Some aspects of safe de-stimulation of self heating of coal

Abstract

The paper presents a multi-componential set of both internal and external stimulants that contribute to the process of coal self-heating. Special attentions is paid to the importance of detailed analysis and examination of existing levels of stimulants for the purpose of adequate addressing of fire-protecting measures to achieve efficient de-stimulation. Among preventive actions against endogenous fires the prophylactic and de stimulating measures are extremely essential, where prophylactics is understood as optimization of componential factors on the stage of design and development of mining operations whilst de stimulation means counteracting against activity of stimulants. Therefore importance of thorough analysis of the existing fire stimulants must be discussed in order to find out the most efficient de stimulating measures. Selected characteristics of inert gases and water are presented with special regard to adverse and hazardous side effects that may occur under specific circumstances. Finally, comparison of beneficial and adverse effects is made for the cases when inert gases and /or water are applied.