Prevention and Control of Fires and Explosions in Underground Coal Mines

摘要

An extensive research program has been undertaken over recent years to reduce the risk of fires and explosions in underground coal mines. The research projects have integrated extensive field studies and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models of goaf gas flow behaviour to develop optimum proactive strategies to prevent and control spontaneous combustion and fires in goaf areas. The research has developed a fundamental understanding of the air and gas flow behaviour in goaf areas and provided a detailed understanding of the effects of various geological, ventilation, operational and inertisation design parameters on goaf gas distribution. The research investigations have also provided a better understanding of the flow behaviour of gases from the heating in the goaf areas and the effect of various gas and spontaneous combustion control technologies and strategies. Field studies conducted at a number of underground coal mines have shown that the proactive strategies were successful in reducing oxygen ingress into the goaf areas and in reducing the risk of fires and explosions in the underground coal mines. The results of various research investigations and guidelines for reducing the risk of fires and explosions in underground coal mines are presented in this paper.