Fire in Coal Mines

(Underground & Opencast)

Detection & Prevention

Chemistry of a Fire
Extinguishment Theory
To inhibit the chemical chain reaction:
• Remove Heat
• Remove Fuel
• Reduce Oxygen
 The Fire Tetrahedron
Represents the “flaming” mode of combustion
The chemical chain
reaction has been
added to properly
represent a
“burning” fire.
If one of these four
items are taken
away, the fire will
extinguish
 Degree Of Fieryness
• Only Fiery/ Non-Fiery
• Yugoslavia – Based on combustion point
I cat – Not inclined to sp.ht >350oC
II cat – Slightly inclined 250oC - 300oC
III cat – Very inclined < 250oC

Fire certificate to mine premises ? Particularly

connected to mine – UK (fire door)
FIRE HAZARD ANALYSIS
4
CAUSES OF MINE FIRE: Intrinsic properties (Live with it)

• chemical composition of coal (Higher rank slower

rate of oxidation) (Bright coal – Vitrain-clarain – durain – fusain –
decreasing order of susceptibility)

• moisture, (increased porosity – increased oxidation)

• volatile matter, (decreases with rank)
• presence of pyrites, (creates fragmentation)
• geological factors etc. (deep-seated increased strata
temp., faults/ dykes- broken coal, rider seams, non-gassy seams
are more prone to heating – buffer layer of inert methane)

• Bacteria (haystacks, wood upto 70oC)

Important characteristics of Indian coalfields
• High seam thickness
• Close proximity of contiguous seams
• Abundance of coal left in the goaf
• Shallow depth of coal seam
• Proximity of intake and return
• Existence of high pressure difference between
the two shafts and in many cases high
spontaneous combustion susceptibility.

All these factors contributed to the occurrence of

fires in coal mines.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF FIRE
• Damage to land – subsidence

• Pollution – air, water, land

• Health

• Wastage of precious non-renewable resource

COST – Direct / Indirect

Cost of firefighting/ recovery
YEAR 2008 – MINISTRY OF COAL

RCF (ECL) – 7 fires – Rs. 40.28 crores

JCF(BCCL)- 67 fires – Rs. 2311.50 crores
7
 MINE FIRES

EXOGENOUS ENDOGENOUS
 MINE FIRES

EXOGENOUS ENDOGENOUS

Herbaceous shrub (BANTULSI) Spontaneous heating

Illicit distillation Self Heating
Dumping hot ashes Auto Oxidation
Incipient Fires
Electricity – cable, shortcircuit
Friction – picks (pyrites)-incendive • Pillar
Blown out /through shots • Goaf
Welding/ gas cutting • In falls
Contrabands • Washery rejects
Soft cokemaking at mine edge • Coal face
Subsidence cracks • Coal stock
Conveyor belts About 75% of mine fires
SDL/ LHD/ Machinery
occur due to spontaneous
Locos
heating.
Explosion
 MINE FIRES

ENDOGENOUS
EXOGENOUS

Herbaceous shrub (BANTULSI) Reg 117 (2), 117(3), 117 (6)

Illicit distillation Reg 118(5)
Dumping hot ashes Reg 117 (4)
Electricity – cable, shortcircuit IER
Friction – picks (pyrites)-incendive Pick sharpness
Blown out /through shots Stemming/ water ampules
Welding/ gas cutting Reg 118(2)
Contrabands Reg 147
Soft cokemaking at mine edge Reg 117
Subsidence cracks Reg 117, Reg 100
Conveyor belts Reg 92
SDL/ LHD/ Machinery Reg 180
Locos Reg 180
Explosion Reg 119
 Fire Proof
Fire resistant
Fire Retardant
• V-belts, sheave packings, cables, brake
liners, u/g belt conveyors

12
 FIRE IN CONVEYOR BELTS:

• Due to excess spillage below the chute, the belt

at driving end face some strains and its
alignment is disturbed. This causes the abrasion
of the belt with the part of the structure and
finally ends in a fire. Sometimes it is found that
due to spillage of the belt on the drum, the belt
catches fire.
• Timber supports in belt heading
• Jammed / struck rollers
• Belt slippage
FIRE IN CONVEYOR BELTS:
• Measures suggested:
Above 750oC
• For dealing such type of fires- use Rubber belts emit CO
PVC belts emit both CO &HCL
of sprinklers system, dry chemical
extinguishers will be very much
suitable.

• Fire retardant belting,

• smoke detectors,
• temperature indicators at the
pulley installed point should be
applied as preventive measures.
• Electrical switch gear
• Sequence control
• Zero speed indicator
• Slippage indicators
 FIRE IN TIMBERS

In most of the places, such as mines, timbers are used as support for
roof. Timber stacks are very prone to fire by their very nature. It is
more readily ignitable than coal. Damaged timber or decayed by
bacteria pose greater danger. To deal with such type of fire, the
following measures are suggested:-

– High pressure water should be applied for extinguishing the fire.

– As a preventive measure, the outer most surface of the timber is

to be coated with fire resistant chemicals.

– Intumescent Agents – liberate corrosive acids on heating and

char the cellulose surface and prevent further propogation of
flames. (Ammonium Phosphates/ sulphate)
– Agents which liberate incombustible gases (CaCO 3, MgCl2)
– Low melting organic compounds which flux and seal
underlying surface (sodium silicate, borax)
 ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT

• Proper relays, circuit protectors

• No overloading
• No incendiary metals
• FLP (Proper maintenance)
• Intrinsically safe
• No oil immersed equipment (H2)
FIRE IN BRATTICE CLOTH:

Untreated brattice cloth is highly inflammable,

particularly when it is worn out.

• Measures suggested:
• Poly vinyl chloride (PVC) coated brattice cloth will
be very much useful.
• Hygroscopic chemicals/ bitumen based agents/
clay like material.
• When brattice cloth catches fire, fire extinguishers
like water CO2/H20 may be used to extinguish it.

18
FIRE IN COAL HANDLING PLANT(CHP)
• For dealing with very high output and smooth
coal dispatch, mechanized coal handling plants
are provided. Fires in the CHPS occasionally
occur due to various reasons, like spontaneous
heating in spillage coal, heating of the belts etc.
Measures suggested:
• Use of high pressure water spray should be
adopted.

• Use of fire extinguishers and incombustible

materials will be useful.
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FIRE IN WORKSHOP:

• Fire in workshop mainly occur due to spillage of oil and

dumping inflammable materials like jute, paper etc.
Measures suggested:

• Use of high pressure water spray should be adopted.

• Use of fire extinguishers and incombustible materials

will be useful.

• Proper cleaning of spillages

FIRE IN EXPLOSIVE MAGAZINES:
Permitted explosives – cooling salts (CaSO4)

For smooth functioning of the production of mines, storage of explosives

(Magazine) are very much essential. So, to avoid the occurrences of fire in
the explosive magazines following measures are suggested:-

Lighting arrester must be provided on the magazine.

Surrounding area within the magazine must be cleaned up frequently and it

must be ensured that there is no vegetation in 100m radius of the
magazine.

The ventilation must be “Z” shaped so that there is no direct external

approach to the explosive.

For dealing of such type of fire use of high pressure water jet may be most
suitable.
FIRE IN HEAVY EARTH MOVING MACHINERY (HEMM)

• In opencast coal mines, Heavy Earth Moving

Machinery equipments like dragline, shovels,
drills, dozers, pay loaders, backhoes and cranes
etc. are used for the purpose of winning coal.
Fire in such costly equipment occurs
occasionally due to leakage in the hoses,
electrical short-circuits, frictional heating or
sparks or hot engine surfaces. Combustible
liquids, such as diesel fuel, lubricants and
hydraulic fluids create fire hazards.
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 FIRE IN HEAVY EARTH MOVING MACHINERY (HEMM) EQUIPMENT:

Preventive Measures suggested:

• Use of automatic fire protective devices is

required to be provided apart from additional fire
extinguisher at strategic locations.

• Use of fire tenders and automatic fire fighting

arrangements for dealing with such fires are
essential.

• FRHF in couplings
 FIRE IN HEAVY EARTH MOVING MACHINERY (HEMM) EQUIPMENT:

Preventive Measures suggested:

• Exhaust blanket –ceramic wool
 FIRE IN HEAVY EARTH MOVING MACHINERY (HEMM) EQUIPMENT:

Preventive Measures suggested:

• Fire resistant hydraulic hoses

• Sleeves and conduits of cable/wire – fire

resistant
 FIRE IN HEAVY EARTH MOVING MACHINERY (HEMM) EQUIPMENT:

Preventive Measures suggested:

• Baffle between hot and cold zones

• Vent valve removal –no tool

• Thermostat motor protection relay

 FIRE IN HEAVY EARTH MOVING MACHINERY (HEMM) EQUIPMENT:

Preventive Measures suggested:

• High air discharge temperature switch

(Drills)

• Turbo-charger guard

• Explosive vent in transformer (Drills)

Approved type of fire suppression system to be provided – DGMS Cir 10/2004

FIRE IN HEAVY EARTH MOVING MACHINERY (HEMM) EQUIPMENT:

Automatic Fire Detection & suppression Systems

AFDSS
• Optical Sensors

• Thermal Sensors

• Pneumatic Sensors

• Delayed Engine Shutdown

LINEAR HEAT SENSING CABLE
The system consists of a heat sensitive
tube made of special plastic which is
closed by a stainless steel fitting on
each end. The tube has both storage
and detection function which means
that the extinguishing agent is stored
directly in the tube and no additional
storage device like cylinder is needed.
 Steps of a Physical Inspection
of a Fire Suppression Systems
• Inspect all activation
points.
• Check unit for pin,
handle, safety clips
 MINE FIRES

EXOGENOUS ENDOGENOUS

Spontaneous heating
Self Heating
Auto Oxidation

• Pillar
• Goaf
• In falls
• Washery rejects
• Coal face
• Coal stock

About 75% of mine fires

occur due to spontaneous
heating.
 ENDOGENOUS FIRES

INCUBATION PERIOD
UK
0-3 months – very high risk
3-8 months – high risk
8-18 months – medium risk
>18 months – low risk

• CROSSING POINT
• IGNITION POINT

>160oC + <2% moisture – poorly susceptible

140 -160oC + 2-5% moisture – moderately susceptible
120-140oC + >5% moisture – highly susceptible
EARLY DETECTION OF FIRE

Physical Indication:
1. Haze
2. Sweating of strata
3. Gob Stink (Petrol, Kerosene, Tar)
4. Sounds , insects
5. Smoke
Smell sensors, thermal survey
 EARLY DETECTION OF FIRE

Fire Indices
1. Grahams Ratio (CO/ O2 )
2. Willet’s ratio (CO/N2)
3. C/H ratio
4. Jones & Tricket Ratio (CO+ CO2 –H2/ N2-O2)
5. Young’s Ratio (CO2 / O2 )
6. CO/ CO2 ratio
7. Morris Ratio et.
Telemonitoring
 EARLY DETECTION OF FIRE

Fire Indices
Grahams Ratio (CO/ O2 )
100 CO / (0.265 N2 – O2)

< 0.5 Normal

0.5-1.0 Existence of heating
1.0-2.0 Advanced stage
> 3.0 Active fire
> 7.0 Blazing fire
 EARLY DETECTION OF FIRE

Why Fire Indices

120 o C – Smell
50 o C - CO production

CO production
• Diesel engines
• Shot firing
• Barometric changes
Gas Chromatograph
 CMR – 1957
 Reg.116A : General precautions against fire.

 Reg.117 : Surface precautions against fire.

 Reg.118 : Underground precautions against fire.

 Reg.118A : Further precautions against spontaneous heating.

 Reg.119 : Precautions after a fire has broken out.

 Reg.120 : Equipment and organisation for fire fighting.

 Reg.121 : Apparatus for testing of CO

 Reg.122 : Precautions when a fire exist.

47
 STEPS TAKEN TO STOP RECURRENCE OF FIRES:
Underground

To overcome the above hazard, efforts have been made in the

recent years to eliminate the various factors responsible for the fire
hazard. The present status of the mine is as follows:-

 Sectionalization of all old developed workings by construction of

stoppings.

 Isolation of all depillaring panels have from other parts of the mine.

 Cleaning of fallen coal of the old developed working which has

been isolated for ventilation airways
 Parallel ventilation airways to reduce the fan water gauge

 Pressure balancing

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 Continuous Tele-monitoring System to indicate the symptoms of fire
with respect to different parts of the mine e.g all depillaring districts,
all old workings which have been kept open for ventilation purpose.

 Routine air samples of sealed off panels & return air and analysed
in the mine laboratory equipped with Grahm’s Lawrence & Haldene
apparatus.

 If possible, the dip side old workings to kept drowned with water to
prevent oxygen circulation.

 Good network of spraying pumping & stowing ranges to be

maintained to meet the water requirement in the event of
emergency due to fire.

 Ventilation circuit to be made independent for every working

districts, pump stations and other areas.

49
Pressure Balancing: The in-bye and out-bye
pressure of each stopping is balanced such that
the in-bye pressure remains higher always. This
balancing of pressure keeps the possibility of
inbreathing of air through cracks to a minimum, if
not nil. The balancing of pressure is done by
regulating the intake air and thus reducing the
pressure in front of the stopping.

• The job of pressure balancing at Sijua Colliery

has been done with the help of CMRI. The total
system is established after thorough inter seam
and intra seam survey.
50
 Cement Plaster and Cement Wash: The isolation stoppings and the pillars
containings the stoppings were having minute and visible cracks. Breathing
of air into the sealed off area is possible through cracks. Even during
positive pressure fouling of outside atmosphere is possible through these
passages. Cement plastering and cement washing close the cracks. This
job also helps to control the spalling of sides.

Cement plastering serves two main purposes.

» Due to the increasing weight and bad roof condition the sides of coal pillars
deteriorate. This causes spalling of sides. To prevent this, cement
plastering is done after spraying the mixture of sand and cement on its
surface. As a result the strata are strengthened and further development of
the cracks is minimized.

» The crack present in the coal pillars acts as breathing point. When the
pressure across the fire wall is negative with reference to outside
atmosphere, oxygen rich air starts leaking in. This aggravates the fire.
These cracks are sealed by plastering the surface by sand cement mixture.
In this process sand and cement is mixed in the ratio of 1:6. This is then put
over the surface and atleast 0.5 inch thick layer is done all over the pillar
sides, floor, roof including the stoppings.

51
Stowing: During the fire fighting operation, some
areas were found to be in bad roof condition,
which could not be supported adequately, due to
excessive height and weak strata. Due to
expansion of fire, roof condition in some areas
deteriorated later on. In such areas, stowing is
done not only to support the area but also to
provide an incombustible barrier against fire.

Roof bolting: The roof in certain areas have bed

separated, thus causing breathing points. During
roof bolting, along with supporting the roof by
binding the layers , sealing of the bed separation
of layers also takes place and thus minimizes
the breathing of air into the sealed off area.
52
Side Bolting with wire netting and cement plastering:
The loose side of pillars are bolted, the bolts are then fitted
with wire netting. Cement plaster is applied thoroughly over the
wire netting.

Sealant wash:
After plastering the stoppings and the pillars containing these
stoppings sealant is applied to it. In consists of sodium silicate
mixed with thermo-seal powder. Sodium silicate mixture is first
formed with water and then the thermo-seal powder is added
so that semi liquid mixture is formed. This is then applied all
over surface with the help of hand brush. This is done in two
coats. After first coating it is allowed to settle for one day. Then
after 24 hrs 2nd coat is applied which make surface leakage
proof.
 TELEMONITORING
• Tube Bundle
polythene tubes 6mm dia in PVC sheath
diaphragm pumps
condensation in tubes, flame trap

• By sensors

• CALIBRATION
54
 Others Methods of Fire Control and Extinguishment:

– Inert Gas Injection (Nitrogen, CO2, flue gas)

– Chemical Treatment
– Modified Bulk filling (Water/Slurry/sand)
– Modified Bulk filling (Pneumatic)

55
 Control measures for
dealing with fires

 Total excavation of fires

 Isolation by trenching (Jharia) – Shallow seams
 Blanketing
 Surface sealing
 Isolation by underground stopping
 Quenching and cooling
(Water gas explosion – Jagannath OCP – 24th June 1981 – 10 persons)
 Flooding
 Foam plug
 Fly ash
High Expansion Foam generating Equipment
In the early 1950s, high expansion foam was
conceived by Herbert Eisner in England at the Safety in
Mines Research Establishment (now the 
Health & Safety Laboratory) to fight coal mine fires.
Will B. Jamison, a Pennsylvania Mining Engineer, read
about the proposed foam in 1952, requested more
information about the idea, and proceeded to work with
the US Bureau of Mines on the idea, testing 400
formulas until a suitable compound was found.
In 1964, Walter Kidde & Company (now Kidde) bought
the patents for high expansion foam.
 Nitrogen Injection

Expansion ratio 1: 694

Temperature - 196OC

62
• Nitrogen Injection:

• Bases on the calculations made by CMRI

Dhanbad a PSA type nitrogen plan of 500
n.cu.mtr/hour is installed at the mine site. The
plant was started on 21.04.97 with connection to
fire stoppings underground through pipe line. It
has been observed that injection has given a
positive effect at XIII seam B zone but a Zone
oxygen still remains high.

• To deal with this situation CMRI recommended

an additional PSA type nitrogen generator of
similar capacity.

63
Pressure Swing Adsorbtion Technology using Carbon molecular sieves
FIRE IN COAL STOCK
 COAL STOCK

It is not practically possible for the authorities of the

mines to dispatch all the winning coal immediately.
Thus excess coal is stacked on the surface and it has
been observed that if proper care is not being
adopted, then after sometime (incubation period) the
stacked coal catches fire due to spontaneous heating.
Thus proper norms for safe stacking of coal with
preventive measures should be adopted.

A successful case study of Rajmahal Opencast of ECL,

India may be quoted here. The coal of Rajmahal is of
high moisture, high volatile matter and low incubation
period. It catches fire within 25 to 28 days.

70
 Coal stock fires :
Preventive Measures suggested:

• Proper stack size

• Sealants, protective coatings

• Fire inhibitors (CaCl2, Ammonia, MgCl2)

• Proper hydrant points

• Proper monitoring (Thermal Imagers)

• FIFO
71
FIRE DURING TRANSPORTATION OF COAL:

• Coal may be transported by trucks or rail for short or

long distances or by ships for overseas
transportation. During the course of transportation,
sometimes spontaneous heating takes place in the
coal due to some favourable condition.

• Measures suggested:
• If spontaneous heating occurs in stack during
transportation, the primary measure is to cool down
with water and to load out the hot mass.
• The use of inhibitors on the stack surface can be
used.
73
 • PILLAR FIRES:
• Improper size
• Improper support
• Pressure difference
• Abutment

CONTROL
• Quenching and cooling
• Wax walling, (Clay with sodium chloride)
• Guiniting
• CaCl2 – Clay infusion
• Sodium silicate/ DAP
• Air seal/ latex seals
• Cement injection
• Water injection
 Fire at coal face

                                                                                                                                                
 Thank You!!!!

Fire Prevention
Its Your Responsibility!!!