Document Type : Original Research Paper
Authors
1 Research Scholar, Department of Chemistry, BIT Sindri, Dhanbad (Under Jharkhand University of Technology Ranchi) Jharkhand
2 Department of Mine Fire and Ventilation, CSIR-CIMFR, Barwa Road, Dhanbad-826015, India
3 Department of Chemistry, BIT Sindri Dhanbad (Under Jharkhand University of Technology Ranchi) Jharkhand
4 Senior Principal Scientist, CSIR-CIMFR, Barwa Road, Dhanbad-826015, India
Abstract
The swift extraction from underground coal mines in the Raniganj coalfield (RCF) encounters various safety challenges, including multi-seam operations, extraction of water-logged seams, areas where upper seams have been depleted, strata management issues, subsidence, ventilation problems, heat, humidity, spontaneous combustion, and mine fires. Among these challenges, many underground coal mines continue to operate after dewatering the coal seams for production purposes. Spontaneous combustion poses a significant risk in the dewatered coal seams of underground mines, impacting the safety of both the mines and the miners. This study aims to assess the risk of spontaneous combustion in a water-immersed coal seam of RCF by conducting proximate analysis, TGA/DSC, FTIR studies, and water analysis. One coal sample was obtained from the RV seam at the Kottadih coal mine in RCF and was immersed in tap water at a ratio of 1:10. The water-immersed coal samples were removed after 15, 30, and 90 days for sample preparation and other experimental investigations. The experimental results indicate that the water-immersed coal samples exhibit optimal moisture levels (4–8%), a higher volatile matter content (>30.0%) compared to fresh samples, and a gradual decrease in the ignition temperature of the water-immersed coal over time. There is an increase in concentrations of functional groups such as Ar-, -CHO, >C=O, and -C=C- due to the adsorption of dissolved organic compounds onto the coal surface. All analyses suggest that the rise in organic compounds contributes to the accelerated risk of spontaneous combustion.
Keywords
- Key words: Spontaneous combustion of Coal
- TGA/DCS
- FTIR
- Water immersed Coal
- Organic functional groups
Main Subjects
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