EVALUATION OF FILTER FLAMMABILITY AND FILTER BANK FIRE DETECTION SYSTEMS
Burning tests were made in a test plenum containing a sufficient number of filters to simulate conditions which would exist in a large bank containing several hundred filters. Studies were made of flame propagation, fire alarm systems, effectiveness of water sprays, and fire fighting techniques. Flame propagation studies gave information on the burning characteristics of various types of filters and the effect of various operating conditions on the characteristics. Four fire alarm systems were evaluated. All of the alarms operated, although to varying degrees of satis faction. A smoke alarm performed better than any of the others. Fog-type water sprays were tested and found to be very effective in controlling fires in the initial stages of burning. In the advanced stages of a fire, sprays supplying large quantities of water were hardly more effective for fire extinguishing than were the fog sprays. The fog spray has the advantages that it will penetrate easily into burning filters and will blanket the air with mist to prevent explosions from occurring in the smoke produced. A type of filter construction was developed which reduced the flammability of the filters to nearly that of the noncombustible types. The filter retains the cellulose-asbestos media but substitutes aluminum for the paper separators. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Dow Chemical co. Rocky Flats Plants, Denver
- NSA Number:
- NSA-15-014575
- OSTI ID:
- 4060284
- Report Number(s):
- RFP-222
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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