ABSTRACT
Minimum ignition temperature of dust clouds (MITC) was studied experimentally and theoretically in different atmospheres. Three carbonaceous dusts were tested in both air and O2/CO2 atmospheres with CH4 mole fraction from 0% to 2%. Results showed that the ignition risk of the three dusts significantly increases (decrease of MITC by ~100 â) with increasing XO2 from 21% to 50%, but significantly decreases replacing N2 in air with CO2. The inhibition effect of CO2 on MITCs could be diminished by increasing XO2 or adding CH4. The addition of small amount of CH4 has different effects on the MITCs of different dust samples, following the opposite order of volatile matter content: anthracite>bituminous coal>starch. Two modified steady-state ignition models, considering the density of mixture gas and dust cloud, XO2 and its diffusivity, were developed to interpret the experimental observations. The analysis revealed that the global heterogeneous ignition model suits well for the hybrid mixtures of anthracite or bituminous coal dusts. In contrast, the proposed global homogeneous ignition model was found to be only valid for the pure starch dust, and the extra CH4 addition could strongly affect the ignition process of starch, particularly in O2/CO2 atmospheres with higher XO2.
ABSTRACT
Study on the mechanism of coal spontaneous combustion is significant for controlling fire disasters due to coal spontaneous combustion. The free radical reactions can explain the chemical process of coal at low-temperature oxidation. Electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy was used to measure the change rules of the different sorts and different granularity of coal directly; ESR spectroscopy chart of free radicals following the changes of temperatures was compared by the coal samples applying air and blowing nitrogen, original coal samples, dry coal samples, and demineralized coal samples. The fragmentation process was the key factor of producing and initiating free radical reactions. Oxygen, moisture, and mineral accelerated the free radical reactions. Combination of the free radical reaction mechanism, the mechanical fragmentation leaded to the elevated CO concentration, fracturing of coal pillar was more prone to spontaneous combustion, and spontaneous combustion in goaf accounted for a large proportion of the fire in the mine were explained. The method of added diphenylamine can inhibit the self-oxidation of coal effectively, the action mechanism of diphenylamine was analyzed by free radical chain reaction, and this research can offer new method for the development of new flame retardant.
