Assessment of indicator gases of spontaneous combustion in underground mines in the Czech Republic

Abstract

Research and applications of findings in the area of early indication of spontaneous combustion of coal using indicator gases started in the Czech Republic in the seventies to eighties of the last century. A significant progress occurred in the second half of the eighties, when methods of assessment of coal self-heating temperature were published in the Czech Republic (CR), e.g. in [1]. Consequently the objective findings of the research were projected in the year 1990 to generally binding legislation of the State Mining Authority of CR, imposing to track and assess indicator gases [2]. The matter of fact required to establish in the Ostrava-Karvina Coalfield (OKR) operational chromatograph laboratories covering requirements of practice. Further research was focused on improvement of assessment of self-heating temperature using indicator gases. The presented paper describes briefly the previous work experience and some findings of the research from the area of the tracking of indicator gases of spontaneous combustion in underground coal mines in CR.