Method for monitoring coal waste dump

Abstract

FIELD: mining.SUBSTANCE: invention relates to methods for thermal monitoring of coal waste dumps. Temperature measurements are taken inside the dump (2) using temperature sensors (3) located in its near-surface zone (1). Temperature readings from the temperature sensors (3) are transmitted to the monitoring center (4), where the source of self-heating is identified by the recorded excess of the standardized maximum temperature of the dump in at least one of the locations of the temperature sensor. To clarify the contours of the self-heating source, measurements of the thermal field are taken along the profiles above the dump using unmanned aerial vehicles (6) with thermal imaging control equipment installed on them. The profiles for the flight of unmanned aerial vehicles are oriented along the lines connecting each point of placement of the temperature sensor, in which an excess of the standard maximum temperature of the dump is recorded, with the points of placement of the temperature sensors adjacent to it.EFFECT: increased accuracy and efficiency, as well as reduced labour intensity of establishing contours of self-heating centres of coal waste.1 cl, 1 dwg

Description

[0001] The invention relates to methods for thermal monitoring of coal waste dumps and can be used in measures to prevent fires in such dumps, improve the ecology of coal mining areas, as well as in the course of rational use of accumulations of solid waste from coal mining, prone to self-heating.

[0002] During the long-term development of coal deposits, particularly in the Donbas, coal waste dumps have formed that are prone to spontaneous heating and subsequent combustion. Such dumps, being sources of thermal chemical pollution of the atmosphere, often act as long-lasting heat generators.

[0003] To reduce the negative impact of coal waste dumps, which are prone to self-heating, on the ecology of the mining region and prevent the spontaneous combustion of accumulated solid coal mining waste, it is advisable to utilize their thermal energy. To efficiently and safely extract thermal energy from coal waste dumps, it is necessary to conduct ongoing monitoring of their thermal state.

[0004] A known method for monitoring the thermal state of a coal waste dump is based on periodic point temperature surveys (Instructions for the Prevention of Exogenous and Endogenous Fire Hazards at Coal Mining Facilities. November 27, 2020, No. Pr-469). This method involves instrumental temperature measurements at control points in the near-surface zone of the dump at depths of 0.5 m, 1.5 m, and 2.5 m. The distance between adjacent control points is 20 m. Temperature surveys are typically performed no more than three times per year.

[0005] A disadvantage of this method is the significant intermittency of temperature measurements. Long intervals between temperature measurements prevent the rapid detection of a spontaneous heating source, which could develop into a spontaneous combustion source. Furthermore, this method is labor-intensive, requiring temperature measurements to be performed manually.

[0006] A known method for detecting peat bog fires involves measuring temperature and humidity using sensors placed within the peat bog at a depth of 1 meter, with the ability to transmit signals about exceeding a preset temperature and humidity threshold to a control center. Temperature and humidity sensors are placed depending on the shape of the peat bog, specifically in a circle or in parallel rows. The location and extent of the peat bog fire are determined by a team of specialists visiting the peat bog and analyzing the condition of the sensor locations that recorded exceedances of the peat bog temperature and humidity thresholds. A group of specialists is equipped with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), with the help of which, during successive flights over the locations of sensors, information on the current temperature and humidity of the peat bog is quickly collected (RU 2744436 C1, G08B 23 / 00, G01K 13 / 10, G01K 11 / 32, A62C 3 / 02, G01N 27 / 22, 2021).

[0007] The disadvantage of this method is the high labor intensity and slow speed of locating the source of a peat bog fire, due to the need to assemble and dispatch a team of specialists to the peat bog. Furthermore, the UAV lacks monitoring (thermal imaging) equipment, making it impossible to accurately determine the fire's contours at the locations of sensors that recorded exceedances of the specified temperature and moisture limits in the peat bog.

[0008] A known method for monitoring coal waste dumps involves measuring thermal fields along profiles above the dumps using UAVs equipped with monitoring equipment to detect fires. The UAV flight profiles are oriented transversely to the strike of the geodynamically hazardous zone (GHZ) located beneath the dump being studied. The GHZ orientation is determined before the UAV flight profiles are oriented (RU 2631915 C1, G01V 9 / 00, 2017).

[0009] This method does not allow for the prompt identification of a source that may arise in the body of the waste not along the identified mine waste line, but in another area characterized by inclusions of pyrite and coal.

[0010] A method is known for monitoring a self-heating coal-rock dump, including temperature surveys of the near-surface zone of the dump, visual inspection of selected sections, determination of the contrast between the air temperature and the temperature of the rocks on the surface of the dump using a thermal imager installed on a UAV, as well as subsequent temperature measurements of selected sections of the near-surface zone of the dump at a depth of 2.0-2.5 meters using thermal profilers containing temperature sensors (Novikov A.O. Development of technology and substantiation of parameters for heat extraction from self-heating coal-rock dumps / Geomechanics, geophysics and environmental safety of mining regions. - Donetsk: RANIMI, 2025. Pp. 78-79).

[0011] This method, selected as the closest equivalent, can be used to design controlled heat removal for a self-heating coal dump. However, this method does not allow for the accurate and rapid identification of the contours of the self-heating source, including those occurring outside the selected areas of the coal dump's near-surface zone. Furthermore, this method is highly labor-intensive, primarily due to the need to perform temperature surveys using manually operated measuring devices.

[0012] The technical problem that this invention is aimed at solving is to improve the method for thermal monitoring of coal waste dumps, in particular those prone to self-heating and subsequent spontaneous combustion, with regard to the prevention of fires in coal waste dumps and the rational use of thermal energy of such man-made formations.

[0013] The technical result is an increase in accuracy and efficiency, as well as a reduction in the labor intensity of establishing the contours of the self-heating source of a coal dump.

[0014] The specified result is achieved by the fact that in the method for monitoring a coal-rock dump, which includes measuring the temperature inside the dump using thermal sensors placed in its near-surface zone in rows with a certain step and at a given depth, as well as with the possibility of transmitting temperature readings to a monitoring center for identifying a source of self-heating based on a recorded excess of the standardized maximum temperature of the dump, at least in one of the points of placement of the thermal sensor, and subsequent measurements of the thermal field along profiles above the dump using unmanned aerial vehicles with control thermal imaging equipment installed on them to clarify the contours of the source of self-heating, the profiles for the flight of unmanned aerial vehicles are oriented along lines connecting each point of placement of the thermal sensor, in which an excess of the standardized maximum temperature of the dump is recorded, with the points of placement of the thermal sensors adjacent to it.

[0015] An example of implementing the proposed method. The drawing shows a coal and rock dump 1 prone to self-heating. Temperature sensors 3 are placed in the near-surface zone 2 of the dump 1 at a depth of h (specifically, 1.5 m) to monitor the temperature of the dump 1. The temperature sensors 3 are arranged in rows, e.g., parallel to the base plane of the dump 1. Each temperature sensor 3 is installed at a distance l (specifically, 20 m) from the nearest adjacent device. The temperature sensors 3 are connected to a remote monitoring center 4 (via wireless communication) to transmit current temperature readings every half hour. In the event that the monitoring center 4 receives current information about the excess of the standardized (specified) maximum temperature of the waste dump 1, at least at one of the points (locations) where the temperature sensor 3 is located 5, UAV 6 with control thermal imaging equipment installed on board carries out flights to clarify the contours of the self-heating source 7 of the waste dump 1.The standardized maximum temperature of the dump 1 may be 70°C, i.e. correspond to the transition of the dump 1 from the "hot" state (from 50°C to 70°C) to the "ultimately heated" state (from 70°C to 80°C). Profiles II, II-II, III-III, IV-IV, VV, VI-VI for the flight of the UAV 6 are oriented along the lines connecting the placement points 5 of the temperature sensor 3, at which an excess of the specified temperature is recorded, with the placement points 8 of the adjacent temperature sensors 3. In addition, the profiles for the flight of the UAV can be oriented parallel to the slope of the dump 1, on which the self-heating source 7 is detected. This method of thermal monitoring of the coal-rock dump 1 allows for a more accurate, more rapid and with reduced labor costs determination of the contours of the self-heating source 7, compared to known similar methods.

[0016] The proposed method can be used in fire prevention activities in coal waste dumps.

[0017] The proposed method can be useful in the controlled extraction of thermal energy from a self-heating coal waste dump. The proposed method can be used to refine the position of heat traps placed along the contours of the dump's self-heating source, allowing for more complete and efficient utilization of its heat, as well as reducing thermal and chemical pollution of the atmosphere in the area where such a solid coal waste accumulation is located.

Claims

A method for monitoring a coal dump, which includes measuring the temperature inside the dump using thermal sensors placed in its near-surface zone in rows with a certain pitch and at a given depth, as well as with the possibility of transmitting temperature readings to a monitoring center for identifying a source of self-heating based on a recorded excess of the standardized maximum temperature of the dump at at least one of the points where the thermal sensor is placed, and subsequently measuring the thermal field along profiles above the dump using unmanned aerial vehicles with control thermal imaging equipment installed on them to clarify the contours of the source of self-heating, characterized in that the profiles for the flight of unmanned aerial vehicles are oriented along lines connecting each point where the thermal sensor is placed, in which an excess of the standardized maximum temperature of the dump is recorded, with the points where the thermal sensors adjacent to it are placed.

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