Simulation, Experiment and Modeling of Coal Fires (2nd Edition)

Dear Colleagues,

Coal fires are a global environmental catastrophe and are also severe disasters in the mining industry. They not only burn a large amount of coal resources, causing environmental disasters such as ground subsidence and air pollution, but also often induce secondary disasters such as gas/dust explosions, seriously threatening life and safe production. Coal fires, mainly initialized by the spontaneous combustion of coal, are characterized by concealed fire sources, easy reignition, dynamic movement, and complex air leakage channels. It is a challenging task to locate underground fire sources, and to actively prevent and control this hazard. One of the biggest obstacles results from the fact that coal fires are a complicated dynamic process coupled by chemical reaction, heat and mass transfer, as well as rock/soil mechanics. Therefore, it is important to investigate how coal ignites and coal fire spreads widely and persistently underground using experimental, numerical, and modelling approaches.

This Special Issue aims to reveal the disaster-causing mechanism of coal fires from the perspective of simulation, experimentation and modeling, to elucidate the spatio-temporal evolution process of the occurrence and development of underground coal fires, and to provide a theoretical basis for the accurate prevention and control of coal fires. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Mechanism of coal fires/spontaneous combustion;
2. Early warning method of coal fires/spontaneous combustion;
3. Judgment theory of multi-information fusion in dangerous areas;
4. Prevention and control technology of coal fires/spontaneous combustion;
5. Extraction and utilization of thermal energy from underground coal fires.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Wei Liu
Dr. Zeyang Song
Dr. Bobo Shi
Dr. Caiping Wang
Guest Editors

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