Rigid polyurethane foam (RPUF) composites filled with expandable graphite (EG), hollow glass microspheres (HGM), and glass fibers (GF) have been synthesized and characterized by limiting oxygen index, radiation ignition, compressing and torsion testing, and scanning electron microscopy. The results indicate HGM and GF benefit to the mechanical properties, while EG is good for flame retardancy. Proper ingredient of additive can lead to good flame retardancy and mechanical properties of the RPUF. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40253.

With the continually increasing mining depths, heat stress and spontaneous combustion hazards in high-temperature mines are becoming increasingly severe. Mining production risks from natural hazards and exposures to hot and humid environments can cause occupational diseases and other work-related injuries. Liquid nitrogen injection, an engineering control developed to reduce heat stress and spontaneous combustion hazards in mines, was successfully utilized for environmental cooling and combustion prevention in an underground mining site named "Y120205 Working Face" (Y120205 mine) of Yangchangwan colliery. Both localized humidities and temperatures within the Y120205 mine decreased significantly with liquid nitrogen injection. The maximum percentage drop in temperature and humidity of the Y120205 mine were 21.9% and 10.8%, respectively. The liquid nitrogen injection system has the advantages of economical price, process simplicity, energy savings and emission reduction. The optimized heat exchanger used in the liquid nitrogen injection process achieved superior air-cooling results, resulting in considerable economic benefits.

The application of liquid nitrogen injection is an important technique in the field of coal mine fire prevention. However, the mechanism of heat and mass transfer of cryogenic nitrogen in the goaf porous medium has not been well accessed. Hence, the implementation of fire prevention engineering of liquid nitrogen roughly relied on an empirical view. According to the research gap in this respect, an experimental study on the heat and mass transfer of liquid nitrogen in coal porous media was proposed. Overall, the main mechanism of liquid nitrogen fire prevention technology in the coal mine is the creation of an inert and cryogenic atmosphere. Cryogenic nitrogen gas vapor cloud, heavier than the air, would cause the phenomenon of “gravity settling” in porous media firstly. The cryogen could be applicable to diverse types of fires, both in the openings and in the enclosures. Implementation of liquid nitrogen open-injection technique in Yangchangwan colliery achieved the goals of fire prevention and air-cooling. Meanwhile, this study can also provide an essential reference for the research on heat and mass transfer in porous media in the field of thermal physics and engineering.

Coalfield subsurface fires can result in ecological disasters of global dimensions. These fires are difficult to control therefore can result in colossal wastage of resources (the coal itself but the resources devoted to suppression), a serious negative impact on the environment and acute health problems for large populations. However, if the heat can be effectively recycled and utilized, the combustion energy will be recovered but also heat extraction can promote suppression. Thus, leading not only to a positive energy impact but to a reduction polluting emissions and consequent health issues. This paper presents the results of a feasibility analysis of the overall recovery of underground thermal resources of a novel system of Waste Heat Recovery Units (WHRUS) that combines thermosyphon and thermoelectric technologies. Both thermal equivalent model and numerical assessment are presented. A series of realistic-scale field experiment conducted in the Xinjiang's fire zone for an extended period are discussed. Using a local geothermic assessment, the heat recovered from subsurface coal fire can be estimated as the summation of the convective and conductive components of the energy generated. The average heat generated for the fire district is estimated at approximately 495 W/m 2 and the average extraction efficiency at approximately 58%. The WHRUS shows and excellent heat transfer performance with an effective lower resistance of approximately 0.0049 W/°C and maximum thermal recovery rate greater than 90%. Finally, while the thermoelectric

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