Effects of the Imbibition Ability of Extinguishant in Pulverized Coals

The imbibition ability of extinguishant is an important factor influencing the extinguishing effect for smoldering fire in pulverized coals. The coal particle size, bulk compactness, and aqueous solution properties significantly affect the imbibition ability of extinguishment. This work aims to reveal the influence of the properties of pulverized coals and aqueous solution on the imbibition ability of extinguishant for smoldering fire through experiments and capillary theories. The imbibition height and rate were adopted to evaluate the imbibition ability of extinguishment. The results showed that a relatively small bulk compactness and a fine coal particle size negatively influenced the extinguishing process dominantly because of its high surface energy and low wettability. An additive was used to adjust the properties of aqueous solution. The liquid with a larger surface tension, a smaller contact angle, and a lower viscosity induced a better imbibition ability of extinguishment.