Optimization of techniques for the extinction and prevention of coal fires produced in final walls as a result of spontaneous combustion in the Cerrejón mine—Colombia

One of the major natural hazards occurring during the process of mining exploitation are endogenous fires. They cause very large material losses and constitute a threat to the health and life of the workers. Such fires usually start and develop in the goafs. The remaining coal and the oxygen-containing air flowing at a certain rate may lead to endogenous fires. The basic element of the assessment of the occurrence of an endogenous fire and the degree of its development is the chemical composition of the air flowing out of the longwall and the goafs. The monitoring of this composition also makes it possible to assess the severity of such a fire. The damage that can be caused by the endogenous fire requires scientific and experimental research being carried out on a wide scale in order to limit its occurrence and development. All papers and research mentioned in the paper aim to find a tool that will help to control the fires. The paper discusses the development of a new and original method of combating the threat of endogenous fires. It is based on the installation designed to feed an ash and water mixture or an ash and water mixture with carbon dioxide to goafs. The foundation of the paper is a method based on a vast depth of expertise and knowledge gained by the authors in the field of combating endogenous fires. The developed installation prepares and transports ash and water mixtures together with carbon dioxide to the zones with high probability of endogenous fires. The mixture is a preparation of the surface of a mine, and later, it is transported underground by pipelines to the goafs where a high level of the fire hazard was identified. The construction of the system and the composition of the mixture used are both original solutions; their practical application limited the process of spontaneous heating of coal. Monitoring the chemical composition of gases in the air of the goafs made it possible to control the effects of applied measures; it proved that carbon dioxide used as an inert gas disturbs the process of carbon oxidation, and the water and ash mixture limits the inflow of the air with oxygen. The advantage of the method is particularly evident in the case of the exploitation of deposits where coal has a short incubation time. This original approach allows for a better and more effective response to endogenous fires.

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“…In [40], the authors presented the influence of various mixtures pumped into the goaf on the process of coal spontaneous heating.…”

Section: Coal Spontaneous Combustion Hazard In Goafs-preventionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Method of Combating Coal Spontaneous Combustion Hazard in Goafs—A Case Study

et al. 2020

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“…Bustamante et al discovered that diluted bitumen and brine (combustion inhibitor), cement/slaked lime, fine sand cement and clinker/slaked lime have application prospects in preventing fires. It was also determined that bitumen/brine enjoys superior adhesion and durability properties in the coal seam 39 . Deng et al applied composite fly ash gel to Haibaoqing coal fires 40 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detection and management of coal seam outcrop fire in China: a case study

Liu,

Qi,

Luo

et al. 2024

Sci Rep

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The outcrop fire area in Rujigou Coal Mine in Ningxia, China has been burning continuously for over 100 years. This not only results in wastage of resources but also poses significant damage to the ecological environment. Previous research on open fire detection has mainly focused on coalfield fire areas, using single method such as infrared remote sensing or surface temperature measurement, magnetic method, electrical method, radon measurement and mercurimetry. However, the outcrop fire area has migrated to deeper parts over the years, conventional single fire zone detection methods are not capable of accurately detecting the extent of the fire zone, inversion interpretation is faced with the problem of many solutions. In fire management, current research focuses on the development of new materials, such as fly ash gel, sodium silicate gel, etc., However, it is often difficult to quickly extinguish outcrop fire areas with a single technique. Considering this status quo, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) infrared thermal imaging was employed to initially detect the scope of the outcrop fire area, and then both the spontaneous potential and directional drilling methods were adopted for further scope detection in pursuit of more accurate results. In addition, an applicable fire prevention and extinguishing system was constructed, in which three-phase foam was injected for the purpose of absorbing heat and cooling. Furthermore, the composite colloid was used to plug air leakage channels, and loess was backfilled to avoid re-combustion. The comprehensive detection and control technologies proposed in this study can be applied to eliminating the outcrop fire area and protecting the environment. This study can provide guidance and reference for the treatment of other outcrop fire areas.

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Study on the Effect and Mechanism of Water Immersion on the Characteristic Temperature during Coal Low-Temperature Oxidation

et al. 2021

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Optimization of techniques for the extinction and prevention of coal fires produced in final walls as a result of spontaneous combustion in the Cerrejón mine—Colombia

Cited by 13 publications

References 27 publications

The Method of Combating Coal Spontaneous Combustion Hazard in Goafs—A Case Study

The Method of Combating Coal Spontaneous Combustion Hazard in Goafs—A Case Study

Detection and management of coal seam outcrop fire in China: a case study

Study on the Effect and Mechanism of Water Immersion on the Characteristic Temperature during Coal Low-Temperature Oxidation

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