Abstract:
A method and apparatus for controlling and extinguishing subterranean coal fires. Suitable detection and measuring devices are initially used to determine the extent of the fire and develop a plan of extinguishment. Flow control devices are added to all the mine&#39;s access points in order to control gas flow into and/or out of the mine. In addition, new access points may be added. Gaseous carbon dioxide is pumped into the mine until a positive pressure is developed (with respect to atmospheric pressure. Pressurized and liquefied carbon dioxide is directed into the area of the combustion face. The liquid carbon dioxide blankets the combustion area with a gas which will not support combustion and absorbs a tremendous amount of heat from the burning coal.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO. RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not Applicable. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    This invention relates to the field of subterranean coal fires. More specifically, the invention comprises a method and apparatus for controlling the temperature and oxygenation of a coal fire in order to bring it under control and ultimately extinguish it. 
         [0006]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0007]    Coal remains one of the earth&#39;s most important natural resources. A substantial amount of this resource is wasted via the burning of the coal in situ. Coal fires occur in a variety of ways.  FIG. 1  shows a coal fire occurring in a seam which intersects the surface. Coal seam  10  slopes upward toward surface  12 . A portion of the seam is exposed to the surface. The exposed portion is ignited via a brush fire or other source. Combustion face  14  forms. The combustion face is typically a narrow band of burning coal advancing into the seam. 
         [0008]    Collapsed cover  20  falls over the combustion face as it burns. Ground collapse  16  also falls over the combustion face as the support burns away beneath soil/sediment  24 . Air  18  is drawn toward the combustion face as the hot combustion products rush upwards. The combustion process itself is often smoldering combustion, since the overlying collapsed cover restricts the oxygen supply. 
         [0009]    The rate of combustion typically slows as the combustion face progresses further and further underground. However, the combustion of the seam promotes further grounds collapse and this process generally creates additional ventilation. Thus, the combustion face may continue until it exhausts the seam, encounters the water table, or progresses so deep into the earth that it is starved of oxygen. It is not unusual for such a fire to continue for decades and—in extreme cases—even centuries. 
         [0010]    A coal fire in a surface-intersecting seam may be fought conventionally if the fire is detected at its inception (by inundating the exposed portion with water). However, once the fire progresses underground it is very difficult to extinguish. Thus, although the fire starts as a surface fire if it continues it will become a subterranean fire. 
         [0011]    Of course, subterranean fires also occur in seams which do not intersect the surface. Such fires are almost always the result of human activity.  FIG. 2  shows a portion of a soft-rock subterranean mine. Coal seam  10  lies completely beneath surface  12  (in a layer of soft rock  26 ). Drift  32  (a horizontal passageway cut to follow the seam) is connected to the surface via ventilation shaft  28 . There are typically multiple ventilation shafts in such a mine. There may also be natural vents  30  which connect to the surface. 
         [0012]    In the example shown the mining activity has produced a coal fire. Mining involves the use of explosives, the use of arc welding, and other potential ignition sources. Mining may also produce a methane gas explosion and fire which—under certain circumstances—can ignite the coal being mined. 
         [0013]    The existing passageways within a mine influence the flow of oxygen and waste gases. In the example of  FIG. 2 , air is drawn in through natural vent  30  and feeds the combustion process occurring along combustion face  14 . Waste gases travel along drift  32  and out ventilation shaft  28 . The flow of oxygen and waste gases is generally more complex than is illustrated. 
         [0014]    In fighting the fire, efforts are often made to seal the mine so that the oxygen supply will be exhausted. However, most coal mines which are reasonably close to the surface have multiple natural vents. It is often quite difficult to find and cap all the natural vents. Of course, in attempting to eliminate all the oxygen from the mine, one also makes it more difficult for firefighters to work in the mine. 
         [0015]    Coal mines are typically much more complex than the example shown in  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 3  shows a plan view of a modestly sized coal mine of the room-and-pillar type. The reader should note that there are many types of coal mines. A description of all the different types of mines is beyond the scope of this disclosure and is—in any event—not necessary for the understanding of the present invention. The room-and-pillar type illustrated in  FIG. 3  should therefore be viewed as only one example among many. The inventive methods described subsequently are potentially applicable to all types of mines. 
         [0016]      FIG. 3  shows a coal mine  34  positioned to extract coal lying within coal seam boundary  48 . Main shaft  36  descends from the surface. A smaller ventilation shaft  38  also descends from the surface. The two shafts are connected via drift  40 . The coal removal works outward from drift  40 . A number of crosscuts  42  extend perpendicularly from drift  40 . Pillars  44  are left between the cross cuts in order to support the roof of the mine. 
         [0017]    One or more ventilation bore holes  50  connect portions of the mine to the surface. These are often added as the crosscuts are extended in order to provide suitable ventilation in newly opened parts of the mine. Extraction boundary  46  defines the furthest extent of coal removal. The reader should bear in mind that the extraction boundary is generally being extended as work progresses. In the example of  FIG. 3  the extraction process was started on the left side of the view and is working toward the right side. 
         [0018]      FIG. 4  shows a sectional elevation view of the mine shown in  FIG. 3 . Shaft house  52  lies proximate (or over) the entrance to main shaft  36 . The shaft house generally contains the hoisting gear which lowers the miners into the mine and extracts the mined material (though material is often extracted instead along a sloped conveyor). Vent shaft  38  is typically covered by a structure which contains ventilating blowers and various controls. Only one level of mining activity is shown. Multiple levels would typically be used to harvest coal from a seam such as is depicted in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0019]    Coal fires are now recognized as a substantial source of greenhouse gas emissions (primarily CO 2 ). They also emit harmful pollutants such as mercury. Recent studies estimate that coal fires produce approximately 3% of all the earth&#39;s greenhouse gases. Land lying over such fires may be badly damaged by subsidence. The area around such fires is often rendered uninhabitable via the presence of atmospheric pollutants. Thus, coal fires are a highly destructive phenomenon. 
         [0020]    In order to combat a subterranean coal fire, one must first determine its location and extent. There is no issue with detecting coal fires started by mining accidents—at least where the mining activity is licensed activity. However, many subterranean coal fires are started by pit mining in the third world. These fires are generally undocumented. 
         [0021]    Detection of subterranean fires may be made by ground level temperature sensors and/or analysis of surface gases. Remote sensing using satellites or aircraft is more difficult. This is true because subterranean coal fires may only raise the surface temperature by 1 or 2 degrees Celsius. Larger variations are typically produced by sunlight versus shadow. However, combinations of surface temperature measurements with accurate subsidence measurements are often able to estimate the extent of a subterranean fire. 
         [0022]    Once a fire&#39;s perimeter is established, the prior art approach to extinguishment involves (1) reducing the oxygen supply; and (2) drilling bore holes to inundate the fire with water and/or fly ash. Water is inadvisable in controlling fires in which the coal has a significant oxygen content—as the water can actually spread the fire. Fly ash is used for these. Some prior art proposals have also included inundating the fire with liquid nitrogen. The inherent expense of liquid nitrogen has made this approach unattractive. Thus, the prior art approaches have significant drawbacks. 
         [0023]    It has long been known to use carbon dioxide to fight relatively small fires. Carbon dioxide could also be used to fight coal seam fires, but this has been impractical in the past owing to containerized carbon dioxide&#39;s high cost and limited availability. However, it is expected that carbon dioxide will become cheaper and more readily available in coming years. This will be the result of proposed carbon dioxide capture and storage schemes. Since this gas is now recognized as a type&#39;of pollutant (a greenhouse gas) governments around the world—in conjunction with industry—have proposed capturing and storing it instead of releasing it into the atmosphere. The present invention proposes to use carbon dioxide (preferably captured from industrial processes) to fight subterranean coal fires. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]    The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for controlling and extinguishing subterranean coal fires. Suitable detection and measuring devices are initially used to determine the extent of the fire and develop a plan of extinguishment. Flow control devices are added to all the mine&#39;s access points in order to control gas flow into and/or out of the mine. In addition, new access points may be added. 
         [0025]    Gaseous carbon dioxide is pumped into the mine until a positive pressure is developed (with respect to atmospheric pressure). The positive pressure prevents ingress of atmospheric oxygen. Pressurized and liquefied carbon dioxide is directed into the area of the combustion face. The effect of the liquid carbon dioxide is twofold. First, it blankets the combustion area with a gas which will not support combustion. Second, the phase change from a liquid to a gas absorbs a tremendous amount of heat from the burning coal. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0026]      FIG. 1  is a sectional elevation view, showing a coal seam burning near the surface. 
           [0027]      FIG. 2  is a sectional elevation view, showing a subterranean coal mine with a natural vent. 
           [0028]      FIG. 3  is a plan view showing a subterranean coal mine. 
           [0029]      FIG. 4  is a sectional elevation view, showing the coal mine of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 5  is a sectional elevation view, showing the application of the present invention to a subterranean coal fire in the mine depicted in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 6  is a plan view, showing the application of the present invention to a subterranean coal fire in the mine depicted in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 7  is a sectional elevation view, showing the application of the present invention to a subterranean coal fire in the mine depicted in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
           [0000]    
         
           
                 
               
                 
                 
                 
                 
               
             
                 
                     
                 
                 
                   REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS 
                 
                 
                     
                 
               
               
                 
                     
                 
               
            
             
                 
                   10 
                   coal seam 
                   12 
                   surface 
                 
                 
                   14 
                   combustion face 
                   16 
                   ground collapse 
                 
                 
                   18 
                   air 
                   20 
                   collapsed cover 
                 
                 
                   24 
                   soil/sediment 
                   26 
                   soft rock 
                 
                 
                   28 
                   ventilation shaft 
                   30 
                   natural vent 
                 
                 
                   32 
                   drift 
                   34 
                   coal mine 
                 
                 
                   36 
                   main shaft 
                   38 
                   ventilating shaft 
                 
                 
                   40 
                   drift 
                   42 
                   cross cut 
                 
                 
                   44 
                   pillar 
                   46 
                   extraction boundary 
                 
                 
                   48 
                   coal seam boundary 
                   50 
                   ventilation bore hole 
                 
                 
                   52 
                   shaft house 
                   54 
                   stop wall 
                 
                 
                   56 
                   cap 
                   58 
                   gaseous CO 2  supply 
                 
                 
                   60 
                   liquid CO 2  supply 
                   62 
                   controlled vent 
                 
                 
                   64 
                   monitor 
                   66 
                   bore hole 
                 
                 
                   68 
                   liquid injector head 
                   70 
                   gas injector head 
                 
                 
                   72 
                   monitor hole 
                   74 
                   surface monitor 
                 
                 
                   76 
                   purge pump 
                 
                 
                     
                 
               
            
           
         
       
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0033]    The present invention uses carbon dioxide in gaseous and liquid form. These substances are injected into a subterranean volume that has been sealed (or at least sealed as perfectly as possible). It is not necessary to use the largely pure carbon dioxide that presently results from industrial gas production. Instead, it is possible to use stored combustion exhaust products. 
         [0034]    One example is to harvest carbon dioxide from coal-fired electrical generating plants. This impurities contained in this gas (such as sulfur, nitrogen, and even some oxygen) are often removed at the point of emission (using scrubbers, etc.). Relatively pure carbon dioxide is thus produced and this is preferred for the present invention. However, even carbon dioxide containing significant impurities can be used for the present invention (though its use may affect the monitoring process, as will be explained subsequently). 
         [0035]      FIG. 5  shows a subterranean mine as previously shown in  FIG. 2 . The location of combustion face  14  is initially determined and a plan to fight the fire is formed. A subterranean volume containing the fire is defined. This volume will generally be less than the entire mine, so the defined volume must be segregated from the whole. 
         [0036]    In the example of  FIG. 5 , stop wall  54  has been placed in drift  32 . One way to place such a stop wall is to form and pour concrete with an included portal. The portal includes a pressure-tight hatch that can be closed and sealed at the appropriate time. 
         [0037]    Next, every ventilation access port to the subterranean volume should be found. A “ventilation access port” is any route whereby the subterranean volume is connected to the surface. For example, ventilation shaft  28  and natural vent  30  are both ventilation access ports. 
         [0038]    It will often be desirable to add additional ventilation access ports. In the example shown, three bore holes  66  are added. Two of these are immediately adjacent to the combustion face. The term “immediately adjacent to” means that these holes are close enough to the combustion face so that liquid carbon dioxide injected through these bore holes will promptly be converted to gas by the heat of the combustion face. It is preferable that liquid carbon dioxide injected through these bore holes actually impinge upon a portion of the combustion face. 
         [0039]    A flow control device is placed in each of the ventilation access ports. The term “flow control device” means anything that alters the flow through a portal and may in fact simply mean plugging the portal. The term also includes injection heads for injecting gases or liquids and controlled vents for venting gases or liquids. 
         [0040]    Gas injection head  70  is placed in ventilation shaft  28 . The gas injection head is connected to gaseous carbon dioxide supply  58 . Controlled vent  62  is placed in the bore hole  66  lying to the left in the view. A liquid injection head  68  is placed in each of the other two bore holes  66  shown. 
         [0041]    The general concepts of the present inventive methods are (1) sealing the defined volume; (2) injecting gaseous carbon dioxide throughout the defined volume while maintaining a positive pressure therein so that no inflow occurs through unknown ventilation access ports; and (3) inundating the combustion face with very cold carbon dioxide gas which is delivered as pressurized liquid. 
         [0042]    The process is monitored—preferably at multiple locations. The injection heads shown in  FIG. 5  regulate flow into the sealed volume. Controlled vent  62  regulates flow out of the sealed volume in order to maintain the desired pressure. Monitor  64  measures the pressure, temperature, and gas composition at the point of exit. It is preferable to use relatively pure carbon dioxide for the gas going into the mine. The coal fire itself produces carbon dioxide but the coal fire combustion products will contain other gases (such as sulfur). Thus, monitoring for carbon dioxide as controlled vent  62  may not provide much useful information. However, if relatively pure carbon dioxide is pumped into the mine then monitoring for coal combustion products (such as sulfur) will provide useful information as to the ongoing combustion at the site of the coal fire itself. 
         [0043]    It is preferable to change the conditions in a controlled manner. As one example, it is not desirable to increase the pressure within the mine while a significant amount of oxygen remains. Thus, the pressure is generally increased only after the oxygen is largely displaced by carbon dioxide gas. 
         [0044]    A key feature of the present invention is the preferred use of liquid carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide has no liquid state below a pressure of 5.1 atm. Thus, the liquid carbon dioxide must be maintained in a state above 5.1 atm. Liquid injection heads  68  feed the liquid carbon dioxide down the boreholes. When released from the injection head the pressure drops immediately to the pressure within the mine (typically 1.02 to 1.15 atmospheres). This causes the liquid to change phases rapidly into a gas. In so doing it absorbs a tremendous amount of heat from the surrounding solids and gases. 
         [0045]    In some instances it will be possible to lower the liquid injection heads far down into the bore hole (and even in close proximity to the combustion face itself). It is preferable to maintain the carbon dioxide as a liquid right up until the time it is introduced to the combustion face. This way the heat absorbed in the phase change comes from the combustion face itself. 
         [0046]    The injection of the liquid carbon dioxide thereby creates a twofold effect. First, the phase change of the carbon dioxide absorbs a tremendous amount of heat from the combustion face and preferably lowers the combustion face below the ignition temperature of the coal. Second, the cold carbon dioxide gas present after the phase change smothers the fire and inhibits any further combustion. 
         [0047]    Most fires occurring within an actual mine will be more complex than the example shown in  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 6  shows a plan view of a room-and-pillar mine as depicted in  FIG. 3 . In the example of  FIG. 6 , a fire has broken out. Two combustion faces  14  are present (moving in opposite directions). One combustion face is consuming the wall of the mine while a second combustion face is consuming one of the pillars. 
         [0048]    In order to combat such a fire, it will often be necessary to drill multiple bore holes. Gas injection heads  70  can be added to existing ventilation holes. Additional gas injection heads can be added to newly formed bore holes. In this example, four new bore holes are added immediately adjacent to the combustion face and four liquid injection heads  68  are introduced via these holes. 
         [0049]    In addition, two or more monitor holes  72  may be added behind the combustion face (into the unburned coal). These monitor holes are used to introduce sensing instruments (primarily sub-surface temperature sensors) which are used to monitor the progress of the extinguishment activity. 
         [0050]      FIG. 7  shows a sectional elevation view of the same configuration depicted in  FIG. 6 . A gas injection head  70  is placed in main shaft  36 . A controlled vent  62  (with attached monitor  64 ) may be placed in vent shaft  38 . One or more surface monitors  74  may also be placed to monitor temperature changes and potential gas emissions. Sub-surface temperature sensors are also preferably provided. 
         [0051]    Purge pump  76  is optionally provided. Its purpose is to evacuate gas from portions of the mine at a rate that is greater than that simply produced by the overpressure within the mine. The combination of gas injection heads, controlled vents, and purge pumps can be controlled to produce a desired flow of gas through the mine. 
         [0052]    Liquid carbon dioxide s while the mine remains saturated in gaseous carbon dioxide. The temperatures in the vicinity of the combustion face are monitored. The liquid injection may cease when it is clear that the fire has been extinguished. However, the carbon dioxide gas saturation (under the overpressure condition) should continue long after extinguishment as deep coal fires have a tendency to rekindle. 
         [0053]    The bore holes and flow control devices will typically be placed in a grid. The depths at which these bore holes enter the mine may also need to be varied (as most mines have more than one level). 
         [0054]    The preceding description contains significant detail, but it should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but rather as providing illustrations of the preferred embodiments of the invention. Many variations will occur to those skilled in the art, particularly as actual mines are more complex than the simplified versions shown in the drawings. Thus, the scope of the invention should be fixed by the following claims, rather than by the examples given.