Fire Technology, 44, 185198, 2008

2008 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC. Manufactured in The United States

DOI: 10.1007/s10694-007-0034-4

12

New Approaches for Increasing the

Incubation Period of Spontaneous
Combustion of Coal in an Underground
Mine Panel
D. D. Tripathi*, Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research,
Dhanbad 826001, India

Abstract. In the extraction of coal underground, the incubation period is customarily used as a tool, for deciding the size of an underground coal mine panel, so that
coal therein can be extracted within this period without any sign or symptoms of
spontaneous heating. Nevertheless, in compatible geomining conditions, spontaneous
combustion occurs frequently within the proclaimed incubation period of the mine
panel; resulting huge quantities of coal being left un-extracted due to premature
sealing. The aim of the present study is, thereforeto develop and test methods and
technologies for uprising the incubation period of spontaneous combustion of coal in
an underground mine panel. The methods comprise the development of objective
models (equations) for the assessment and evaluation of causative factors playing
signicant roles in abrupt change of incubation period; the rise of temperature due
to, increased rate of oxidation, fragmentation, impact and friction after commencing
of the roof fall; and propagation of re into the interconnected workings. The technologies comprise the development and application of water fog, chemical fog, gel
fog and inert gel fog at various Indian mines, and other methodologies.
Keywords: spontaneous re, incubation period, intervening strata, re spread, chemical fog

1. Introduction
Board and Pillar mining method, in various forms has dominantly (
80%) being
practiced in India. In this method, huge quantity of coal (
2045%) remains in
the depillared panels as stook, loose coal at the oor, hard coal as intricate part
of the seam either in oor or roof, and beset the problems of spontaneous heating. In fact, while depillaring (with caving) in thick and multi seam, overlaying
strata collapses; naturallydue to geological disturbances, gravitational force,
front abatement pressure, weak or disturb strata behavior and bad roof conditions, and compellinglyin order to avoid the air blast in due course.
When strata collapses, the gravitational potential energy of the falling mass
changes into heat energy by the time collapsed mass subsided through the surface.
* Correspondence should be addressed to: D. D. Tripathi, E-mail: tripathidd@yahoo.com

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Fire Technology 2008

In addition, large quantities of heat are produced through fragmentation, impact,

friction and auto compression of air. Some of this heat is retained at vulnerable
site, leading to rising coal temperature up to the point of ignition, within certain
periodknown as incubation period [1]. However, incubation period of a depillaring panel is time lag, in-between commencing of roof fall and appearing the rst
symptom or sign of heating. Here, symptom means sensation or change i.e.,
appearance of haze, sweating of strata, gob stinks or re stinks and smokes,
whereas sign means, presence of disorder. Clearly, incubation period and re risk
potential of mine panel are two dierent aspects. Fire risk potential would compare the heating liability of coal under identical heat transfer condition where as,
incubation period is a controvertible term and vary with varying the heat transfer
conditions. In practice at several mines, incubation period diers widely from days
to year, even in the same seam and site; may be due to some shortcomings in
mechanized mining methods or the characteristics of coal itself, which may prone
to spontaneous heating [2]. Therefore, this study concerns it self with the development of mathematical models (simulating the physical conditions of mine after the
roof fall) to study the role of parameters initiating and infuriating the spontaneous heating. The rst model, calculates the temperature rise associated with
Arrhenius rst order reaction, between coalair interactions. The second model,
subjected to whether roof fall occurs in the working panel (open space) or sealed
o area of the mines, determines the eect of falling height, falling velocity, pressure and temperature with respect to time in developing the spontaneous re.
Also, critical analysis (DSC thermo gram, CPT and IPT value, ultimate and
proximate analysis and distribution of sulphur) of coal samples collected from
concerned mine panels have been carried out in the laboratory to determine the
prognosis and progress of re.
The development and application of fog, chemical fog, fog gel and nitro-fog gel,
according to need of the situation decreases the virulence of re and increases the
incubation period. Optimal laboratory formulations resulted in stable gel that
lasted for at least 1215 months in the mine, which then were tested in two Coal
Mines. Nitro fog gel forms an impervious coating and interrupted the aerial
oxidation of coal in unapproachable areas (abandoned goal) where heating may
apprehend. Of note is that in order to delay the vaporization of the water from
the gel solution, highly hygroscopic salt, hydrated calcium chloride has been
added in the solution. Two successful case studies, depicting the application of
technologies were discussed.

2. Development of New Methods

It is known that there are several heat sources in underground coalmines. A few
of them areaerial oxidation of coal, pyrite heating, heat of drying and heat of
wetting, fallen rock, broken rock, ssure water, strata heat, auto compression,
machinery, explosive, refrigeration equipment, lighting and surface environment.
Its noteworthy that exact contribution of each source in initiating the spontaneous
heating, varies from mine to mine [3]. In this article, we are much concern about

New Approaches for Increasing the Incubation Period

187

occurrences of premature heating, after commencement of the roof fall during

extraction of developed pillars (particularly, in case of depillaring with caving).

2.1. Calculation of Coal Temperature Rise Due to Aerial Oxidation

2.1.1. During Strata Collapses in the Working Panel. If, roof fall occurs in the
working panels (open space)air beneath the falling slab disperses and fresh air
enters rapidly, and accelerates the rate oxidation of coal. The equation describing
the aerial oxidation of coal is based on Arrhenious law or its modication [4] i.e.,
dQ=dt A exp E=RT  bQm  PO2 =0:21n ml/kg/h

where Q, amount of oxygen consumed per unit weight of coal; A, Pre-exponential

factor; E, activation energy; R, universal gas constant; b and m are constants, T,
absolute temperature; PO2 , partial pressure of oxygen and n, the order of reaction
belonging to the range of 0.51.0; from freshly to wreathed coal.
The rise in temperature during exothermic oxidation of coal is governed by the
equation
dT =dt H =Cp T dq=dt

where, dT/dt is rate of temperature rise; H is heat of reaction; Cp(T) is specic

heat capacity. Comprising Equations (1) and (2);
dT =dt CpT A exp E=RT  bQm  PO2 =0:21n Ec

Ec is environmental factor. Equation (3) has been solved numerically for finding the
time interval in which spontaneous combustion to be setup, which helps to determine
the fire risk potential of the mine panel.
2.1.2. During Strata Collapses in the Sealed Off Panel. If, roof fall occurs in the
sealed o panel, air below the falling block will be compressed rapidly; resulting,
rise in coal temperature at vulnerable site. However, in reality air below the falling
block never connes in the sealed o panel due to invariant connections of upper
seams and adjacent goal, mostly during extraction of developed pillars. For this
reason, the falling block experiences some degree of air resistance and must be
damped. The equation describing the motion is modeled as follows[5],
Mass acceleration = force on the falling block ) damping force
M du=dt M g P0  P A   DF u
DF 1:80 5:105 As 2:0=Z0 ; As ; surface area

where, M, mass of falling block, du/dt, acceleration of falling slab, g, gravitational

acceleration, P0 air pressure over falling black, P, air pressure under the falling
block, u, velocity of falling block and A, area of the falling block, DF (u) damping
force and means damping force always oppose the motion of the falling block.

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Fire Technology 2008

In the early stage of oxidative heating, heat transfer from source to the
surroundings occurs extremely slowly, therefore system is considered near
adiabatic i.e.,
PV k C;

T T0 fP =P0 g

5
k1=k

where k, adiabatic constant, C, constant, T, absolute temperature under falling

block and T0, initial temperature. Volume of the compressed air V = Ah, where h
is the distance between roof and oor. Constant C can be determined from the
initial boundary conditions; P = P0 and h = h0 at t = 0 i.e.,
C P0 hk0

Substituting M = Azq (z, thickness of falling slab and q is density of falling

mass) and P = C/hk in the Equation (4), gives
du=dt g  C=hk  P0 1=zq  DF u

The Equations (6) and (8) has been solved numerically; to evaluate the role of
falling height, falling velocity, pressure and temperature, in facilitating coal to re
spontaneously within a sealed o mine panel with respect to time [6].

2.2. Propagation of Fire in Coal Bed and Intervening Strata

After ignition, re begins to spread. The rate of spread of re depends on several
factors; most of them are site and condition specic and discussed below [7]
i. Variables describing the coal bed geometry of coal bed, density, particle size,
crass sectional area, shape and slope of the seam.
ii. Variables describing the coal characteristicschemical composition, ultimate/
proximate, thermal conductivity, specic heat capacity, and moisture content.
iii. Variable describing the surroundingsrelative humidity, temperature and
rate of leakage etc.
The variables contribute signicantly in initiating and propagating the re in
compatible sitespecic conditions.
2.2.1. Propagation of Fire in Coal Bed and Surroundings. Spontaneous heating in
underground coal mine panels, generally starts at a single point or several independent points at a time, and then propagates radialy till thermo-dynamical equilibrium is reached. In early stage of heating, conductive heat transfer is primary
concerned and is given by the Equations [8],

New Approaches for Increasing the Incubation Period

dT =dt ad2 T =dy 2
T Ts at y 0; T f y at t 0

189

Here, a is thermal diusivity of the medium. Using above boundary conditions,

Equation (9) has transformed to probability integral as follows
Tf  T0 =TS  T0 /cg 2=p1=2 peb2d b

10

where / = a t, t is time to attain the temperature Tf at a distance y from

heat source.
Due to poor thermal conductivity of coal, re propagated about 2.5 cm/year in
coal pillar whereas, through goaf it may be 2050 m/year, even more depending
on site-specic conditions. In addition, dispersal of hot materials, when level pillars crushes is the other reason of rapid spreading of re.
2.2.2. Spreading of Fire Through Interfaces. As soon as, thermal equilibrium is
reached, convection current develops; heated the surrounding rocks and strata and
creates the system of fractures, which helps, in propagating res. Heat absorbed
by the adjacent strata is given as follows [9],
q=kqc 1=pt1=2 Tf  T0

11

where, q is heat ux at the surface of the solid (W/m2), k is thermal conductivity,

q is density and c is specic heat capacity.
Intervening strata of coal seams comprises dierent formations like shale
bands, nevertheless sand stone bands, therefore their heat load capacities are
dierent
q1 =k1 q1 c1 q2 =k2 q2 c2 q3 =k3 q3 C3 . . . q=ki qi ci

12

where scripts 1,2,3, ... i are the boundary element of the strata.
Total heat absorbed per unit area by its constituent boundaries is
1=kqc1=2

q dt

13

where, p is the length of solid exposed to face convective heat ow.

At last, convective heat transfer takes place in micro cracks and ssures so
developed in the strata. The amount of heat, present into small cracks and ssures
could not be evaluated individually; therefore it is comprehended into the thermal
conductivity, known as apparent thermal conductivity.
Apparent thermal conductivity increases with temperature and activates the
strata and facilitates the spreading of re. Over and above, shale and sand stone
in the solid form are more vulnerable for propagation of re (Table 1).

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Fire Technology 2008

Table l

Thermal Conductivities of Different Formations in the Intervening

Strata of Coal Seam and Overburden Which Helps to Propagate the
Fire

Materials

Thermal conductivity
Bthu/h/sq./0c/ft

Materials

Thermal conductivity
Bthu/h/sq./0c/ft

0.24
0.18
1.11
0.11

Sand stone
Sand (granular)
Lime stone
Soil dry

1.16
0.13
2.10
0.14

Coal (solid)
Coal (granular)
Shale (solid)
Shale (granular)

3. Development and Application of New Technologies

and Methodologies
To avoid the occurrences of heating, within the proclaimed incubation period of a
mine panel, it is important to understand the ignition, the causes and heat transfer
in the combustion process. In fact, there is, no ignition temperature, which is the
property of coal as such. In ignition, by selfheating of coal, heat accumulation
occurs non-uniformly, therefore, time-intervalto reach the threshold temperature
at which coal ignite (termed as incubation period) varies with varying heat transfer conditions. As a result, incubation period can be raised, either by minimizing
the heat formation or increasing its dissipation at the source by means of external
treatment or protection [9].

3.1. New Technologies

3.1.1. Selecting and Applying Water Fog, Chemical Fog, Gel Fog and Nitro Gel
Fog. Experiences instigate that no distinct technology exists for dealing res in all
underground situations. Some techniques are more eective for newly developed
re whereas, some techniques are more eective for extensive re either in, goaf or
crushed coal pillars or abandoned area of mines. In fact, selection of appropriate
re prevention and control techniques depends on experiences and site-specic
observations. Here, the technologies and methodologies used for prevention and
control of res are discussed in such a way that the technique used earlier comes
rst and the most modern at the end.
1. Water Fog (old method, new technology)
i. This new technology is more eective than conventional spraying or jetting of
water, in which 80% water goes waste. Water fog (droplets size \0.3 microns)
when infused at vulnerable sites of the mine, keeps the moisture in coal above
its inherent moisture therefore, the tendency of self-heating becomes none.
ii. Heat dissipation and oxygen depletion; small droplets of water fog, quickly
converted to stream and allow to absorb huge quantity of heat (cooling capability of water 2.6 MW 1/s whereas in practice
0.84 MW 1/s) and when converted to water vapor, smothering the re by displacing the oxygen and
becomes an ecient method of inerting.

New Approaches for Increasing the Incubation Period

191

2. Chemical Fog
i. Recent tests have shown that mixing of endothermic and re retardant chemicals in water can signicantly improved the eectiveness of water in suppressing
and ghting res by rapid cooling, retarding surface oxidations and minimizing
the possibilities of re-ignition. Chemical fog can be sprayed easily at desired
places i.e., overlying goaf, cavity of the two stone pieces and unapproachable
area where heating may apprehend form a long distance 2530 m.
ii. In the selection of chemicals, many aspects have been considered i.e., cooling
eciency, long and short term eectiveness, eectiveness in various fuel conditions (i.e., coal left in top or bottom section, developed or depillared panels),
problem of corrosion, abrasion, toxicity, cost eectiveness, easy mixing, pumping and storing. Generally, boric acid, sodium chloride, calcium chloride,
di-ammonium phosphate, sodium silicate, limes and dolomite powder (90%
purity) are used in underground mines.
iii. Of note is that in laboratory experiment, the % evaluation of carbon
monoxide (CO) was reduced from 0.33% to 0.16%, when mixed with sodium
silicate solution (2% W/W).
3. Gel Fog
i. The techniques of spraying gel solution (water thickened with sodium silicate
(Na2SiO2) and diammonium phosphate (Nitrogen (N2) 21%; phosphate (P2O5)
53%) proved very use full for preventing self-heating of coal and control of
advancing res; by both, defensive or oensive way. Gel fog has been prepared,
by admixing 10% sol, w/v of sodium silicate and diammonium phosphate in
4:1 ratio. The combination has the desired setting time of 45 min (pH
9), to
avoid the solidication of gel during the operation. The setting time of gel can
be change by changing the compositions.
ii. Gel fog, holds large quantity of water and had proved eective inhibitor
of coal oxidation reactions
150C. Viscous DAP is not toxic, it tends to
give o ammonia when applied to re and stung to eye but not a serious
problem.
iii. In laboratory test, gel formed would initially increase in volume (6% of its
original volume) but shrinks afterwards if left exposed in ambient temperature
for more than 1 week. Coating of gel on coal surfaces would not crack even
with rise in temperature up to around 70C, but may develop hairlines cracks
on prolonged heating above 100C.
iv. In developed, depillaring or depillared panels, gel solution when infused at
high pressure (57 Kg/cm2) by means of fog ghter, forms an impervious coating on coal surfaces/broken coal mass. The coating of gel lasted for at least
1215 months, hence, found suitable for increasing the incubation periods of
spontaneous combustion of coal in mine panel. In all tests, gel fog produced a
somewhat smaller and denser pattern than water fog or chemical fog; hence all
the vulnerable sites can be covered easily.

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Fire Technology 2008

v. Addition to this, gel solution is commonly infused in fractured coal pillars,

(at a pressure of 23 Kg/cm2 using CMRI developed infusion gun) to stop the
air ltration through them in sealed o re area. The technology so evolved is,
passage of gel solution through narrow cracks and ssures in coal pillars, starts
solidify towards the boundary of fractured zone within a critical time and stops
the air ingress.
4. Nitro Gel Fog
i. Nitro gel fog is a mixture of coolant, re suppressing, extinguishing and inertzing agent. Principally, inert gel fog reduces the oxygen content and retains the
inert atmosphere in unapproachable or sealed o areas, for a long time, where
heating may apprehend. Inert fog gel has the ability to penetrate into loose
material and conned spaces where chemical fog or gel fog might not. Addition
to this, rapid expansion of inert gas (N2 or CO2) produces a refrigerating eect.
ii. Its application technology includes, mixing chamber, fog ghter and inert gas
cylinder tted with a regulator in order to buildup pressure (47 kg/cm2) in the
mixing chamber for creating an aerosol or fog. The fog can be dispersed continuously until the solution has been exhausted.

3.2. New Methodologies

i. Delaying the roof fall by leaving small ribs in few pillars at the starting of the
panel. Size, design and strength of ribs have been calculated using Finite Dierence Method according to site-specic need.
ii. Discontinuing the extraction, where parting (12 m) is thin; wetting of coal
surfaces and crushed left on the oor of the panel, pressure balancing across
the adjacent goaf, dumping of overburden over the panels depillared/under depillaring to prevent the air leakage from the surface cracks.
iii. Spraying of dolomite powder (90% purity) or lime dust on the oor before
sealing the depillared panel.
iii. Regular vigil and thermo compositional monitoring for early detection of
heating and ascertain the immediate course of action within the panel, if any
symptom of heating is detected.
These methods, technologies and methodologies were applied successfully in
two underground coalmines of varying geo-mining conditions for controlling and
combating re.

4. Case Study-I (GDK-9

Colliery Company Limited)

Incline

mine

of

Singareny

At the GDK-9 Incline mine of Singareny Colliery Company Limited (SCCL)

whose III/IV seams are 10.5 and 2.64.0 m thick, occurs in contiguity with a stone

New Approaches for Increasing the Incubation Period

193

parting of 37 m [10]. Overlaying III seam was depillared in past, with poor
recovery (40%) in two slices, 2.75 m in top by conventional method and 4.5 m in
bottom by LHDs (Figure 1). During extraction of developed pillars in underlying
IV seam, spontaneous heating occurs frequently after the roof fall within the
proclaimed incubation period. In panel 6F(ii)a, increasing trends of CO were

Figure 1. Part plan of panels 6F(ii)a, 6F(ii)b, 6F(iii)a and 6F(iii)b in

IV/GDK-9 incline mine, SCCL; wherein, fog fire fighting techniques
has been applied for immediate control of fire and increasing the
incubation period of spontaneous combustion of coal.

194

Table 2

Mining Details of Some Panels Under Fire in IV Seam of GDK-9 Incline Mine, Ramagundem area-II, SCCL
S. No.

7F(I)B

14L(ii)

4(ii)

5(ii)

2A

20F(I)

6F(II)a

Seam thickness (M)

Depth min/max (M)
Gradient
Grade
Overlying
Panel started
Panel sealed
Fall occurred
Area of exposure M2
Subsequent fall
Area of the panel
Reserve of the panel (tone)
Incubation period months
No. of pillars
% Extraction
Max subsidence
M parting with overlaying goaf (M)
Heating after fall
Coal lost in re tone
Date of CO occurrence

3.63.9
98 /107
1:5
BC
III Goaf
30.6.96
18.6.97
28.8.96
1820

1.82
0.63
18
26
70
1.10
6.2
9M-20d
5130
18.6.97

3.63.9
78/100
1:5
BC
III Goaf
24.9.94
27.4.95
9.12.94
2050

2.05
0.57
18
20
70
1.20
6.4
4M-12D
11,700
24.4.95

3.6
63/78
1:5
BC
III Goaf
27.1.88
31.8.88
20.9.88
1050

2.32
1.04
18
36
70
1.10
7.3
4M-8D
9000
1.9.88

3.6
66/77
1:5
BC
III Goaf
15.2.89
9.10.. 89
25.8.89
4320

3.20
0.82
18
30
70
0.8
8.0
2Y-4.5M
13,000
7.12.91

3.6
42/59
1:5
BC
III Goaf
27.5.85
12.3.86
1.10.85
5890

5.89
0.92
18
34
70
4.54
4.8
5M-18D
8670
27.3 86

3.6
62/82
1:5
BC
III Goaf
11.9.83
9.9.84
15.12.83
4202

1.23
1.15
18
47
70
3.53
8.2
7Y-10M
9812
18.10.91

4.46
122/135
1:5
B
III Goaf
11.12.97
26.5.98
10.2.98
844
13.3.98
0.844
0.70
18
16
81
Nil
5.2
3M-15-D
10,770
25.5.91

3.6
166/183
1:5
D
III Goaf
23.3.98
31.7.98
28.6.98
1620
30.6.98
1.620
1.0
18
24
75
Nil
5.4
14,710
29.7.98

Fire Technology 2008

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.

Panel details

New Approaches for Increasing the Incubation Period

195

observed within a month; despite, proclaimed incubation period of 18 months

(Table 2).
At the moment, problem was referred to Central Mining Research Institute
(CMRI), for advising the technology and methodology, which would be easy and
economical for immediate control of re, vis-a`-vis increasing the incubation period
of spontaneous combustion of coal in the mine panels.
Our preliminary investigations consist of visual inspection of re aected area
and overhead surface to ascertain the scope and sites for air leakage that may
aggravate the re. Thermocompositional monitoring and analysis of sealed o re
area has been carried out to determines the future course of action.

4.1. Results and Discussions

At the time of depillaring, in panel 6F(ii)a in IV seam at GDK-9 incline mines of
SCCL, roof fall occurred on 11.12.1999 and carbon monoxide was detected on
12.1.2000, which raised beyond 2% within 2 days. The mine management shielded
the panel and huge quantity of coal left un-extracted. For assessing the prevailing
state of re in sealed o area, thereby selecting most appropriate re control
techniques; products of combustible gases were collected in two shifts per day.
Thermo compositional analysis reveled that supercial re is growing fastly in a
localized area. Immediately, silicic acid gel solution (10% sol, w/v of sodium
silicate and di-ammonium phosphate in 4:1 ratio) was infused in the sealed o
area with the help of fog fighter. Soon after, it was observed that, carbon monoxide % has got reduced from 2.2 to 0.0017 and condition was brought to normal
within 34 days as depicted in Figure 2. After that, nitro gel fog (a mixture of re
suppressing and inertising agent) was infused in the sealed o panel to bring down
the oxygen concentration and minimizing the possibilities of re-ignition.
In next stage, technologies and methodologies were applied in depillaring panels
6F(ii) b, 6F(iii) a & 6F(iii) b; for increasing its incubation.

Figure 2. Depicting the status of fire in panel 6F(ii) a, during

combating operations.

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Fire Technology 2008

The technology includesdepillaring, panels in the beginning were treated with

chemical fog (a mixture of an endothermic chemicals of low viscosity namely,
sodium silicate, sodium chloride, diammonium phosphate, ammonium chloride),
to increase the inherent moisture of coal and delaying the self-heating. Sodium
chloride is a highly hygroscopic salt, absorbs water vapor from the air and keeps
the moisture long time at a place. After commencing the roof gel solution (a
mixture of sodium silicate and di-ammonium phosphate) was sprayed on loose
coal and remote places where heating may apprehend. The condition was monitored all the time during excavation using Infrared heat spy and found always
below than ambient temperature (24C). Accordingly, all the panels were extracted safely without any sign of heating even after the roof fall.

5. Case Study-II (Rajnagar R.O. Colliery of South Eastern

Coal Field)
During extraction of developed pillars in IV-A seam of Rajnagar R.O. Colliery,
symptoms of spontaneous heating were observed in some panels within the incubation period [11]. Then, the problem was referred to us for studying the probable
causes of heating within the incubation period of coal in the mine panel and
advice the suitable remedial measures.

5.1. Results and Discussions

To determine the tendency of coal of IV-A seam, to re spontaneously, ultimate
and proximate analysis, caloric value (UHV), coal grade, crossing point and ignition point temperatures, distribution of sulphur and DSC thermo-grams analysis
has been carried out in the laboratory; and details are given in Table 3. Coal is
stream-A grade, non-coking, distribution of sulphur i.e., pyretic sulphur (0.11),
sulphate (0.14) and organic (0.09), crossing point temperature 144C and ignition
point temperature 162C (Figure 3), explicate that coal is least susceptible to
spontaneous heating. In Deferential Scanning Calorimeters test (Figure 4),
Table 3

Coal Characteristics, DSC Thermo Gram, Calorific Value, CPT and IPT
Value of Coal Samples Collected from IV-A Seam of Rajnagar RO
Colliery SECL

Proximate
analysis %
Moisture
VM
Ash
FC

Distribution of
sulphur %
5.32
34.22
13.51
46.95

Pyretic
Sulphate
Organic

0.11
0.14
0.09

DSC thermo grams value

Onset
Peak
Normalized

56.67C
85.19C
)86.55 Jg)1

Crossing/
ignition
point
temperature
in C
CPT
IPT

144
162

Caloric value
Kcal/Kg
6520

New Approaches for Increasing the Incubation Period

197

Figure 3. Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC) analysis of coal

samples collected from the running panel/IV-A seam of Rajnagar R.O.
Colliery SECL.

Figure 4. Depicting the CPT and IPT value of coal samples collected
from the running panel/IV-A seam of Rajnagar R.O. Colliery SECL.

normalized value )86.55 Jg)1, indicate least heat absorbing capacity of coal. Also,
onset value 56.67C and peak value 85.19C indicates presence of moisture in coal
matrix. In view of that, coal is least susceptible to spontaneous heating.

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Fire Technology 2008

The extrinsic mining parameters are also not much favorable to initiate the
spontaneous heating or re. In conclusion, only instantaneous conditions like
sluggish ventilation, crushing of coal; rapid oxidation due to heavy roof fall initiates the spontaneous heating impulsively and unpredictably. Therefore, it has been
recommended that water fog should be infused periodically after the roof falls in
the depillaring panels.

Acknowledgments
Author is thankful to the referee for his pain taking eorts in reviewing the manuscript and director CMRI for his kind permission to publish the paper. The members of Mine Fire Laboratory are appreciated for their co-operations.

References
1. Banerjee S.C. (1985) Spontaneous Combustion of Coal and Mine Fires, Oxford and
IBH, Rotterdam
2. D.D. Tripathi and S.K. Sen, Prediction of Fire StatusA New Approach to an Old
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