The topical methods of detecting spontaneous combustion sources in coal mines

Endogenous fires total over 40% of all accidents and incidents in the present-day coal industry, which emphasizes urgency of studying their causes. This study focuses on the key factors that promote spontaneous combustion of coal, which often leads to endogenous fires in mines. The range of such factors includes chemical reactions in coal seams, thermal processing, physical and mechanical properties of coal, proneness of coal to spontaneous combustion and parameters of the environment. It is important to control endogenous firing in coal mines as the subsequent accident management demands colossal human and economic resources and endangers lives of mine personnel. The methods of detecting and controlling endogenous fires in coal mines, including equipment, procedures, advantages and disadvantages are analyzed. The article describes the most common methods: acoustic diagnosis, gas analysis (radon flow density measurement), thermal imagery and thermography, methods of passive control. The radon method is currently an omnibus technique. Further, it is planned to improve the gas analysis method with radon used as a gas–indicator.

Korshunov G. I., Mironenkova N. A., Poleshchuk A. A. The topical methods of detecting spontaneous combustion sources in coal mines. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2025; (5):169-180. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2025_5_0_169.

G.I. Korshunov¹, Dr. Sci. (Eng), Professor, e-mail: korshunov_gi@pers.spmi.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0003-2074-9695,
N.A. Mironenkova¹, Cand. Sci. (Eng), Assistant Professor, e-mail: Mironenkova_NA@pers.spmi.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0003-3543-1575,
A.A. Poleshchuk¹, Graduate Student, e-mail: poleshuck.nas@yandex.ru, ORCID ID: 0009-0007-6842-9216,
¹ Empress Catherine II Saint-Petersburg Mining University, 199106, Saint-Petersburg, Russia.

A.A. Poleshchuk, e-mail: poleshuck.nas@yandex.ru.

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