Overview of research and use of indicator gases of coal spontaneous combustion in China

Abstract

The beginnings of research and use of results in the area of indicator gas application for early detection of spontaneous combustion of coal in China comes from the sixties of the last century. The significant development occurred in the nineties, when the program “Characteristics of the adsorption of coal oxygen and its application in the prevention of mine fires” had been completed. The paper briefly describes an overview of the historical development, achievements, experimental methods, laboratory equipment, legislation, and the outlook for the use of indicator gases of coal spontaneous combustion in China.