prevention and control of spontaneous combustion - Mining and

Introduction
What is spontaneous combustion?
Spontaneous combustion is an oxidation reaction that occurs without an external heat source.
The process changes the internal heat profile of the material leading to a rise in temperature.
This can eventually lead to open flame and burning of the material
Previous Coaltech sponsored research
Coaltech previously funded a comprehensive review of spontaneous combustion in mining.
CSIR Miningtek undertook this work from 2001 to 2003. The principal authors of this work were
Dr Nehar Eroglu and Mr Conri Moolman, with contributions by Mrs Sezer Uludag and Mr Elton
Thyse. The project title was, Develop Methods to Prevent and Control Spontaneous Combustion
Associated with Mining and Subsidence and the Coaltech Project number was 3.4.1.
It was never the intention of the current project to repeat the previous work. However, in
reviewing the problem of spontaneous combustion in surface mines, information was drawn from
the various reports prepared for Project 3.4.1 and sometimes this is reproduced in the
preparation of these best practice guidelines. The reproduction of this material is acknowledged.
It is recommended that a copy of the report of Project 3.4.1 is kept at every surface mine that
has a heating or spontaneous combustion problem. Managers controlling outbreaks of
spontaneous combustion, or involved in the planning or operation of surface mines involving the
mining of previously worked seams should be familiar with the contents of this report. Electronic
copies of the report are available from the manager of Coaltech.
The report of Project 3.4.1 together with its eight appendices contains a large number of
references. These give a wide-ranging insight into the causes and control of spontaneous
combustion in coal mining and coal storage. In order to assist individuals who wish to obtain a
deeper understanding of spontaneous combustion, the literature survey of Project 3.4.1 is
reproduced at the end of this report as Appendix 5.
Because of the volume of information available in the previous report it has been possible to be
brief in this current document and to focus on current best practices.
Development of best practice guidelines
This guidelines development project include:
• a literature review to collect relevant data
• site visits to selected surface coal mines
• consultation with various experts in the subject
• development of the guidelines and a pocket reference.