The rise of nanometers

The phenomenon of spontaneous combustion in coal seams may sound surprising to some people, but it is actually a very common phenomenon.

At present, about 3% of the total global carbon dioxide emissions come from spontaneous combustion of coal seams. It is conceivable that this proportion is high.

In a coal-rich country like China, the spontaneous combustion of coal seams is naturally very serious. According to relevant data, the amount of coal burned due to spontaneous combustion of coal seams in China is estimated to be between 20 million and 200 million tons every year.

This number is very scary and alarming. Compared with coal-fired power generation in thermal power stations, spontaneous combustion of coal seams produces more pollutants and is more dangerous.

Because the process of spontaneous combustion of coal seams is often accompanied by incomplete combustion and uncontrollable harmful substances.

Although spontaneous combustion of coal seams, burning 200 million tons per year is a bit exaggerated, but tens of millions of tons per year are definitely there.

After all, the Rujigou Coal Mine in Helan Mountain alone burns millions of tons of coal every year, and the coal quality of the Rujigou Coal Mine is high-quality anthracite, with a price of about 1,000 yuan per ton.

In other words, Rujigou Coal Mine burns coal worth more than one billion every year, which not only pollutes the environment, but also causes extreme losses.

There are more than 70 similar coal seam spontaneous combustion mining areas across the country. Even if the spontaneous combustion scale is large or small, tens of millions of tons are burned every year, it is not groundless.

The coal that is burned may produce more pollutants and carbon dioxide than 300 million cars emit in a year.

As night fell, in the temporary camp of the scientific research team, they looked at the self-igniting coal seams that were extinguished, but everyone did not relax their vigilance.

Because there are more spontaneous combustion areas in Rujigou Coal Mine.

The Rujigou Mining Area is the main area where the spontaneous combustion problem of coal seams is concentrated in the Helan Mountain Nature Reserve and the surrounding coal seams. The mining area involves 6 coal mines and the spontaneous combustion of coal seams has occurred for more than 300 years.

The mining area is rich in "Taixi anthracite". The proven reserves in the mining area are 580 million tons, and there are currently about 270 million tons left, of which more than 67 million tons are affected by the fire area.

What is even more troublesome is that because coal seams are often interconnected, and the mine tunnels left over from historical mining increase the oxygen input to the underground coal seams, if all spontaneous combustion points in the mining area are not extinguished in time, spontaneous combustion of the coal seams will soon occur again. Will make a comeback.

Li Mingsheng and Liu Xin sat in front of the simple tent, using the light of the lighting lamp to discuss how to deal with the remaining fire areas.

Li Mingsheng, holding the mining area exploration map, asked a very critical question: "Researcher Liu, does this flame-retardant crystal have any side effects?"

This issue is indeed important. If flame-retardant crystals have serious side effects, the mining area will need to weigh the pros and cons.

Liu Xin explained with a smile: "Don't worry, flame-retardant crystals do not exist permanently. They can last for about 5 to 8 months in the environment of underground coal seams, and finally decompose into sodium chloride, silicon dioxide, and nitrogen. The most is the salt damage caused by sodium chloride, which can be removed through salt washing technology."

"Salt damage? This can be easily solved." Li Mingsheng found that this technology is good. Salt damage is indeed not a problem for now, at least it is easier to solve than ground fires that are difficult to extinguish.

He then asked about the cost of remediation to put out the fire.

Liu Xin just gave a rough figure: "This issue requires instructions from the head office. It is estimated that the fire area per square kilometer to be extinguished is around two to three million!"

Two to three million? For this price, National Energy Ningmei Group is absolutely willing to accept it, even if it is doubled several times by then, it is not impossible.

The area of ​​spontaneous combustion fires in the entire Rujigou mining area is about 3 to 4 square kilometers. In the face of annual losses of more than one billion, why not spend tens of millions to extinguish and stop losses.

The two discussed it for a long time and then reported to the company management.

Li Mingsheng hopes that Ningmei Group will pay attention to it and reach an agreement with Suiren Company as soon as possible to put out the fire area in Rujigou mining area.

While Liu Xin reported the experimental results, she also hoped that the Commercial Evaluation Office would give an appropriate charging standard to facilitate subsequent promotion.

In fact, the Industrial Department of Suiren Company has already conducted relevant commercialization evaluations on this technology and established a set of charging standards.

Based on the environment, area, volume, and coal type of coal seam spontaneous combustion, a general charging standard can be derived after a comprehensive evaluation.

The next day, the sun just rose.

Liu Xin received an email with charging standards. He made a rough estimate based on the actual situation in the Rujigou mining area. The overall processing would cost about 18 million.

Li Mingsheng, who brought breakfast, and the management of several mining areas, immediately reported to the Ningmei Group headquarters after receiving the charging standards.

As for Liu Xin, the relevant work is not over yet.

They released the small airship again and conducted an infrared detection of the spontaneously igniting coal seams in the small valley to see if there was any re-ignition.

The female researcher in charge of the data reported the infrared detection results to Liu Xin: "Brother Liu, the current temperature remains at 33 to 37 degrees Celsius, but the temperature in the northern edge area has increased significantly, and is currently around 57 to 62 degrees Celsius."

"North edge?" Liu Xin turned around, looked at the exploration map of the mining area, and quickly discovered possible problems.

Because on the north side of the Xiaoshangou fire area, about 1.7 kilometers away, is the range of another spontaneous combustion coal seam.

Soon another researcher also came over with a coal seam gas detection report. The report showed that the gas concentration of the Xiaoshangou coal seam was gradually rising again.

Liu Xin saw the problem: "It seems that the situation is very obvious. There is a connection between the small ravine fire area and another fire area on the north side. The fire area on the north side must be extinguished as soon as possible, otherwise it will not take half a year. Resurrection.”

"Brother Liu, the flame retardant we carry can still extinguish about two square kilometers. With the fire area in the Rujigou mining area, we need to apply for at least twice more flame retardant." Gao Shan suggested immediately.

"I see."

Liu Xin opened her notebook, edited an email, and sent it to the Shandong Branch. The Coal Seam Spontaneous Combustion Laboratory was established in Weifang, Shandong Province, and the production of flame retardants was also carried out by the Shandong Branch of Suiren Materials. The company is responsible.

After ordering a batch of flame retardants, Liu Xin divided the team into two, and one part stayed in place to observe and monitor the Xiaoshangou coal seam.

Another group of people, led by him personally, went to the Yangshugou coal seam on the north side to prepare for exploration and drilling.

Under the leadership of Li Mingsheng, they bypassed two hills and came to the Yangshugou fire area. Seeing the piles of coal gangue around them, Liu Xin frowned:

"Mine Manager Li, this place is not good!"

Li Mingsheng knew what Liu Xin meant. These mountains of coal gangue were also very dangerous risk areas, because coal gangue could also spontaneously ignite.

He replied awkwardly: "The company is trying to think of a solution recently, but it just can't be dealt with at the moment."

"Let's get rid of these coal gangues as soon as possible! Stacking them here is not an option. There is a risk of spontaneous combustion and it is a waste of resources."

After speaking, Liu Xin ordered Gao Shan to prepare for infrared detection.

Controlling spontaneous combustion in coal seams has always been a difficult problem for major domestic coal groups.

Solving this problem is equivalent to a direct reduction of 3% of air pollution emissions across the country, which is more obvious and significant than the energy saving and emission reduction of upgrading thermal power stations.

This is not a small number, because China's greenhouse gas emissions last year were about 6.7 billion tons, accounting for about 23% of the world's total emissions.

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