Applying Rock Engineering Systems (RES) approach to Evaluate and Classify the Coal Spontaneous Combustion Potential in Eastern Alborz Coal Mines

Subject analysis of the potential of spontaneous combustion in coal layers with analytical andnumerical methods has been always considered as a difficult task because of the complexity of thecoal behavior and the number of factors influencing it. Empirical methods, due to accounting forcertain and specific factors, have not accuracy and efficiency for all positions. The Rock EngineeringSystems (RES) approach as a systematic method for analyzing and classifying is proposed inengineering projects. The present study is concerned with employing the RES approach to categorizecoal spontaneous combustion in coal regions. Using this approach, the interaction of parametersaffecting each other in an equal scale on the coal spontaneous combustion was evaluated. TheIntrinsic, geological and mining characteristics of coal seams were studied in order to identifyingimportant parameters. Then, the main stages of implementation of the RES method i.e. interactionmatrix formation, coding matrix and forming a list category were performed. Later, an index of CoalSpontaneous Combustion Potential (CSCPi) was determined to format the mathematical equation.Then, the obtained data related to the intrinsic, geological and mining, and special index werecalculated for each layer in the case study (Pashkalat coal region, Iran). So, the study offers a perfectand comprehensive classification of the layers. Finally, by using the event of spontaneous combustionoccurred in Pashkalat coal region, an initial validation for this systematic approach in the study areawas conducted, which suggested relatively good concordance in Pashkalat coal region.

Keywords:

Coal , Classii caiot , Coal Spontaneous Combustion Potential index (CSCPi) , Rock Engineering Systems (RES) , Eastern Alborz Coal Mines