Application of composite fly ash gel to extinguish outcrop coal fires in China

This paper presents the application of composite fly ash gel injection technology, along with several other methods to help extinguish outcrop coal fires (excavation, blasting and sealing). The Haibaoqing coal fires extended for 6000–7000 m across ~1000-m-wide area, part of which was simulated by Fluent to determine the distribution of high temperature and the situation of leakage. The radon-test method was used to accurately detect the extent of the burning area, along with the degree and tendency of burning. The areas were then separated into three distinct regions: north, middle and south. The gel injecting and monitoring boreholes were then installed in the regions. A comprehensive application of composite fly ash gel injection technology, excavation, blasting and sealing was used to extinguish the outcrop coal fire. After subsurface blasting, the composite gel was injected into the coal seams to extinguish and prevent re-ignition of the fires by filling in new areas created by the blasting and forming an effective composite coverage in order to prevent combustion. Boreholes monitored temperature and CO concentrations during the entire process to indicate when the fire was extinguished, along with extended monitoring to verify no combustion reoccurred. Using this combination of methods has proven to effectively extinguish the coal fires at reasonable costs in the region. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2015