Optimization of Ventilation System for Prevention of Spontaneous Heating/Fire During Extraction of Thick Coal Seam – A CFD Approach

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Authors

  • N. K. Mohalik
     Mine Ventilation Division, CSIR– Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research, Barwa Road, Dhanbad 826015, Jharkhand ,IN
  • Asfar M. Khan
     Mine Ventilation Division, CSIR– Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research, Barwa Road, Dhanbad 826015, Jharkhand, ,IN
  • A. Kumar
     Mine Ventilation Division, CSIR– Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research, Barwa Road, Dhanbad 826015, Jharkhand, ,IN
  • S. K. Ray
     Mine Ventilation Division, CSIR– Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research, Barwa Road, Dhanbad 826015, Jharkhand, ,IN
  • Debashish Mishra
     Mine Ventilation Division, CSIR– Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research, Barwa Road, Dhanbad 826015, Jharkhand, ,IN
  • N K Varma
     Mine Ventilation Division, CSIR– Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research, Barwa Road, Dhanbad 826015, Jharkhand, ,IN
  • N. Sahay
     Mine Ventilation Division, CSIR– Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research, Barwa Road, Dhanbad 826015, Jharkhand, ,IN

Keywords:

Spontaneous heating, thick coal seam, goaf ignition temperature, computational fluid dynamics (CFD)

Abstract

The developed thick coal seams locked on standing bord and pillar development with a low percentage of extraction has been an enduring problem for Indian geo-mining condition due to strata control issues, methods of mining, equipment selection, ventilation and spontaneous combustion. The occurrences of goaf fire and explosions due to rise in goaf ignition temperature causes substantial property losses and casualties all around the world. It is a threat to the underground coal mine safety. As such no guidelines or methodologies are available for solving the problems of spontaneous heating/fire rising due to depillaring of thick coal seams. The paper addresses, study related to prevention and control of spontaneous heating/ fire in depillaring panels of thick seam mining using laboratory experiments, calculating goaf ignition temperature and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques. The objectives of CFD simulation study is to find out the minimum air quantity requirement for the panel to maintain safe workplace environment and optimize the number of intakes and returns of ventilation system for prevention of spontaneous heating in goaf areas. Field investigations have been carried in Khottadih colliery of Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL), Sanctoria (West Bengal), India. Laboratory study and field investigation postulates that coal is more prone to spontaneous heating. The simulation study reveals that partial stowing with the incombustible material in the goaf area up to a height of 100 cm is beneficial to prevent spontaneous heating due to roof fall with an air quantity of 2100 m3/min maintaining three intakes and two return airways.

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Published

2022-10-20

How to Cite

Mohalik, N. K., Khan, A. M., Kumar, A., Ray, S. K., Mishra, D., Varma, N. K., & Sahay, N. (2022). Optimization of Ventilation System for Prevention of Spontaneous Heating/Fire During Extraction of Thick Coal Seam – A CFD Approach. Journal of Mines, Metals and Fuels, 67(10), 452–460. Retrieved from https://informaticsjournals.co.in/index.php/jmmf/article/view/31658

Issue

Volume 67, Issue 10, October 2019

Section

Articles

License

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

 

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