soot, noxious and toxic gases, including carbon
monoxide and Sulphur dioxide, Land subsidence.

• Economical loss: Heavy loss of valuable coal up to 19400 MT in JCF

region.

• Social impacts: It not only effects the livelihood of workers working in

the mines but also the peoples residing nearby. It creates an environment
of fear in the society.
 METHODS FOR EVALUATION OF
SUSCEPTIBILITY TO SPONTANEOUS
HEATING
 Proximate analysis method
 Wet oxidation potential method
 Differential thermal analysis method
 Crossing point temperature method
 Flammability temperature method
 Gross calorific value determination method
 TECHNIQUES FOR DETERMINATION FOR
SPONTANEOUS HEATING
 Thermo vision camera and infrared thermal sensing instrument for thermal scanning
and sensing.
 Multi gas detector- for analysis the composition of in-situ samples.
 Thermal Remote sensing(cost effective of thermal anomalies, monitoring, depth
estimation and thermal modelling).
 Adiabatic calorimeter-
assist spontaneous combustion effinity to be recognised by several indicators-Total temp.
rise, mini. Self heating temp., primary rate of heating and kinetic const.
 DETECTION OF SPONTANEOUS HEATING
• The spontaneous combustion of coal in mine working may be detected by the physical and
chemical indication given by heating itself.

1. Physical indication : The traditional physical examination consists in detecting

The presence of warmth ,

Sweating ,

Smell of fire in the return airway.

• In practice , the first sign that a heating has developed is the characteristics smell of fire stink or
gob stink.

• In the initial stage of heating , the smell resembles that of petrol , but as the heating progress , it
changes to the odour of kerosene , and later to the odor of tar.
2. Chemical indication :
• As coal passes through different stages of spontaneous combustion ,gaseous products
such as CO, CO2, CH4, C2H2, CnH2n and H2O are liberated , depending on the stage of
oxidation.CO and CO2 are liberated at low temperature up to 1000c.
• The following gas indices commonly used for early detection-
𝐶𝑂 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑒𝑑
a) Graham’s ratio= *100
𝑂𝑥𝑦𝑔𝑒𝑛 𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦
𝐶𝑎𝑟𝑏𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑜𝑥𝑑𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑒𝑑
b) Young’s ratio = *100
𝑜𝑥𝑦𝑔𝑒𝑛 𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑦
𝐶𝑂 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑒𝑑
c) Willet's ratio = *100
𝐵𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑘𝑑𝑎𝑚𝑝+𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑏𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑔𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑠
𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝐶𝑂−𝐼𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝐶𝑂
d) CO/CO2 ratio= ∗ 100
𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 −𝐼𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑏𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑜𝑥𝑖𝑑𝑒
𝐸𝑥𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑁𝑖𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑜𝑥𝑖𝑑𝑒
e) Morris ratio =
𝐶𝑎𝑟𝑏𝑜𝑛 𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑜𝑥𝑖𝑑𝑒+𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑏𝑜𝑛 𝑑𝑖𝑜𝑥𝑖𝑑𝑒
 SUPPRESSION OF MINE FIRE
Conventional Methods of Fire Control
and Extinguishment
• Total Excavation of fire
• Isolation by trenching
• Blind flushing
• Surface sealing
• Isolation by underground stopping
• Quenching and cooling
• Cooling by water curtain
• Flooding
• Natural Burnout
Other Methods of Fire Control and
Extinguishment
• Inert Gas injection
• Chemical Treatment
• Burnout Control
• Modified Bulk filling (Water / Slurry)
• Modified Bulk filling (Pneumatic) and
• Underground Coal Gasification
THANKYOU