• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.322-334
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• 2020

Background: Spontaneous combustion of coal is one of the factors which causes direct or indirect gas and dust explosion, mine fire, the release of toxic gases, loss of reserve, and loss of miners' life. To avoid these incidents, the prediction of spontaneous combustion is essential. The safety of miner's in the mining field can be assured if the prediction of a coal fire is carried out at an early stage. Method: Adularya Underground Coal Mine which is fully mechanized with longwall mining method was selected as a case study area. The data collected for 2017, by sensors from ten gas monitoring stations were used for the simulation and prediction of a coal fire. In this study, the fuzzy logic model is used because of the uncertainties, nonlinearity, and imprecise variables in the data. For coal fire prediction, CO, O₂, N₂, and temperature were used as input variables whereas fire intensity was considered as the output variable.The simulation of the model is carried out using the Mamdani inference system and run by the Fuzzy Logic Toolbox in MATLAB. Results: The results showed that the fuzzy logic system is more reliable in predicting fire intensity with respect to uncertainties and nonlinearities of the data. It also indicates that the 1409 and 610/2B gas station points have a greater chance of causing spontaneous combustion and therefore require a precautional measure. Conclusion: The fuzzy logic model shows higher probability in predicting fire intensity with the simultaneous application of many variables compared with Graham's index.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.133-140
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• 2014

The experiment was designed to compare the char combustion kinetics of pulverized Indonesia coals commonly utilized in Korea power plants. The reaction rate of coal char has been formulated using the external and internal effectiveness factors to describe the diffusion effect quantitatively. The Random Pore Model (RPM) was used for applying internal specific surface area as a function of carbon conversion ratio. Reaction rate was obtained from reaction time using the Wire Heating Reactor (WHR) which can heat and measure the char particle temperature at the same time. BET and TGA were used to obtain physical properties such as internal specific surface area and structural parameter. Three kinds of Indonesia Sub-bituminous coals "BARAMULTI, ENERGYMAN, AGM" were used in order to derive the activation energy and pre-exponential factor. The results of this study showed that the effect of internal diffusion than that of external diffusion is the dominant as comparison of kinetics was reflected in external and internal effectiveness factors. For three kinds of coal char, finally, activation energy of intrinsic kinetics indicates 110~118 kJ/mol.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.1086-1092
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• 2012

In this study, kinetic studies and analysis of the produced syngas were conducted for low rank coal gasification under $CO_2$ atmosphere. 6 coals were analyzed to measure amount of sulfur and ash by proximate and ultimate analyses. And then they were analyzed to select suitable sample by using Thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). Selected coal sample Samhwa was mixed with catalysts. Mixed samples with catalysts were used to get activation energy under $CO_2$ atmosphere by using Kissinger's method and shrinking core model (SCM). Also, analysis of produced syngas was performed by Gas Chromatography (GC). In this experiment, activation of the $K_2CO_3$ was the best performance, and result of the analysis of the syngas showed similar trend with result of the activation energy.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.509-546
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• 2010

Although coal has been utilized as major fuel, it is known as 'most climate unfriendly' fuel. Carbon tax or tradable permit policy has been discussed as major measure for reducing production and consumption of coal, but it might be more efficient to remove subsidy on coal production and consumption. This study examines economic and environmental effects of recycling revenue from reducing subsidy on the use of coal to foster climate friendly fuel (ligneous biomass) by price subsidy or increased public expenditure. A static CGE model was applied to analyze the welfare consequences and economic impacts of two policy measures. The result shows that price subsidy policy is more desirable than creation of public demand in terms of welfare as well as overall economic impacts.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.33 no.12
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• pp.1387-1393
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• 1996

A study on mesophase pitch as a matrix precursor of carbon fiber reinforced carbon (C/C) composite has been recently presented. This study is concerned with the production of mesophase pitch as matrix precursors for C/C composite from coal tar pitch. A commercial coal tar pitch was heat-treated at 25$0^{\circ}C$ for 2 hours to remove low molecular weight fraction from the pitch then increasing the temperature of the pitch to between 350~45$0^{\circ}C$ to produce mesophase pitch. The pitch was continuously stirred during this time and nitrogen gas was continuously bubbled through the pitch. Spherical and bulk mesophases were formed in the pitch after heat-treatment,. Parent and mesophae pitches were characterized by elemental analysis coke yield solubi-lity in tetrahydrofuran and hexane and an optical microscopy to measure the mesiophase content. It was neces-sary to produce C/C composite that a mesophase pitch with about 30-40 vol% mesophase spherulites can be infiltrated into a fiber preform without a filter effect as a matrix precursor conditions. This condition was satisfied with mesophase pitch heat treated at 40$0^{\circ}C$ for 2 hours. The other heat treatment conditions showed the nuclei of mesophase or bulk mesophae which were not satisfied with the matix precursor condition.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.265-270
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• 2018

This study was to measure the exposure of diesel vehicle drivers to elemental carbon (EC) as an indicator of diesel particulate matter (DPM) emitted from diesel vehicles in an underground coal mine over 3 years as per NIOSH Method 5040. Our study results (range $10{\mu}g/m^3-377{\mu}g/m^3$ for the loader drivers, $19{\mu}g/m^3-162{\mu}g/m^3$ for the SMV drivers) were similar or less than previous study results (range $5{\mu}g/m^3-2,200{\mu}g/m^3$) for normal mine operations. From this study results, it appeared that the exposures decreased in the second and the third year. It is thought that the reasons for the decreased personal DPM (EC) exposures over the 3 years were related to the following recommendations; more frequent monitoring and maintenance of the diesel vehicles and their DPM filtration systems, more consistent monitoring of the mine's ventilation system and changes of work practices such as minimizing the opening of diesel vehicle windows. An educational program on adverse health effects of exposure to DPM and use of respiratory protection (P2 respirators) also assisted in minimizing driver exposure to DPM.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society for Energy Engineering kosee Conference
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• 1993.11a
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• pp.31-36
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• 1993

Three different methods were employed to measure the degree of aerial oxidation in coal and the resulting oxidation/weathering indices were applied to obtain kinetic parameters of aerial oxidation processes, The index (i.e., slurry pH, Free Swelling Index, weight gain) values were subjected to kinetic analysis based on power-law Arrhenius type reaction model. The results show that activation energy of the aerial oxidation in 20-29$0^{\circ}C$ is in the range of 12-16 ㎉/㏖ and the agreement among three techniques is remarkable. The first order kinetic model is suitable in describing low temperature aerial oxidation process, except in the FSI case where the zero order expression is the best one.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.76-83
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• 2001

Background : Coal workers' pneumoconiosis is a fibrotic lung disease resulting from chronic inhalation of coal dust. The precise mechanism of lung fibrosis in coal workers' pneumoconiosis is uncertain. However, a relationship between the stimulation of fibroblast proliferation and collagen production by mediators released from in flammatory and resident lung cells is thought to be a major factor. The transforming growth factor-$\beta$(TGF-$\beta$), a multifunctional cytokine and growth factor, plays a key role in the scarring and fibrotic processes due to its ability to induce extracellular matrix proteins and modulate the growth and immune function of many cell types. To determine the involvement of TGF-$\beta$ in the development of lung fibrosis in coal workers' pneumoconiosis, the TGF-${\beta}_1$ level in plasma was measured in patients with coal workers' pneumoconiosis. Methods : Plasma was collected from 40 patients with coal workers' pneumoconiosis (20 with simple coal workers' pneumoconiosis and 20 with complicated coal workers' pneumoconiosis) and from 10 normal controls. The ELISA method was used to measure the plasma TGF-${\beta}_1$ concentration. Results : Compared to the control group ($0.63{\pm}01.8$ ng/mL), there was no significant difference in the plasma TGF-${\beta}_1$ level in patients with simple coal workers' pneumoconiosis ($0.64{\pm}0.17$ ng/mL) (p>0.05). However, in patients with complicated coal workers' pneumoconiosis the plasma TGF-${\beta}_1$ level ($0.79{\pm}0.18$ ng/mL) was significantly higher than in patients with simple coal workers' pneumoconiosis and the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion : The data suggests that TGF-${\beta}_1$ has some influence in the development of lung fibrosis in coal workers' pneumoconiosis.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.1065-1073
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• 2006

The unturned carbon in fly ash, recently occurred in the coal-fired Yong Hung power station, caused some problems in ash utilization and boiler efficiency. This paper describes the analysis of unburned carbon and six coals, some tests performed at Yong Hung Boiler, and the results of combustion modification for the reduction of unburned carbon in fly ash. From the physical and chemical analysis of unburned carbon in fly ash, most particles were turned out to be hollow cenosphere and agglomerated soot particles. The sooting potential from six coals used in the plant were investigated with CPD(Chemical Percolation Devolatilization) model. The results showed that the higher potential was presented to Peabody, Arthur, Shenhua coals rather than other coals. It was necessary to measure the coal flow rates at each coal feeding pipe for four burner levels since they affect the extent of mixing of soot with oxidant, in turn, the oxidation rate of soot particles. The unbalance in coal flow rate was found in several coal pipes. We successfully reduced unturned carbon in ash by increasing the excess air and changing the SOFA's yaw angle.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.39-48
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• 2023

This study presents the experimental results to measure the adsorption amount of methane gas by coal according to the conditions of a coalbed methane (CBM) reservoir. Adsorbed gas to coal seam particles was measured under reservoir conditions (normal pressure ~ 1,200 psi pressure range, temperature range15 ~ 45℃) using coal samples obtained from random mines in Kalimantan Island, North Indonesia. The obtained amount of absolute adsorbed gas was applied to triangular with linear interpolation to calculate the maximum amount of adsorbed gas according to temperature and pressure change, at which no experiment was performed. As a result, it was revealed that the amount of adsorbed gas to coal particles increased as the pressure increased and temperature decreased, but the increase of the amount of adsorbed gas decreased at more than an appropriate depth(1,000 ft). In the cleat permeability and cleat porosity for each depth of the coal bed considering the effective stress, the cleat permeability was 28.86 ~ 46.81 md, and the cleat porosity was 0.83 ~ 0.98%. This means that the gas productivity varies significantly with the depth because the reduction of the permeability according to the depth in the coal seam is significant. Therefore, a coalbed depth should be considered essential when designing the spacing of production wells in a coalbed methane reservoir in further study.