Open Access

ARTICLE

A Simplified Model for SO₂ Generation during Spontaneous Combustion of Coal Gangue

by Ang Li^1,2, Peng Lei^1,*, Changkun Chen¹, Tong Xu¹

1 Institute of Disaster Prevention Science and Safety Technology, Central South University, Changsha, 410075, China
2 College of Forestry, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010019, China

* Corresponding Author: Peng Lei. Email:

Energy Engineering 2021, 118(5), 1469-1482. https://doi.org/10.32604/EE.2021.015413

Received 17 December 2020; Accepted 25 January 2021; Issue published 16 July 2021

Abstract

A simplified model for SO₂ generation during spontaneous combustion of coal gangue was put forward and validated using the measured data. Using the proposed model, the effects of initial temperature inside the gangue and fresh air supply on SO₂ generation were discussed. The results showed that, higher initial temperature inside the gangue could accelerate the oxidation rate of FeS₂ and increase the maximum concentration of SO₂. If initial temperature inside the gangue increased by about 37%, the total SO₂ generation increased by 166%. Fresh air supply had less significant effect on the oxidation rate of FeS₂. However, the higher the fresh air supply was, the more FeS₂ could be oxidized, which ultimately produced more SO₂. Although the computed results and the measured data concerning the inner locations inside the gangue had a certain degree of error, the proposed model can provide a relatively precise total release of SO₂ within acceptable accuracy. Besides, this method provides a useful prototype to predict the generation of hazardous materials, such as CO, NO_x, and chlorine during the spontaneous combustion of coal gangue.

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