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Mine Fires and Explosions
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Mine Fires and Explosions

A special issue of Fire (ISSN 2571-6255). This special issue belongs to the section "Fire Risk Assessment and Safety Management in Buildings and Urban Spaces".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2023) | Viewed by 23018

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Haiyan Wang

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Guest Editor
School of Emergency Management and Safety Engineering, China University of Mining & Technology, Beijing, China
Interests: fire control in coal mines; gas explosion; fire engineering; mine ventilation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Feng Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Emergency Management and Safety Engineering, China University of Mining & Technology, Beijing, China
Interests: fire control in coal mines; disaster risk assessment; gas disasters in coal mines
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Huiyong Niu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Civil and Resource Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
Interests: fire control in coal mines; gas explosion; mining disaster rescue; accident investigation and analysis technology
Dr. Minbo Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Resources and Safety Engineering, Xingfa School of Mining Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
Interests: mine rock dynamic disaster; safety information; safety evaluation; safety economics
Prof. Dr. Xuyao Qi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Safety Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China
Interests: mine fire prevention; fire detection; gas explosion; smoke control

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Fire and explosion are the main types of disaster that occur in mines, including coal spontaneous combustion (internal fire), external fire, and gas (coal dust) explosion. Great progress has been made in coal spontaneous combustion prediction, fire-area detection, fire-control technology and materials, and standardization system construction. We now have a greater understanding of the disaster mechanism of explosion under the coexistence of gas, coal dust and fire, and the risk-assessment system and quantitative method of gas (coal dust) explosion. A lot of research work has been conducted in relation to the use of ventilation to prevent gas (coal dust) accumulation and overrun, which could effectively prevent such disasters. The major coal-producing countries, such as China, the USA and Australia, attached great importance to the research, development, and application of disaster emergency rescue technology and equipment in mines, and have made considerable progress in emergency communication, personnel positioning, remote detection in disaster areas, construction of escape routes, accident emergency and auxiliary decision-making, airflow regulation, and escape guidance after a disaster.

This Special Issue, “Mine Fires and Explosions”, aims to cover recent developments in occurrence mechanisms, new techniques and equipment, safety management and risk assessment, emergency rescue theories and technologies for the control of mine fires and explosions. Original research articles and reviews are welcome, and the submitted papers should clearly show novel contributions and innovative applications of how science can support any of the following fire-related topics (amongst others):

  • Mechanisms of mine fires and explosions and behavior modeling;
  • Application of new techniques and equipments for the control of mine fires and explosions;
  • Application of new materials (fire prevention, explosion suppression or dustproof material);
  • Numerical simulation of dust diffusion, gas migration or flame spread under coupling multi-physical fields;
  • Space-time evolution and their destructive effects of mine fires and explosions;
  • Closed-loop management model;
  • Real path and coupling effects;
  • Risk control with an accident chain;
  • Risk assessment;
  • Airflow regulation;
  • Assessment of emergency response capability.  

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Haiyan Wang
Dr. Feng Li
Prof. Dr. Huiyong Niu
Dr. Minbo Zhang
Prof. Dr. Xuyao Qi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Fire is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • mine fire
  • gas (dust) explosion
  • coal spontaneous combustion
  • fire prevention
  • dustproof
  • explosion suppression
  • airflow regulation
  • safety management
  • risk assessment
  • emergency response

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 1409 KiB  
Article
Modeling and Complex Analysis of the Topology Parameters of Ventilation Networks When Ensuring Fire Safety While Developing Coal and Gas Deposits
by Igor Ivanovich Bosikov, Nikita V. Martyushev, Roman V. Klyuev, Irina A. Savchenko, Vladislav V. Kukartsev, Viktor A. Kukartsev and Yadviga A. Tynchenko
Fire 2023, 6(3), 95; https://doi.org/10.3390/fire6030095 - 1 Mar 2023
Cited by 101 | Viewed by 2839
Abstract
Underground mining, including underground coal mining, is accompanied by accidents and fire hazards that pose a threat to the life safety of miners. The fire hazard increases with an increase in the mining depth. Currently, most accidents in coal mines are mine fires. [...] Read more.
Underground mining, including underground coal mining, is accompanied by accidents and fire hazards that pose a threat to the life safety of miners. The fire hazard increases with an increase in the mining depth. Currently, most accidents in coal mines are mine fires. The cost of eliminating mine fires is 80–95% of the cost of eliminating all accidents occurring at mining enterprises. Therefore, the problem of developing a new methodology for modeling the ventilation network parameters of the mine to increase the reliability of controlling the aerogas mode at the excavation site is very relevant. The comprehensive analysis and assessment of gas-dynamic processes in coalmines under study were carried out using the methods of probability theory and mathematical statistics. Spatial data were processed using spline interpolation in “gnuplot”. As a result, a generalized expression for the transfer functions of coalmine objects, taking into account delays, was developed, including the description of dynamic properties of mining sites under various operating modes. The principal possibility of using a graphical method for estimating additional parameters of the sections of the ventilation system branches has been proved due to the alignment of their profiles at an equivalent distance relative to an arbitrary analogue. The improved method of spatial modeling was used to determine the gas-dynamic characteristics through additive gas-dynamic processes. The studies have been carried out and the method for managing the process of changing connections between devices (controllers–switches) of the technical system was developed in order to obtain greater reliability for safe mining. In subsequent studies, there is an issue of more detailed clarification of the peculiarities concerning the interrelations between the studied parameters in several projections of the response space. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mine Fires and Explosions)
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14 pages, 3031 KiB  
Article
Superposition Risk Assessment and Calculation Model of the Working Position of Coal-Seam Fire Accidents in China
by Feng Li, Chenyu Zhang, Xiaoxuan He, Baoyan Duan, Chenchen Wang and Zhengxu Yan
Fire 2023, 6(1), 7; https://doi.org/10.3390/fire6010007 - 29 Dec 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1834
Abstract
The coal-seam fire is one of the most significant disasters in the coal mining industry in China, affecting the safety of coal production in China. The working-position risk in coal mining has an important impact on the risk of fire occurrence, and thus [...] Read more.
The coal-seam fire is one of the most significant disasters in the coal mining industry in China, affecting the safety of coal production in China. The working-position risk in coal mining has an important impact on the risk of fire occurrence, and thus it would be worthwhile to analyze working-position risks so as to effectively prevent and control coal-seam fires. Based on the kernel density estimation (KDE), this research puts forward an innovative calculation-model and assessment method of the superposition risk of the working position on coal-seam fire accidents. This research aims to evaluate the priority of risk management of working positions in coal-seam fire accidents. In order to achieve this research aim and objectives, this research carried out a statistical analysis of 100 classic cases of coal-seam fire accidents from 2000 to 2022, using the accident-tree-structure importance analysis method. This research contributed to the evaluation of the frequency and severity of various risk factors leading to fire accidents, and the development of the value at risk (VaR) of various risk factors in the coal-seam fire accidents. Integrating all the risk factors involved in each position and their risk values, and building a position-risk calculation model was carried out. In addition, in accordance with the kernel density estimation (KDE), a post-superposition risk model was established. Moreover, ArcGIS software was used to obtain the superimposed risk of posts and build a risk-distribution map. Based on the possibility of post-risk occurrence and the severity of the consequences, a risk-assessment matrix was developed, a post-risk grading standard was established, and risk levels of the working position were divided up in this research. Results indicated that (1) before risk superposition, working-position risks and risk levels are densely distributed, and nearly 80% of risk levels of the working position are focused on Level II and III, without Level I. (2) After risk superposition, the post-risk is affected by the surrounding post-risk, and the risk- and level-distribution is more hierarchical; the number of Level I risks in working positions increased to 12, which were mainly distributed among the comprehensive mining team, comprehensive excavation team and ventilation team, which accords more with the objective and actual production-conditions. The risk-distribution map directly showed that the post-fire risk at the mining face and shaft is higher, a result which will take on a significant guiding role in the effective control and prevention of risk in coal-seam fires in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mine Fires and Explosions)
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19 pages, 4084 KiB  
Article
A Field Study of Coal Fire Areas Re-Burning Behavior Assessment and Related Carbon Emissions
by Haiyan Wang, Cheng Fan, Jinglei Li, Yaling Wu, Shiyue Xing and Wei Wang
Fire 2022, 5(6), 186; https://doi.org/10.3390/fire5060186 - 4 Nov 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1861
Abstract
The re-burning of coal seams still occurs in coal fire areas after firefighting projects. A large amount of spontaneous combustion gas products is released from the surface fissure, which can cause air pollution and even threaten the production of surrounding mining areas. However, [...] Read more.
The re-burning of coal seams still occurs in coal fire areas after firefighting projects. A large amount of spontaneous combustion gas products is released from the surface fissure, which can cause air pollution and even threaten the production of surrounding mining areas. However, the distribution characteristics of fissure channels in the re-burning coal fire areas are local and scattered. Therefore, we developed a system for the in situ monitoring of spontaneous combustion gas emissions from fissure channels to conduct field investigations on the re-burning behavior of coal seams to explore the degree of re-burning in the coal fire area. The results showed that re-burning of the coal fire area induced fissure channels with different shapes. The CO2 concentrations are always higher than the CO concentrations among the spontaneous combustion gas products discharged from the fissure channels. The degree of re-burning of coal seams at different study locations was comprehensively determined using simplified MCE and CO2/CO ratios. The comprehensive factor α was obtained using the generalized principal component analysis (GPCA) by taking into account spontaneous combustion gas, meteorological factors, and the thermal physical characteristics of fissures. A carbon emission model for local fissure channels in the coal fire area was established, and the daily average carbon emissions at the study location were 2.56 t. Therefore, this provides essential theoretical support for taking corresponding fire extinguishing measures according to the degree of re-burning of the coal fire area. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mine Fires and Explosions)
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15 pages, 3949 KiB  
Article
Influence of Oxygen Concentration on Combustion Kinetics and Gas Products of a Polyurethane–Coal Mixture
by Haiyan Wang, Xiao Chen, Zhuo Wang and Linchuan Xiang
Fire 2022, 5(6), 181; https://doi.org/10.3390/fire5060181 - 2 Nov 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2154
Abstract
Polyurethane materials are often used in mines to fill the geological structural areas for pretreatment and plugging. These areas are primarily high-incidence areas of coal spontaneous combustion (CSC). Polyurethane will promote the spontaneous combustion of the remaining coal because of its superior thermal [...] Read more.
Polyurethane materials are often used in mines to fill the geological structural areas for pretreatment and plugging. These areas are primarily high-incidence areas of coal spontaneous combustion (CSC). Polyurethane will promote the spontaneous combustion of the remaining coal because of its superior thermal insulation performance. Previous studies have focused on the effect of polyurethane on the spontaneous combustion of coal in air atmosphere, without considering the variation of oxygen concentration in the mining area. The paper investigates the effect of polyurethane on the spontaneous combustion of coal in the mining area under different oxygen concentration conditions according to the variation law of oxygen concentration in the mining area. Herein, thermogravimetry-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (TG-FTIR) coupled methods were used to study the kinetics and gas release laws of a polyurethane–coal mixture. The critical temperature of coal increases with the decrease of oxygen concentration. When the oxygen concentration exceeds 10%, the shift of the thermogravimetric curve to the right is smaller, indicating that the oxygen concentration has less influence on the combustion of a polyurethane–coal mixture. When the oxygen concentration is less than 10%, the shift of the thermogravimetric curve toward a higher temperature is more prominent, indicating that the oxygen concentration has a greater influence on the thermogravimetric curve. Simultaneously, the maximum value of DTG increases with the increasing oxygen concentration. The main gas products of coal pyrolysis are CO2, CH4, and H2O, while those of polyurethane pyrolysis are mainly CO2, CO, CH4, and H2O during the pyrolysis process. The amount of CO2 during the pyrolysis of various proportions of coal and polyurethane is the main difference in the gas products. Coal can promote the pyrolysis of polyurethane to some extent. The characteristic temperature rises and falls as the proportion of polyurethane in the polyurethane–coal mixture changes. In the actual monitoring, small amounts of H2O, CO2, and CO gases appear in the starting phase, then a large increase in the amount of gases can be considered that polyurethane is involved in the relevant combustion reactions, which can avoid misjudgment of the spontaneous combustion of coal in the mining area. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mine Fires and Explosions)
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17 pages, 4215 KiB  
Article
Optimization of Numerical Simulation Algorithm for Spontaneous Combustion in Goaf via a Compression Storage and Solution Method of Coefficient Matrix
by Yongbo Cai, Yanlu Zhang, Qingjie Qi, Yueping Qin, Tianbai Zhou and Zuo Sun
Fire 2022, 5(3), 71; https://doi.org/10.3390/fire5030071 - 29 May 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2790
Abstract
In coal mine engineering, numerical software is used to analyze the behavior of coal rock damage and fluid migration. The order of the coefficient matrix used in numerical calculations is increasing, and this increases the computation steps in obtaining the coefficient matrix solution. [...] Read more.
In coal mine engineering, numerical software is used to analyze the behavior of coal rock damage and fluid migration. The order of the coefficient matrix used in numerical calculations is increasing, and this increases the computation steps in obtaining the coefficient matrix solution. The storage and solution of the coefficient matrix are key factors influencing the efficiency of the numerical software. Therefore, to save storage space and reduce the computation steps, the coefficient matrix must be effectively compressed and stored. In this work, the structural characteristics of different coefficient matrices are analyzed in detail, and we find that for different computational regions, as long as the nodes are numbered according to certain rules, the corresponding coefficient matrices will have similar structural characteristics. The nonzero elements are symmetrically distributed in the diagonal band, and all the elements on both sides outside the band are zero. Based on this, the coefficient matrix is compressed by a pivoting scheme, and the compressed matrix is directly eliminated by dislocation Gaussian elimination. Thus, a compressed storage method that integrates the compression and solution of the coefficient matrix is established. The compressed storage and calculation module is incorporated into our self-developed simulation software COMBUSS-3D to simulate the evolution of the temperature field in the goaf of Luling Coal Mine. Compared with the conventional method, the compressed storage module can significantly improve the computing rate of the simulation, by approximately 80%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mine Fires and Explosions)
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17 pages, 3699 KiB  
Article
Investigation of Spontaneous Combustion Zones and Index Gas Prediction System in Goaf of “Isolated Island” Working Face
by Jiamei Chai
Fire 2022, 5(3), 67; https://doi.org/10.3390/fire5030067 - 14 May 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3188
Abstract
Studies show that accurate division of spontaneous combustion (SC) zones in the goaf and the determination of the prediction system of the SC index are of great significance to prevent spontaneous and unwanted combustions in the goaf. Aiming at resolving the problem of [...] Read more.
Studies show that accurate division of spontaneous combustion (SC) zones in the goaf and the determination of the prediction system of the SC index are of great significance to prevent spontaneous and unwanted combustions in the goaf. Aiming at resolving the problem of coal SC in the goaf of an “isolated-island” fully mechanized caving face, a multiphysics model coupled with gas flow field and gas concentration field was established in the present study. Taking the 8824 working face of Nanzhuang coal mine as the research object and the oxygen concentration as the division index, coal SC was simulated in the goaf. The obtained results show that the ranges of heat dissipation zone, oxidation zone, and the asphyxia zone on the air inlet side are around 0–107 m, 107–239 m, and beyond 239 m, respectively. Moreover, the ranges of the three zones on the return air side are 0–13 m, 13–189 m, and beyond 189 m, respectively. The ranges of the three zones in the middle of goaf are 0–52 m, 52–213 m, and beyond 213 m, respectively. The performed analyses demonstrate that the obtained simulation results are consistent with the experimental data. Meanwhile, the coal programmed temperature rise experiment was carried out to improve the prediction index gas system of SC. It was found that CO and C2H4 can be used as early warning indices of SC in the goaf, while C2H6, C3H8, and C2H4/C2H6 are auxiliary indices to master the coal SC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mine Fires and Explosions)
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18 pages, 6108 KiB  
Article
Prevention Technology of Coal Spontaneous Combustion Induced by Gas Drainage in Deep Coal Seam Mining
by Jiahui Li, Youxin Zhao and Jinyu Du
Fire 2022, 5(3), 65; https://doi.org/10.3390/fire5030065 - 12 May 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3267
Abstract
Due to high gas content and a low permeability coefficient in deep coal seam mining, the spontaneous combustion of coal around the wellbore can easily occur, leading to difficulties in extracting gas during the mining process. To determine the dangerous area around the [...] Read more.
Due to high gas content and a low permeability coefficient in deep coal seam mining, the spontaneous combustion of coal around the wellbore can easily occur, leading to difficulties in extracting gas during the mining process. To determine the dangerous area around the borehole and conduct advanced prevention and control measures are the keys to preventing spontaneous combustion in boreholes. However, the dangerous area around the borehole is not clear, the sealing parameters lack scientific basis, and the key prevention and control measures are not clear, which have caused great harm to coal mines. This study took the 24,130 working face of Pingdingshan No. 10 Mine as an example, using numerical simulation, theoretical analysis, and field tests to classify the risks of studying the surrounding area of the wellbore. The dangerous area variations under different lengths of shotcrete in the roadway were analyzed, the optimal plugging parameters were studied, and the current “two plugs and one injection” plugging device was optimized. Based on the oxygen concentration and air leakage rate, a method was proposed to divide the dangerous area of fissure coal spontaneous combustion around the borehole induced by gas extraction. The dangerous area of spontaneous combustion around the borehole was defined as having an oxygen concentration larger than 7% and an air leakage rate less than 0.004 m/s. The comprehensive control measures of the grouting length at 2–4 m, hole-sealing parameter at 20-13 (hole-sealing depth 20 m, hole-sealing length 13 m) and the “two plugs, one injection and one row” device were determined. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mine Fires and Explosions)
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11 pages, 1495 KiB  
Article
Experimental Study of the Source of CO Anomalies in Mines Based on Microscopic Changes
by Jiuling Zhang, Gaoyang Ruan and Jianguang Chen
Fire 2022, 5(3), 57; https://doi.org/10.3390/fire5030057 - 25 Apr 2022
Viewed by 2707
Abstract
The phenomenon of abnormal CO emergence occurred in a working face of Tangshan mine, and the CO source was analyzed from the two perspectives of CO detection method optimization and microstructure changes in the low-temperature environment of the coal body. Then, the critical [...] Read more.
The phenomenon of abnormal CO emergence occurred in a working face of Tangshan mine, and the CO source was analyzed from the two perspectives of CO detection method optimization and microstructure changes in the low-temperature environment of the coal body. Then, the critical index system was optimized. The CO identification tube test results and gas chromatograph test results are combined to derive a fitting formula, and the CO identification tube test results are used as the independent variable to obtain the gas chromatograph test results, which can effectively eliminate the error of small CO identification tube test results. The analysis of raw coal and coal samples heated by water bath at 30 °C, 40 °C, and 50 °C was carried out using low temperature liquid nitrogen adsorption and thermogravimetric and infrared spectroscopy experiments. It was found that the pore structure of the coal body developed as the temperature increased; the oxidation reaction occurred in the low-temperature state when heat was absorbed to produce CO. The thermal decomposition of carbonyl group was found to be the main source of CO. Finally, the index of spontaneous combustion of coal is optimized according to the temperature, and the index systems represented by O2/(CO2+CO), CH4 and CO2/CO were determined from 30~80 °C, 90~180 °C and 18~240 °C, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mine Fires and Explosions)
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