Estimation of parameters for endogenous hotspot emergence during coal cargo transportation by bulk carriers

¹ Saint - Petersburg University of the State Fire Service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia, 196105 Saint Petersburg, Russia
² Higher School of Technosphere Safety of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, 195251 Saint Petersburg, Russia

^* Corresponding author: ig.skripnick2011@yandex.ru

Abstract

The article briefly describes the fire and explosion properties of coal raw materials (hard coal of different grades). The relevance of the problem is shown on the example of incidents occurring during transportation of coal raw materials by different modes of transport. The issues of bulk coal transportation are considered in more detail. The paper aims at determining kinetic parameters of low-temperature oxidation processes leading to self-heating and/or spontaneous combustion of coal, and at determining optimal forms of combustion. On the basis of the data obtained, it is suggested to use bulk cargo holds with strictly defined geometric characteristics. The methodological approach of Prof. J.S. Kiselev and the method of synchronous thermal analysis were chosen as the main method of research. The method proposed by J.S. Kiselev is based on the application of a dry-air thermostat. It permits the study of dependence of the occurrence of spontaneous combustion processes in the coal mass on the thermal-physical parameters and the ambient parameters by obtaining the curves of the heating and cooling rates. The method of synchronous thermal analysis applied by the authors made it possible to prove the need for more careful control of fine coal fractions. Thus, the authors have established the dependence of the rate of oxidative thermochemical processes of pyrolysis on the fractional composition of the sample by applying a highly scientific method. As a result of experimental studies, the authors have calculated the main kinetic parameters of autoignition, namely, activation energy and preexponential multiplier. They suggested geometric characteristics of the shape of the coal accumulation and the bulkhead hold that would minimise the probability of spontaneous combustion within coal accumulation.