Inhibition of Combustion and Explosion of Methane–Air Mixtures in the Presence of Coal Dust

Coal dust was shown to promote the combustion of methane–air mixtures, reducing the lower concentration limit of flame propagation and making combustion progressive (coal of different grades was used). An inhibitor has been proposed and tested to prevent the ignition of methane initiated by a spark, suppress flame propagation, and prevent its transition to an explosion. The results also show that coal dust-stimulated methane combustion, as well as in the absence of dust, is a branched-chain process that can be completely suppressed by inhibition.