Physico-chemical characteristics of pulverized coals and their interrelations-a spontaneous combustion and explosion perspective.

Devi Prasad Mishra

doi:10.1007/s11356-021-17626-9

Abstract

Characteristics of pulverized coals have significant influence on the spontaneous combustion and explosion processes. This paper presents an experimental and theoretical framework on physico-chemical characteristics of coal and their interrelations from spontaneous combustion and explosion perspectives. The chemical properties, morphology, bulk density, particle size, and specific surface area of pulverized coals from nine different coal subsidiaries of India are vividly investigated in five distinct sizes. Moreover, the effects of particle size on bulk density, specific surface area, and N2 adsorption capacity of pulverized coals are critically analyzed. With decrease in particle size, the bulk density of pulverized coals decreased, and the specific surface area and N2 adsorption capacity increased. The relationships of bulk density and specific surface area of pulverized coals with particle size are established. Moreover, the specific surface areas determined by both the particle sizing and BET methods are compared, and correlation factors between them are determined. This study generated insightful coal characteristic data, which can be useful for furthering research on spontaneous combustion and explosion involving pulverized coals.

Highlights

Coal still maintains its legacy as the largest source of energy across the globe
The proximate analysis results show that the moisture, volatile matter, ash and fixed carbon contents of the coals varied in the ranges of
Characterization of coal finds an important place in researches concerning spontaneous combustion of coal and coal dust explosion aiming at safety of coal mines, process industries and utilities sector

Summary

Introduction

Coal still maintains its legacy as the largest source of energy across the globe. Pulverized coal finds applications as raw material in several process industries, wherein its physical properties, viz. bulk density, shape, size, surface texture, moisture content, etc. play a major role. Bulk density, shape, size, surface texture, moisture content, etc. Under a given processing condition, the bulk density of coal is significantly affected by the particle size distribution and moisture content among many other factors (Yu et al, 1995; Braga et al, 2019). Coal dust explosion and spontaneous combustion of coal leading to fire are the two major threats to the safety of coal mines, process industries and utilities sector (Amyotte et al, 2003; Yuan et al, 2015; Yong et al, 2019). Coal dust produced during the mining process constitutes one of the major causes of explosion (Cashdollar, 1996; Mishra and Azam, 2018) and health hazards in coal mines (Laney and Weissman, 2014). Coal dust produced during the mining process constitutes one of the major causes of explosion (Cashdollar, 1996; Mishra and Azam, 2018) and health hazards in coal mines (Laney and Weissman, 2014). Yuan et al (2015)

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