Computer Simulation of the Spontaneous Combustion of Coal Storage

The two-dimensional govering equations including an exothermic chemical reaction, a heat convection a buoyancy effect and a diffusion for the spontaneous combustion of coal storage are derived from the thermophysical and thermochemical considerations. The oxidative pyrolysis of coal is assumed to be represented by a two-step chemical reaction. These governing equations are approximated by using the difference equations of Crank and Nicholson's implicit finite-difference method, and are solved numerically by the computer. The spontaneous combustion time of coal storage is predicted by the calculated results. Furthermore, the lowest spontaneous combustion time of coal storage is also calculated numerically on the adiabatic condition.