The Characteristics of Methane Combustion Suppression by Water Mist and Its Engineering Applications

Autor: Rongkun Pan, Zejun Xiao, Minggao Yu
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2017
Předmět:
Zdroj: Energies, Vol 10, Iss 10, p 1566 (2017)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 1996-1073
DOI: 10.3390/en10101566
Popis: To safely mine coal, engineers must prevent gas combustion and explosions, as well as seek feasible and reasonable techniques to control for these types of incidents. This paper analyzes the causes and characteristics of methane combustion and explosions. Water mist is proposed to prevent and control methane combustion in an underground confined space. We constructed an experiment platform to investigate the suppression of methane combustion using water mist for different conditions. The experimental results showed that water mist is highly effective for methane flame inhibition. The flame was extinguished with water mist endothermic cooling. However, the annular regions of water vapor around the fire played a vital role in flame extinction. Water from the evaporating mist replaces the oxygen available to the fuel. Additionally, the time required for fuel ignition is prolonged. For these reasons, the water particle action to flame surface is reinforced and the fuel’s reaction with air is delayed. As a result, flame stretching and disturbances occur, which serve to extinguish the flame. Engineering application tests were carried out in the goaf, drill hole and upper-corner to investigate the prevention and control of methane gas combustion, with the results showing a good application effect.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals