University of Science and Technology Beijing | China
Dr. Yikang Liu, a dedicated researcher at the University of Science and Technology Beijing, has established a strong academic profile in the field of mine fire prevention, coal spontaneous combustion mechanisms, and underground hazard mitigation. His work focuses on understanding how water immersion, gas adsorption dynamics, and inert gas environments influence coal oxidation behavior and ignition tendencies. Through nearly 20 peer-reviewed publications and 5 patents, Dr. Liu has contributed significant advancements to both fundamental science and applied mine-safety technologies. His research integrates experimental coal chemistry, pore-structure evolution, and competitive adsorption processes to reveal multi-scale mechanisms that govern heat generation and gas release during coal oxidation. Supported by major funding such as the National Natural Science Foundation of China and collaborative grants with national engineering research centers, he has led projects that optimize early-warning indicators using adsorption theory and improve inertization strategies using CO₂-N₂ gas environments. Dr. Liu’s findings such as CO formation patterns, pore structure variations, and functional group transformations have laid the groundwork for more accurate prediction models for spontaneous combustion in humid mining regions. His strong collaborations with leading energy enterprises, including China Energy Group and Shandong Energy Group, have enabled the development of intelligent fire-prevention systems, smart ventilation technologies, and data-driven monitoring platforms. To date, his innovations have been implemented in eight mines, improving fire prediction accuracy by up to 40% and contributing to safer, more digitalized mining operations. Dr. Liu’s research continues to bridge fundamental coal chemistry with real-world mine safety, advancing national efforts toward intelligent and low-risk mining.
Featured Publications
Liu, Y., Wang, H., Niu, H., Shao, Z., Yang, Y., Liu, X., Wang, G., Zhou, Z., & Wang, H. (2025). Study on CO formation and pore structure development during low-temperature oxidation of coal in CO₂–N₂ environment. Journal of Cleaner Production.
Liu, Y., Wang, H., Niu, H., Wang, T., Chen, Z., Chen, Y., & Qi, Q. (2024). Time-shift effect of spontaneous combustion characteristics and microstructure difference of dry-soaked coal. International Journal of Coal Science and Technology.
Wang, H., Liu, Y., Niu, H., Shao, Z., Wang, G., & Wang, H. (2025). Study on the difference of coal spontaneous combustion characteristic parameters after lean oxygen combustion in different inert gas environments: Microscopic and macroscopic. Fuel.
Liu, Y., Wang, H., Niu, H., Xing, S., Wang, G., Zhou, Z., Yang, Y., & Liu, X. (2025). Coal pore structure evolution under drying–wetting cycle. Natural Resources Research.
Liu, Y., Wang, H., Niu, H., Chen, Y., Wang, G., Tian, F., Tang, J., & Qi, Q. (2025). Research progress and visualization analysis of spontaneous combustion of water-immersed coal. Combustion Science and Technology.