Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
3.9
2.7
Journals
Fire
Special Issues
Fire/Explosion Risk Assessment and Loss Prevention of Hazardous Materials, Mines...
share announcement

Fire/Explosion Risk Assessment and Loss Prevention of Hazardous Materials, Mines and Natural Gas, 2nd Edition

A special issue of Fire (ISSN 2571-6255).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 6258

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Chuyuan Huang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Safety Science and Emergency Management, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
Interests: industrial safety and emergency response; loss prevention of hazardous materials; fire/explosion risk assessment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Haipeng Jiang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemical Machinery and Safety Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
Interests: process safety; dust explosions; explosion prevention; inherent safety
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Lijuan Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Safety Science and Emergency Management, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
Interests: fire/explosion safety; gas hydrogen and liquid hydrogen safety; CFD simulation of fire/explosion
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

With the continuous and rapid development of industrialization, the safety risks of traditional high-risk industries, such as hazardous materials and mines, are constantly increasing. The environment of natural gas utilization is complex, with multiple pipelines and connection points, and aging pipelines, and the potential risk of fire and explosion events has significantly increased. In recent years, gas leakage and the long-term consequences of fires and secondary explosion incidents have caused a large number of casualties and property loss. The multi-factor coupling of explosion incidents with hazardous materials, natural gas, and mines makes the monitoring, early warning, and introduction of safety precautions more difficult.

For the prevention and control of incidents involving hazardous materials, natural gas, and the environment of mines, there is an urgent need to promote research in theories or technologies related to fire/explosion risk monitoring, early warning systems to anticipate disasters, and real-time decision-making. In particular, intelligent and information technology not only enhances safety management, but also improves the accuracy of fire/explosion risk prediction, intelligent early warning systems, and safety protocols. This Special Issue aims to contribute to the knowledge and understanding of signal monitoring in relation to hazardous materials, natural gas, and mines; the pattern recognition of disaster-causing factors; real-time status perception; the accurate determination of fire/explosion hazards; theoretical risk early warning; and technical safety protection.

This Special Issue welcomes original research articles and reviews related to hazardous materials, natural gas, and mines. Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Theories of explosions in the fields of hazardous materials, natural gas, and mines;
  • Investigations of catastrophes caused by explosions in the fields of hazardous materials, natural gas, and mines;
  • Risk assessment of explosion accidents in hazardous materials, gas fields, and mines;
  • Gas pipeline leakage detection, location, and early warning technology;
  • Monitoring and early warning theory and technology for hazardous materials, mines, and gas explosions;
  • Theory and technology of hazardous materials and gas explosion accident prevention and emergency response;
  • Safety protection technology for hazardous materials, mines, and gas explosions.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Chuyuan Huang
Dr. Haipeng Jiang
Dr. Lijuan Liu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Fire is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • hazardous materials
  • mines
  • natural gas
  • fire and explosion
  • risk assessment
  • monitoring and early warning
  • safety precautions

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (6 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

19 pages, 5541 KB  
Article
Study on the Competition Mechanism Between Capillary Effect and Insulation Effect of Porous Media Substrate on Fuel Combustion
by Keyu Lin, Xinsheng Jiang, Shijie Zhu, Peili Zhang, Jimiao Duan, Yuxiang Zhou, Run Li and Sai Wang
Fire 2025, 8(9), 355; https://doi.org/10.3390/fire8090355 - 5 Sep 2025
Viewed by 606
Abstract
The combustion of liquid fuels that have leaked into inert porous media, such as sand, is a critical issue for industrial safety and fire risk assessment. Despite its importance, the complex influence of porous media on the combustion process, particularly the governing mechanisms [...] Read more.
The combustion of liquid fuels that have leaked into inert porous media, such as sand, is a critical issue for industrial safety and fire risk assessment. Despite its importance, the complex influence of porous media on the combustion process, particularly the governing mechanisms of flame morphology and heat release, remains poorly understood, hindering accurate hazard prediction. This study addresses this gap by systematically investigating the combustion characteristics of 92# gasoline on quartz sand substrates with thicknesses ranging from 0 to 4 cm. Through a series of controlled laboratory experiments, key parameters including mass loss rate, heat release rate (HRR), and flame morphology were quantified. The findings reveal that, unlike the classical three-stage combustion of pool fires, the presence of porous media introduces a “slow burning period,” resulting in a unique four-stage combustion mode. The sand layer significantly suppresses combustion intensity, with the dimensionless heat release rate (Q*) being proportional to the dimensionless layer thickness (d*) raised to the power of −2.54. Crucially, flame height was found to be governed not by the HRR, but by a competition between the capillary effect (driving upward fuel transport) and the thermal effect (insulation and heat absorption). Based on this mechanism, a novel flame height prediction model was developed, which showed excellent agreement with 23 experimental datasets (R2 = 0.92, average relative error 1.72%). This study elucidates the core physical mechanisms governing liquid fuel combustion in porous media. The proposed model provides a robust theoretical foundation for predicting fire development and assessing the risks associated with leaked fuel fires, offering a valuable tool for safety engineering and emergency response. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fire/Explosion Risk Assessment and Loss Prevention of Hazardous Materials, Mines and Natural Gas, 2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

31 pages, 4853 KB  
Article
Experimental Study on the Law of Gas Migration in the Gob Area of a Fully Mechanized Mining Face in a High-Gas Thick Coal Seam
by Hongsheng Wang, Fumei Song, Jianjun Shi, Yingyao Cheng and Huaming An
Fire 2025, 8(9), 339; https://doi.org/10.3390/fire8090339 - 24 Aug 2025
Viewed by 676
Abstract
To investigate the distribution law of gas migration in the gob area of a fully mechanized mining face, the similarity principle was employed, combined with Darcy’s law for porous media seepage, to derive the similarity criteria for simulating gas migration in the gob. [...] Read more.
To investigate the distribution law of gas migration in the gob area of a fully mechanized mining face, the similarity principle was employed, combined with Darcy’s law for porous media seepage, to derive the similarity criteria for simulating gas migration in the gob. An experimental platform for a similar model of the gob area in a fully mechanized mining face was designed and constructed, enabling the regulation of ventilation modes, working face airflow velocity, and gas release in the gob. By adjusting the layout of the tailgate, airflow velocity of the working face, and gas release rate, experimental studies were conducted on the gas flow, gas migration, and variation of gas concentration at the upper corner under different airflow velocities in “U,” “U + I,” and “U + I” type ventilation modes. The results indicate that the ventilation mode determines the spatial variation law of airflow and gas migration in the gob; the airflow velocity of the working face governs the fluctuation degree and influence range of airflow and gas migration in the gob; and both the ventilation mode and airflow velocity affect gas accumulation at the upper corner. The “U + I” type ventilation mode is most effective in reducing gas concentration at the upper corner. Airflow velocities that are too low or too high are not conducive to gas emission at the upper corner, with the optimal control of gas concentration being achieved when the airflow velocity ranges from 1.5 to 2.5 m/s. The experimental results validate the distribution law of airflow and gas migration in the gob of a fully mechanized mining face, providing a basis for selecting ventilation process parameters for such mining operations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fire/Explosion Risk Assessment and Loss Prevention of Hazardous Materials, Mines and Natural Gas, 2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 3906 KB  
Article
An Investigation of the Process of Risk Coupling and the Main Elements of Coal-Mine Gas-Explosion Risk
by Shugang Li and Lu Gao
Fire 2025, 8(8), 294; https://doi.org/10.3390/fire8080294 - 25 Jul 2025
Viewed by 632
Abstract
This study suggests a method for analyzing the risk of methane explosions using the N-K model and Social Network Analysis (SNA) to understand how different risk factors related to coal-mine methane explosions are connected and change over time, aiming to prevent these accidents [...] Read more.
This study suggests a method for analyzing the risk of methane explosions using the N-K model and Social Network Analysis (SNA) to understand how different risk factors related to coal-mine methane explosions are connected and change over time, aiming to prevent these accidents effectively. We identified 41 secondary risk factors and four fundamental risk factors—human, equipment, environment, and management—based on the 4M accident causation theory. The SNA model was utilized to determine the main risk factors and their evolutionary routes, while the N-K model was utilized to quantify the degree of risk coupling. The findings show that the number of risk variables engaged in the methane-explosion risk system closely correlates with the number of accidents that occur and the maximum coupling level among the four elements. The primary control factors in the methane-explosion risk system are poor equipment management, broken safety monitoring and control systems, inadequate safety education and training, safety regulation violations, and poor safety production responsibility system implementation. We utilized the primary evolution paths and key elements to propose risk control approaches. A reference for ensuring safety in coal-mine operations can be found in the research findings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fire/Explosion Risk Assessment and Loss Prevention of Hazardous Materials, Mines and Natural Gas, 2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 2182 KB  
Article
Statistical Analysis of the Characteristics and Laws in Larger and Above Gas Explosion Accidents in Chinese Coal Mines from 2010 to 2020
by Huimin Guo, Lianhua Cheng and Shugang Li
Fire 2025, 8(3), 87; https://doi.org/10.3390/fire8030087 - 21 Feb 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 800
Abstract
Gas explosions are the most serious type of accident in coal mines in China. This study analyzed 125 gas explosion accidents that occurred between 2010 and 2020. The results showed that the number of gas explosion accidents and deaths in 2010–2020 was stable [...] Read more.
Gas explosions are the most serious type of accident in coal mines in China. This study analyzed 125 gas explosion accidents that occurred between 2010 and 2020. The results showed that the number of gas explosion accidents and deaths in 2010–2020 was stable and decreasing. The number of larger gas explosion accidents in 2010–2020 is the largest, but the death toll from major accidents was much greater. Coal faces, headings, and roadways are the main locations where gas explosions are initiated. The coal mines in which gas explosions occur in coal faces and headings are mainly “township” enterprises and private mines, all of which engage in illegal operations. The main cause of gas accumulations in roadways is ventilation system failure; these failures can be reduced with improved ventilations system management. The number of gas explosion accidents and related deaths in the Sichuan, Guizhou, and Heilongjiang provinces are very high. The annual change in the frequency of gas explosion accidents, the quarterly distribution of gas explosion accidents, and time during a mining shift when gas explosion accidents occur are closely related to national policies and regulations, company annual production goals, and the mental status of miners, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fire/Explosion Risk Assessment and Loss Prevention of Hazardous Materials, Mines and Natural Gas, 2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 6673 KB  
Article
Experimental and Numerical Study on Flame Inhibition Mechanism of Methane–Coal Dust Hybrid Explosion by Ultrafine Water Mist with Novel Chemical Additives
by Li Liu, Yongheng Jing, Le Sun and Yao Tang
Fire 2024, 7(12), 484; https://doi.org/10.3390/fire7120484 - 21 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1200
Abstract
Coal mining frequently sees explosions caused by methane/coal dust mixtures, resulting in significant harm to people and property damage. This study utilized the Hartmann pipe experiment to investigate the inhibition mechanisms of ultrafine water mist (UWM) containing phosphorus-based sodium inhibitors (sodium dihydrogen phosphate [...] Read more.
Coal mining frequently sees explosions caused by methane/coal dust mixtures, resulting in significant harm to people and property damage. This study utilized the Hartmann pipe experiment to investigate the inhibition mechanisms of ultrafine water mist (UWM) containing phosphorus-based sodium inhibitors (sodium dihydrogen phosphate (NaH2PO4) and sodium phytate (C6H6Na12O24P6)) on methane/coal dust hybrid explosions. The results indicate that UWM containing NaH2PO4 and C6H6Na12O24P6 significantly reduces flame propagation velocity, flame height, and flame temperature, thereby effectively inhibiting the development of methane/coal dust hybrid explosion flames. UWM containing C6H6Na12O24P6 exhibited superior inhibition performance, reducing the flame temperature to 157.6 °C, the peak flame propagation velocity by 2.26 m/s, and the flame height by 5.66 mm. The inhibition mechanism of UWM containing phosphorus-based sodium inhibitors primarily involves physical heat absorption and chemical inhibition. The evaporation of UWM absorbs heat, thereby reducing the temperature in the reaction zone. Simultaneously, it generates a large amount of water vapor, which dilutes the fuel concentration per unit volume and reduces the collision frequency between fuel molecules and oxygen. The active free radicals (such as sodium oxygen radical (NaO), metaphosphoric acid (HPO2), HOPO (peroxyphosphate radical), etc.) produced by the decomposition of NaH2PO4 and C6H6Na12O24P6 react with free radicals (O, H, and OH), effectively reducing the concentration of free radicals, interrupting the chain reaction, and weakening the explosive severity. The decomposition products of the phosphorus-sodium components increase the heat capacity of the combustion products, dilute and isolate the combustion zone, and further reduce the explosive severity. These findings provide significant scientific and engineering support for the safe management of coal mines. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fire/Explosion Risk Assessment and Loss Prevention of Hazardous Materials, Mines and Natural Gas, 2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 3414 KB  
Article
Study on the Explosion Mechanism of Low-Concentration Gas and Coal Dust
by Li Liu, Xinyi Mao, Yongheng Jing, Yao Tang and Le Sun
Fire 2024, 7(12), 475; https://doi.org/10.3390/fire7120475 - 13 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1503
Abstract
In coal mines, the mixture of coal dust and gas is more ignitable than gas alone, posing a high explosion risk to workers. Using the explosion tube, this study examines the explosion propagation characteristics and flame temperature of low-concentration gas and coal dust [...] Read more.
In coal mines, the mixture of coal dust and gas is more ignitable than gas alone, posing a high explosion risk to workers. Using the explosion tube, this study examines the explosion propagation characteristics and flame temperature of low-concentration gas and coal dust mixtures with various particle sizes. The CPD model and Chemkin-Pro 19.2 simulate the reaction kinetics of these explosions. Findings show that when the gas concentration is below its explosive limit, coal dust addition lowers the gas’s explosive threshold, potentially causing an explosion. Coal particle size significantly affects explosion propagation dynamics, with smaller particles producing faster flame velocities and higher temperatures. Due to their larger surface area, smaller particles absorb heat faster and undergo thermal decomposition, releasing combustible gases that intensify the explosion flame. The predicted yield of light gases from both coal types exceeds 40 wt% daf, raising combustible gas concentrations in the system. When accumulated reaction heat elevates the gas concentration to its explosive limit, an explosion occurs. These results are crucial for preventing gas and coal dust explosion accidents in coal mines. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fire/Explosion Risk Assessment and Loss Prevention of Hazardous Materials, Mines and Natural Gas, 2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-6
Back to TopTop