Mechanism characteristics of CO2 and N2 inhibiting methane explosions in coal mine roadways.

In order to determine the effect of inert gas (N2 and C02) on the process of methane premixed explosion in coal mine roadways, the detailed reaction mechanisms (include 53 mixtures, and 325 reactions) were investigated in this study. The mathematical model of methane explosion in the coal mine roadway was developed using the PREMIX code of CHEMKIN 3. 7 chemical kinetics packages. Through numerical computation, the change currents of reactant and free radical concentration, catastrophic gases generated from methane explosion and total consumption rate of methane were compared, due to the effect of N2 and CO2 on methane explosions, and the similarities and differences were also analyzed. The results show that CO2 is more effective than N2 in lowering the concentration of activation center during the reaction system and main catastrophic gases of CO and NO resulting from methane explosion. Therefore, it concludes that; CO2 is more effective than N2 in inhibiting methane explosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]