Investigation of the explosion and fire hazard of coal dust in formations of the middle stage of metamorphism

An analysis of the state of dust and explosion safety in coal mines and the processing of statistical data on accidents when a common methane flare in the face caused enormous damage and resulted in the deaths of dozens of people located at a considerable distance from the face revealed the imperfection of the existing concept of ensuring explosion safety in mining operations in in highly gaseous coal seams, dangerous for coal dust explosions. It was established that the amount of hydrocarbons extracted from coal dust is 23% more than the amount of hydrocarbons extracted from coal. Coal dust adsorbs mainly butane, pentane, and hexane. The density of these gases is ranges from 2 to 3.5 times the density of air, so they settle on the on the soil of the mine. Ignition temperatures of heavy hydrocarbons may occur during the operation of combine harvesters, mine belt conveyors and other equipment in the excavation area. Thus, heavy hydrocarbons can first flare up from the source of the thermal pulse, which will give a spark for the explosion of methane. During a methane explosion, coal dust in the workings rises into the air, heats up, and heavy hydrocarbons, which are absorbed by it, are released from it, which significantly enhance the explosion power of methane and coal dust. The data obtained make it possible to develop measures to improve the explosion and fire safety of coal mines. 

Skopintseva O. V., Balovtsev S. V., Rybichev A. A. Investigation of the explosion and fire hazard of coal dust in formations of the middle stage of metamorphism. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2026;(5):80-94. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2026_5_0_80.

O.V. Skopintseva¹, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Professor, Professor, e-mail: skopintseva54@mail.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0002-7257-8720,
S.V. Balovtsev¹, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Professor, Assistant Professor, e-mail: balovcev@yandex.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0002-0961-6050,
A.A. Rybichev¹, Assistant, e-mail: rybichev@yandex.ru, ORCID ID: 0009-0005-9269-201X,
¹ University of Science and Technology MISIS, 119049, Moscow, Russia.

A.A. Rybichev, e-mail: rybichev@yandex.ru.

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