IIT (ISM) researchers find ways to prevent fire, explosions in mines

The research titled ‘Physico-Chemical Characteristics of Pulverized Coal and their interrelations- a spontaneous combustion and explosion perspective’ can also have applications with regard to safety and risk management of process industries and utilities sector dealing with pulverized coal. 

IIT (ISM) researchers find ways to prevent fire, explosions in mines

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) ISM mining engineering research unit has come up with a measure to prevent fire and explosion in mines and ensure better safety. IIT (ISM) Associate professor of mining engineering department Devi Prasad Mishra conducted the research on pulverised coal that can help to improve the safety of coalmines from spontaneous combustion and explosion, as well as risk management of coalmines.

The research titled ‘Physico-Chemical Characteristics of Pulverized Coal and their interrelations- a spontaneous combustion and explosion perspective’ can also have applications with regard to safety and risk management of process industries and utilities sector dealing with pulverized coal. 

“Not only in coal mines, but the study will also prove to be helpful to the industries and utility sectors that deal with pulverized coal. It will strengthen their safety and help in the risk management process,” said Mishra.

"It was found during the study that with a decrease in particle size, its surface area increases which enables it to interact with oxygen, further increasing its combustibility and explosivity," he added.

The research findings helped the team to get knowledge about the particle size, exposed specific surface area and gas adsorption characteristics of coal of various particle sizes that in turn facilitated the mine management to take appropriate measures to prevent the occurrence of spontaneous combustion, mine fires and explosions in coal mines.

The objective was to study the spontaneous combustion susceptibility of coal with particle size variation and exclusivity. The study will also give direction to further research in the field, he said. “Now, we will go to the application part and try to adopt techniques so that fire and explosions could be prevented in coal mines. For example, there is an issue of Jharia Coal Mines in Dhanbad; we will try to find out the material or chemical to put into it to check further spread of fire,” said Mishra.

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