Impact of air velocity on the development and detection of small coal fires

Journal Article · Fri Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1993 · Information Circular - United States, Bureau of Mines

OSTI ID:160256

Egan, M R ^[1]

---

1. Pittsburgh Research Center, PA (United States)

The U.S. Bureau of Mines conducted experiments in the intermediate-scale fire tunnel to assess the influence of air velocity on the gas production and smoke characteristics during smoldering and flaming combustion of Pittsburgh seam coal and its impact on the detection of the combustion products. On-line determinations of mass and number smoke particles, light transmission, and various gas concentrations were made. From these experimental values, generation rates, heat-release rates, production constants, particle sizes, obscuration rates, and optical densities were calculated. Ventilation has a direct effect on fire detection and development. The results indicate, that in general, increased air velocity lengthened the onset of smoke and flaming ignition, increased the fire intensity, but decreased the gas and smoke concentrations. Increased air velocity also lengthened the response times of all the fire sensors tested. Rapid and reliable detector response at this most crucial stage of fire development can increase the possibility that appropriate miner response (fire suppression tactics or evacuation) can be completed before toxic smoke spreads throughout the mine. 9 refs., 3 figs., 10 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 160256
• Journal Information: Information Circular - United States, Bureau of Mines, Journal Name: Information Circular - United States, Bureau of Mines Journal Issue: 9480; ISSN XIMIAL; ISSN 0096-1914
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
AIR
COAL MINES
COMBUSTION
DETECTION
FIRE HAZARDS
FIRES
VELOCITY