HEARD AROUND THE COALYARD

05/01/2001 -- What To Do While Waiting For The Fire Trucks To Arrive (Avoiding Coal 1 Stockpile And Bunker Fires), by Lee S. Rigsby The chemistry of coal spontaneous combustion is well documented. However, in order to save you from doing a hasty literature search when your stockpile begins smoking, Ill highlight some important facts. While reading this article keep in mind that fire-fighting consists of removing heat, oxygen or fuel, and eliminating coal stockpile fires focuses on removing heat and/or oxygen. Coal needs oxygen (air) and heat energy to reach auto combustion temperature, which is about 650 deg F. Factors contributing to airflow through the stockpile include: Sustained breezes in excess of 3 mph Contamination with trash Lack of compaction Wide range of particle sizes Washed out areas (caused by water flow) Stockpile configuration (conical shapes and configurations created by reclaiming material or adding new material.

In general, airflow through a stockpile, at a level which increases oxidation but does not carry away heat will increase the likelihood of a stockpile fire. Factors contributing to heating in stockpiled coals include: Heat of condensation (of water vapor in moist air) Presence of contaminants such as trash, fuel oil, or lubricants Increased coal surface area due to a high percentage (>40%) of minus inch material Solar energy or steam energy input

Each pound of water vapor that condenses on surfaces generates 970 BTUs. If that seems like a lot, its because it is. If not dissipated, the heat generated by condensation is sufficient to accelerate the oxidation process, further increasing heating until spontaneous combustion occurs. Coals of lower rank are more susceptible to self-heating than coals of higher rank. For this reason, coals from South America, Mexico, and the Western US are generally more likely to selfheat than coals from the Eastern US. Also, coals containing greater than 2% sulfur are more likely to self-heat. Increasing pyritic sulfur contents usually mean increasing self-heating tendencies. Coals with a temperature of 160 deg F or less that are trending stable or declining in temperature are generally not going to self-heat to ignition. Coals that are 180 deg F and above and are trending stable or increasing in temperature need immediate attention. When temperatures are between the range of 160 deg F and 180 deg F one should rapidly react to the temperature trend. Upward trends demand immediate action, whereas downward trends still require close monitoring.
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Lee is President of Vanguard Solutions, a consulting company that specializes in increasing customer profits by improving customer quality. Vanguard Solutions operates Interlab , the worlds largest proficiency testing program for coal laboratories, manufactures and distributes coal Standard Reference Materials, tests sampling equipment for bias, and works to increase customer understanding of the financial significance of quality in a variety of ways. See www.vanguard-solutions.com.

Coal has a unique odor as it heats. Often you can smell this odor before outright ignition takes place. This is a call to action. If you smell the odor of coal roasting, investigate immediately. If the stockpile is hot and ready to ignite or has already ignited, here are some proven remedial techniques. 1. 2. Hot spots are usually on the edges of stockpiles. Cut them out with a dozer or loader, spread them to cool and compact them to extinguish. If you have a full-fledged fire you may have to use water to protect life and property. If you do, work the areas as in Item 1 and use an excess of water to extinguish and cool. Let the area drain and then recompact it or load it out as soon as the temperature is stable. Keep the water off the areas that are not affected. Keep the piles compacted in lifts of 18 or less, and they will stay cool. So will you. If you smell something funny, like bread baking or yeast, it is an indication that coal is heating. Time to look around and take some temperatures. Dont bunker or load smoking coal. Learn the difference between steaming, a natural condition in high humidity environments and smoking, an indication of combustion. Sunshine and high humidity together will cause lots of coals to heat. Pay close attention during those periods. Ask for help. Your coal supplier is the best source of information and advice. If you want independent advice, there are experts who can help. Testing companies, surveying companies and equipment manufacturers are not usually experts in coal self-heating. Be aware of market conditions. Coal self-heating is at its worst during times of high demand. The outbreak of the 1980s was caused by mixing high sulfur coal and pond fines and letting the mixture cook in river barges in Louisiana. It would have been a miracle if coal fires did not occur given the situation. While much was learned from the problems of that time, demand and greed are powerful forces. Watch what you buy. Synfuels are probably not going to cause self-heating problems. While not much is known about how or whether synfuels will self-heat, the surface chemical treatment they receive should block the oxidation sites and reduce or eliminate self-heating. Until you have experience with synfuel behavior, continue to observe it.

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Coal self heating is a complicated chemical process that has been the subject of much scientific study. From the viewpoint of the person in the coalyard, it can range from a nuisance to a calamity. Managing a coal stockpile entails a tradeoff of a number of factors such as available space, available equipment, and inventory and supply issues. Keep in mind those things that contribute to coal self-heating and manage your stockpile temperatures as you go so you will never have to wait for those fire trucks to arrive.