Abstract

TOSUN, A.. Development of a technology to prevent spontaneous combustion of coal in underground coal mining. J. S. Afr. Inst. Min. Metall. [online]. 2017, vol.117, n.12, pp.1133-1138. ISSN 2411-9717.  http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2411-9717/2017/v117n12a7.

Top and bottom roads, as well as the production areas in underground coal mining, are continually in contact with oxygen supplied by the mine ventilation system. These areas are at risk of spontaneous combustion, depending on various environmental conditions and characteristics of the coal seam. The formation of toxic gases as a result of spontaneous combustion of the coal and exposure of employees to these gases are the most important causes of coal mining accidents. To avoid the risk of spontaneous combustion, contact of the coal with oxygen must be prevented during production. The literature mentions various studies based on the use of fillers on small areas to control or delay spontaneous combustion. In this study, the aim was to develop cheap materials with very low oxygen permeability and high mechanical resistance for coating the walls of the mine galleries. Epoxy/fibreglass was identified as the material with the least oxygen permeability, and also has other desirable properties.

Keywords : Coal mining accidents; spontaneous combustion of coal; polymer composite materials; oxygen permeability.

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