Description : Results of an investigation into the tendency of coal to spontaneously combust are discussed. The investigation was designed to determine the spontaneous combustion characteristics of lignite of all underground mines belonging to Turkish Coal Enterprises (TKI), and to use these self-heating characteristics to predict the stage and progress of actual mine fires. Samples of 16 different lignite seams were tested in the laboratory, utilizing crossing-point temperature and adiabatic oxidation methods to characterize the spontaneous combustion risks. Time and temperature were also measured and released gases were continuously recorded during the experiment. Spontaneous combustion results achieved by either method were found to be in close agreement, leading to the conclusion that Turkish lignite were in the medium to high risk zone with respect to spontaneous combustion. Good correlation was also found between combustion test results and an actual mine fire caused by self-heating. Carbon monoxide emission measurements showed that the concentration of carbon monoxide alone is not a good indicator of spontaneous combustion. However, the rate of increase in the concentration of carbon monoxide is significant. The final conclusion of all the tests was that correlating the spontaneous combustion results with information obtained during an actual mine fire can help in the determination of the appropriate fire fighting measures.
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