The Influence of the Sample Preparation on the Result of Coal Propensity to Spontaneous Combustion in the High-temperature Adiabatic Method

Abstract

The liability of coal to spontaneous combustion is the principal cause of mine fires. Spontaneouscombustion is one of the main threats in Polish and Vietnamese coal mines. The article presents an analysisof the spontaneous combustion of coal in mines of both countries. It is related to the natural prone of coalto spontaneous heating and consequently to its self-ignition. Despite the relevant recognition of themethods of preventing this threat, in mines, spontaneous combustion occurs during the exploitation ofcoal seams with low and very high self-ignition tendency. Apart from the technical factors related to thedesign of coal seam mining, the properties of coal have a significant impact on the occurrence ofspontaneous combustion. Their correct recognition is essential to the precautions against spontaneouscombustion for minimalizing the risk of a mine fire. Therefore, it is necessary to study the factorsinfluencing the propensity of coal to spontaneous heating. A review of the methods used to determine thepropensity of coal to spontaneous combustion is presented in the article. Based on the high-temperaturemethod of determining the propensity of coals to spontaneous combustion, the influence of selectedfactors related to samples' preparation for testing on the determination result was investigated. Theinfluence of the fractional decomposition and the moisture content in the prepared samples on thedetermination result was demonstrated. The presented research results may improve research proceduresfor determining the propensity of coal to spontaneous combustion.