Numerical Study on the Effects of Surface-Inhibitors for the Prevention of Spontaneous Combustion of the Coal Stockpile

Numerical Study on the Effects of Surface-Inhibitors for the Prevention of Spontaneous Combustion of the Coal Stockpile

In this paper, the effects of the spontaneous combustion inhibitor on the surface of the coal stockpile in the coal yard was investigated by numerical analysis. First, the numerical analysis method of the present study was compared with the results of the previous study by analyzing the case in which the spontaneous combustion inhibitor was not applied, while the effects of spraying the spontaneous combustion inhibitor for the prevention of spontaneous combustion onto various areas and positions was also analyzed. As a result, the larger the application area of the spontaneous combustion inhibitor, then the more effective it is for preventing spontaneous combustion as it blocks the oxygen inflow into the coal stockpile, while, when spraying the spontaneous combustion inhibitor from the bottom of the coal stockpile, then the greater the effect it has on the prevention of spontaneous combustion. In conclusion, it was most effective to spray the spontaneous combustion inhibitor from the bottom of the coal stockpile up to about 30% of the height of the coal stockpile, when considering the economic aspect.