HUMIDITY AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN COAL SELF-IGNITION

The specific working conditions in the mining industry need that special measures should be taken in view to prevent the occurrence of occupational accidents that might jeopardize miner's life. Due to some gases, explosive mixtures can appear in the mines of the Jiu Valley; on the other hand, there is danger of spontaneous self-ignition of coal that can produce underground fires. That is why it is necessary that all the factors that might lead to the occurrence of underground fires, in coal mines with self-ignition coal characteristics, should be avoided. This paper focuses especially on one of these factors that leads to the occurrence of underground fires, humidity. It is analyzed both the influence of coal inherent humidity and the relative or air humidity in underground over coal self-ignition. The final results is this paper and graphic representation emphasize the important part humidity can play in coal self-ignition in the Jiu Valley mines.