Coal oxidation; Spontaneous heating; Calorimetry

The paper summarises 20 years of experience with the pulse flow (PF) calorimetric method established at the University of Ostrava to assess the spontaneous combustion potential of coals according to values of the oxidation heat q30 (W kg-1). During the period, more than 200 coals with natural moisture content and of various rank were investigated, oxidation heat of q30 = 8.6 W kg-1 being found as a maximal value. The relation between oxidation heat q30 and oxygen consumption determined using the method of thermal oxidation was analysed giving a heat effect of 520 kJ (mol O2)-1. Also, possible comparison between oxidation heats q30 and values of the initial rate of heating (IRH) of the adiabatic calorimetry is reported.

The paper summarises 20 years of experience with the pulse flow (PF) calorimetric method established at the University of Ostrava to assess the spontaneous combustion potential of coals according to values of the oxidation heat q30 (W kg-1). During the period, more than 200 coals with natural moisture content and of various rank were investigated, oxidation heat of q30 = 8.6 W kg-1 being found as a maximal value. The relation between oxidation heat q30 and oxygen consumption determined using the method of thermal oxidation was analysed giving a heat effect of 520 kJ (mol O2)-1. Also, possible comparison between oxidation heats q30 and values of the initial rate of heating (IRH) of the adiabatic calorimetry is reported.