Assessing the self-heating behaviour of Callide coal using a 2-m.pdfVIP

Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries 15 2002 385–390 /locate/jlp Assessing the self-heating behaviour of Callide coal using a 2- metre column B.B. Beamish ?, A.G. Lau, A.L. Moodie, T.A. Vallance Division of Mining and Minerals Process Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia Abstract A 2-m, adiabatic column has been successfully refurbished and recommissioned for coal self-heating research at The University of Queensland. Subbituminous coal from the Callide Coal?elds reached thermal runaway in just under 19 days from a starting temperature of 20–22 °C. The coal was loaded as two layers, with an R70 index of 2.73 °C h1 and 5.90 °C h1 for the upper layer and lower layer respectively. Initially, a hotspot developed in the upper layer between 120 and 140 cm from the air inlet due to moisture adsorption. After 7 days, self-heating in the lower half of the column began to take over, consistent with the higher R70 index of this coal. The location of the ?nal hotspot was approximately 60 cm from the air inlet. Further tests on Australian coals, with the column, will enable a better understanding of coal self-heating under conditions closely resembling mining, transport and storage of coal. The results from the column will also provide industry with the information needed to manage the coal self- heating hazard. ? 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Self-heating; Subbituminous coal; Adiabatic testing 1. Introduction initially is provided externally to the coal. However, these methods do provide a rapid measure for rating Self-heating poses a signi?cant hazard for both open- coals as to their propensity to self-heat. The closest cut and underground coal mine operations in Australia. simulation to actual conditions, at small-scale, is pro- Since the Moura disast