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U.S. Department of Energy
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Model of coal-dust explosion suppression by rock dust entrainment. Report of Investigations/1988

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6220795
The Bureau of Mines developed a mathematical model to calculate the aerodynamically induced lifting of coal and rock dust from a composite deposition on a mine entry floor and the subsequent transport of the dust ahead of the propagating combustion zone of a coal dust explosion. For a series of experimental explosibility tests approximated by combustion zones that expand at a constant flame velocity, the mass fraction of airborne rock dust ahead of the flame front, as well as the mass fraction overtaken by the combustion zone, was calculated. A statistical analysis of the theoretical results demonstrated with a high level of confidence that the propagating and nonpropagating test samples belonged to separate populations. The analysis was further supported by an independent model of the average temperature over the combustion zone.
Research Organization:
Bureau of Mines, Pittsburgh, PA (USA). Pittsburgh Research Center
OSTI ID:
6220795
Report Number(s):
PB-91-102269/XAB; BUMINES-RI--9206
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English