Explosions in Underground Coal Mines

This book addresses the hazard of gas explosions in sealed underground coal mines, and how the risk of explosion can be assessed, modeled, and mitigated. With this text, coal mine operators and managers will be able to identify the risks that lead to underground mine gas explosions, and implement practical strategies to optimize mining safety for workers. In six chapters, the book offers a framework for understanding the sealed coal mine atmosphere, the safety characteristics that are currently in place, and the guidelines to be followed by engineers to improve upon these characteristics. 

The first part of the book describes the importance and characteristics of underground gas mine explosions in a historical context with data showing the high number of fatalities from explosion incidents, and how risk has been mitigated in the past. Chapters also detail mathematical models and explosibility diagrams for determining and understanding the risk factors involved in mine explosions. Readers will also learn about safety operations, and assessments for the sealed mine atmosphere. With descriptions of chapter case studies, mining engineers and researchers will learn how to apply safety measures in underground coal mines to improve mining atmospheres and save lives. 

• Gas explosions in coal mines
• Underground sealed coal mine atmosphere
• Coward Explosibility Diagram
• Gas emission rate
• Ventilation parameters
• Explosibility safety factor
• Inertisation time
• Explosion risk assessment models
• air pollution and air quality
• quality control, reliability, safety and risk
• mineral resources

• College of Safety Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, China

  Jianwei Cheng

Jianwei Cheng is an Associate Professor in College of Safety Engineering, China University of Mining Technology (CUMT). Dr. Cheng received his undergraduate and master education in safety engineering at CUMT. He went to U.S. for advanced study in 2008 and received his PhD in mining engineering from West Virginia University (WVU) in 2012. Then, he joined back to CUMT in later 2012.

Dr. Cheng authored or co-authored books including: Applications of Process Safety and Assurance Techniques in Mine Ventilation Engineering (in Chinese), Mine Ventilation (in Chinese), and Dust Control Theory and Prevention technology (in Chinese), published more than 60 journal and conference papers in the areas of mine ventilation, gas explosion and prevention, accident rescue strategies and ground control. He is the recipient of 5 national and international awards and performs more than 20 research and consulting projects in China as the principle investigator. He also serves for several international journals as an editor/manuscript reviewer.

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