Spontaneous Combustion of Coal Stockpiles - An Unusual Chemical Reaction Engineering Problem

Effects of wind barrier design and closed coal storage on spontaneous ignition of coal stockpiles

“…Although atmospheric temperature is low, low-temperature oxidation of coal leads to spontaneous heating. If heating process continues in a stockpile for a long time, self-ignition can take place and finally, it is followed by violent coal oxidation, leading to combustion (Brooks et al, 1988;Fierro et al, 1999;Moghtaderi et al, 2000). These processes leading to combustion in coal stockpiles have been studied and understood well as described in the literatures (Carras and Young, 1994;Fierro et al, 2001;Shamsi et al, 2004;Turns, 2012;Yuan and Smith, 2009).…”

Modeling the spontaneous ignition of coal stockpiles

“…We employ a novel two-domain model that solves simultaneously for flows in an open porous medium embedded within a homogeneous domain, as shown in Figure la. We have adopted the frustum-shaped coal pile geometry of Brooks et al (1988a) for our study; however, any arbitrary shape could be used to represent the coal pile. Reaction and transport are considered to occur within the coal domain, while transport alone is considered in the surrounding air.…”

“…In a follow-on study, Brooks et al (1988a) applied a 2-D model to test the assumptions employed in their previous 1-D models. The pile was configured as a frustum with an impermeable, isothermal base and "free" outer surfaces with zero tangential velocity and specified flows normal to the surfaces.…”

Forecasting Spontaneous Heating Susceptibility of Indian Coals Using Neuro Fuzzy System

“…Singh and Demirbilek (1987) and Panigrahi et al (2000) attempted the statistical appraisal of intrinsic factors to predict the liability of coal to spontaneous combustion. Some researchers have developed mathematical and kinetic models to predict this phenomenon (Brooks et al 1988;Saghafi and Carras 1997;Cygankiewicz 2003;Brooks and Glasser 1986;Krishnaswamy et al 1996;Wang et al 2003;Nordon 1979;Krajčiová et al 2004;Schmal et al 1985;Panigrahi et al 2008). A few researchers have developed computerized approaches for data acquisition and evaluation of spontaneous heating potential of coal seams (Arisoy et al 2006;Ren and Richards 1994;Smith et al 1991;Zahariev et al 2001).…”

“…If the heat released due to this reaction is not dissipated by the ventilating air, the temperature of the coal bed or stack progressively increases with increase in the reaction rate, resulting in open fire and the process is known as spontaneous heating of coal. Mine fires due to self heating of coal is a global concern and is known to occur in coal seams, stacks, dump yards and even in dumpers, wagons and ships during transport (Rigby 1983;Brooks et al 1988;Carres and Saghafi 1998). These fires are responsible for loss of lives and property, economic losses, destruction of flora and fauna, emission of large quantities of noxious gases and particulate matter, and land subsidence (Stracher and Taylor 2004;Zhou and Wang 2004).…”