Spontaneous combustion liability of coal and coal-shale: a review of prediction methods

This study presents a review of the various methods to predict the spontaneous combustion liability of coal and coal-shale. The relative propensity of coal to undergo self-heating can be established by different methods. These methods are well established in their usage, but the fact that no particular test method has become a standard to predict the spontaneous combustion liability indicates that doubt still exists as to the validity of all of them. The underlying principle of all the tests is that the more readily the coal undergoes exothermic oxidation, the more liable it is to self-heat. Comprehensive studies that centres on the international position on research being conducted by academics, different research institutes and industries on spontaneous combustion of coal and coal mine fires were evaluated. Relationships between the geochemical analysis (proximate and ultimate analysis, forms of sulphur, petrographic properties, X-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescence) and spontaneous combustion testing methods (numerical and experimental approaches) used to predict the spontaneous combustion liability of coal were reviewed. The combination of these tests provides a better understanding of the mechanism that controls the spontaneous combustion phenomena. However, irrespective of the extensive studies that have been conducted over time, spontaneous combustion is still a major problem in the coal value chain.