Optimization of a Marker Gas for Analyzing and Predicting the Spontaneous Combustion Period of Coking Coal

The adequate assessment of the spontaneous combustion and oxidation characteristics of coking coal can help to reduce its spontaneous combustion potential. In this study, the natural ignition period of the Hex coking coal seam at Ping Coal was calculated based on the programmed-temperature-rise test...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Peizhong Lu, Yuxuan Huang, Peng Jin, Shouguo Yang, Man Wang, Xiaochuan Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-11-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/23/7802
_version_ 1797400225716895744
author Peizhong Lu
Yuxuan Huang
Peng Jin
Shouguo Yang
Man Wang
Xiaochuan Wang
author_facet Peizhong Lu
Yuxuan Huang
Peng Jin
Shouguo Yang
Man Wang
Xiaochuan Wang
author_sort Peizhong Lu
collection DOAJ
description The adequate assessment of the spontaneous combustion and oxidation characteristics of coking coal can help to reduce its spontaneous combustion potential. In this study, the natural ignition period of the Hex coking coal seam at Ping Coal was calculated based on the programmed-temperature-rise test and the thermal property parameters measured during the spontaneous combustion of the coal. Typical gas concentrations were measured at different oxygen concentrations and coal particle sizes to investigate the changes in the oxygen, carbon–oxygen, and hydrocarbon gas concentrations during the low-temperature oxidation of the coking coal and to determine the indicator gases at different oxidation stages. The following results were obtained: The minimum critical oxygen concentration required for spontaneous ignition was 8%, and fire prevention measures should be implemented below 200 °C. When the temperature of the coal sample reaches 50–60 °C, the rates of CO and CO<sub>2</sub> production increase, and when the temperature of the coal sample reaches 100–120 °C, the spontaneous combustion and oxidation of the coal generates alkane gas, in which the coal particle size has a negligible effect on the concentration of each generated gas. CO and C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>4</sub> were selected as the indicator gases for different coking coal oxidation stages, and C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>6</sub> and the C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>4</sub>/C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>6</sub> ratio were used as secondary indicators to assist in the analysis. Utilizing the enhanced mathematical model for the shortest spontaneous combustion period of coal seams, in conjunction with a programmed-temperature test device, experimental calculations were conducted to determine the adiabatic spontaneous combustion period. The results indicate that the natural ignition period for the Hex coking coal seam at Ping Coal is approximately 60 days, representing a brief timeframe, and the coal seam is characterized by a high risk of spontaneous combustion.
first_indexed 2024-03-09T01:51:28Z
format Article
id doaj.art-0b9b3f4a14a54dcaaa76ae309099b729
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1996-1073
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-09T01:51:28Z
publishDate 2023-11-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Energies
spelling doaj.art-0b9b3f4a14a54dcaaa76ae309099b7292023-12-08T15:14:52ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732023-11-011623780210.3390/en16237802Optimization of a Marker Gas for Analyzing and Predicting the Spontaneous Combustion Period of Coking CoalPeizhong Lu0Yuxuan Huang1Peng Jin2Shouguo Yang3Man Wang4Xiaochuan Wang5State Key Laboratory of Coking Coal Exploitation and Comprehensive Utilization, China Pingmei Shenma Group, Pingdingshan 467000, ChinaIndustrial Science Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Coking Coal Exploitation and Comprehensive Utilization, China Pingmei Shenma Group, Pingdingshan 467000, ChinaCollege of Safety Science and Engineering, Xi’an University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710054, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Coking Coal Exploitation and Comprehensive Utilization, China Pingmei Shenma Group, Pingdingshan 467000, ChinaIndustrial Science Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, ChinaThe adequate assessment of the spontaneous combustion and oxidation characteristics of coking coal can help to reduce its spontaneous combustion potential. In this study, the natural ignition period of the Hex coking coal seam at Ping Coal was calculated based on the programmed-temperature-rise test and the thermal property parameters measured during the spontaneous combustion of the coal. Typical gas concentrations were measured at different oxygen concentrations and coal particle sizes to investigate the changes in the oxygen, carbon–oxygen, and hydrocarbon gas concentrations during the low-temperature oxidation of the coking coal and to determine the indicator gases at different oxidation stages. The following results were obtained: The minimum critical oxygen concentration required for spontaneous ignition was 8%, and fire prevention measures should be implemented below 200 °C. When the temperature of the coal sample reaches 50–60 °C, the rates of CO and CO<sub>2</sub> production increase, and when the temperature of the coal sample reaches 100–120 °C, the spontaneous combustion and oxidation of the coal generates alkane gas, in which the coal particle size has a negligible effect on the concentration of each generated gas. CO and C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>4</sub> were selected as the indicator gases for different coking coal oxidation stages, and C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>6</sub> and the C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>4</sub>/C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>6</sub> ratio were used as secondary indicators to assist in the analysis. Utilizing the enhanced mathematical model for the shortest spontaneous combustion period of coal seams, in conjunction with a programmed-temperature test device, experimental calculations were conducted to determine the adiabatic spontaneous combustion period. The results indicate that the natural ignition period for the Hex coking coal seam at Ping Coal is approximately 60 days, representing a brief timeframe, and the coal seam is characterized by a high risk of spontaneous combustion.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/23/7802coalspontaneous combustionindicator gasprogrammed temperaturecritical oxygen concentration
spellingShingle Peizhong Lu
Yuxuan Huang
Peng Jin
Shouguo Yang
Man Wang
Xiaochuan Wang
Optimization of a Marker Gas for Analyzing and Predicting the Spontaneous Combustion Period of Coking Coal
Energies
coal
spontaneous combustion
indicator gas
programmed temperature
critical oxygen concentration
title Optimization of a Marker Gas for Analyzing and Predicting the Spontaneous Combustion Period of Coking Coal
title_full Optimization of a Marker Gas for Analyzing and Predicting the Spontaneous Combustion Period of Coking Coal
title_fullStr Optimization of a Marker Gas for Analyzing and Predicting the Spontaneous Combustion Period of Coking Coal
title_full_unstemmed Optimization of a Marker Gas for Analyzing and Predicting the Spontaneous Combustion Period of Coking Coal
title_short Optimization of a Marker Gas for Analyzing and Predicting the Spontaneous Combustion Period of Coking Coal
title_sort optimization of a marker gas for analyzing and predicting the spontaneous combustion period of coking coal
topic coal
spontaneous combustion
indicator gas
programmed temperature
critical oxygen concentration
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/23/7802
work_keys_str_mv AT peizhonglu optimizationofamarkergasforanalyzingandpredictingthespontaneouscombustionperiodofcokingcoal
AT yuxuanhuang optimizationofamarkergasforanalyzingandpredictingthespontaneouscombustionperiodofcokingcoal
AT pengjin optimizationofamarkergasforanalyzingandpredictingthespontaneouscombustionperiodofcokingcoal
AT shouguoyang optimizationofamarkergasforanalyzingandpredictingthespontaneouscombustionperiodofcokingcoal
AT manwang optimizationofamarkergasforanalyzingandpredictingthespontaneouscombustionperiodofcokingcoal
AT xiaochuanwang optimizationofamarkergasforanalyzingandpredictingthespontaneouscombustionperiodofcokingcoal