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Investigation into the Propensity of Coal for Spontaneous Heating in Stockpiles

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Abstract

Spontaneous heating of coals continues to be a major environmental, safety and economic concern in coal storage, preparation and firing systems in power plants. Coal handling plants mitigate spontaneous heating in coal stockpiles by stacking in layers and compaction. This study was focused on investigating self-heating behaviour of compacted and loosely stacked stockpiles commonly used in a coal handling plant. Experimental stockpiles, each having 2500–3000 ton of coal, were built: compacted and loosely stacked. Temperature changes within the stockpiles were measured over a test period. Hot coals from loosely stacked stockpile were spread out to cool and re-stacked to form a third experimental stockpile.

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Acknowledgements

The author acknowledges the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) for its financial support of this study. Thanks are due to University of Nottingham, UK Coal, PowerGen Plc, TXU Europe for their support and generosity in providing useful discussions and information.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, GITAM (Deemed to be University), Hyderabad, India

    Ravi Varma Rambha

  2. School of Civil Mining and Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia

    T. X. Ren

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  1. Ravi Varma Rambha
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  2. T. X. Ren
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Correspondence to Ravi Varma Rambha.

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Rambha, R., Ren, T.X. Investigation into the Propensity of Coal for Spontaneous Heating in Stockpiles. J. Inst. Eng. India Ser. D 99, 225–233 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40033-018-0163-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40033-018-0163-6

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