skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Hazards of conveyor belt fires

Abstract

This report describes a US Bureau of Mines study on the hazards of large-scale conveyor belt fires in underground coal mines, as a function of both air velocity and distance from belt surface to gallery roof. The fire hazards considered were smoke obscuration, toxic effects of carbon monoxide (CO), and elevated air temperatures downstream of the fire. All of these hazards scale with the ratio of fire intensity to ventilation airflow. These hazards were all found to be greater at the lower belt-to-roof distance, owing to the greater fire intensities that resulted. The hazards of smoke obscuration and elevated CO levels were greater at lower air velocities. Smoke obscuration was found to be the earliest hazard, reaching critical levels before the stages of flame spread. Fire growth rates during rapid flame spread were much greater than rates measured during the early stages of flame spread. Fire growth rates during rapid flame spread were much greater than rates measured during the early stages of belt burning. Data were analyzed to determine the early-warning capability of fire sensors. Smoke sensors provided the earliest warning, followed closely by CO sensors. Thermal sensors did not exhibit any early warning capability.

Authors:
; ; ;
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
175939
Resource Type:
Book
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: 1995
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT; BELT CONVEYORS; FIRE HAZARDS; RISK ASSESSMENT; SMOKE DETECTORS; PERFORMANCE TESTING; AIR POLLUTION MONITORS; UNDERGROUND MINING; COAL MINES

Citation Formats

Perzak, F J, Litton, C D, Mura, K E, and Lazzara, C P. Hazards of conveyor belt fires. United States: N. p., 1995. Web.
Perzak, F J, Litton, C D, Mura, K E, & Lazzara, C P. Hazards of conveyor belt fires. United States.
Perzak, F J, Litton, C D, Mura, K E, and Lazzara, C P. 1995. "Hazards of conveyor belt fires". United States.
@article{osti_175939,
title = {Hazards of conveyor belt fires},
author = {Perzak, F J and Litton, C D and Mura, K E and Lazzara, C P},
abstractNote = {This report describes a US Bureau of Mines study on the hazards of large-scale conveyor belt fires in underground coal mines, as a function of both air velocity and distance from belt surface to gallery roof. The fire hazards considered were smoke obscuration, toxic effects of carbon monoxide (CO), and elevated air temperatures downstream of the fire. All of these hazards scale with the ratio of fire intensity to ventilation airflow. These hazards were all found to be greater at the lower belt-to-roof distance, owing to the greater fire intensities that resulted. The hazards of smoke obscuration and elevated CO levels were greater at lower air velocities. Smoke obscuration was found to be the earliest hazard, reaching critical levels before the stages of flame spread. Fire growth rates during rapid flame spread were much greater than rates measured during the early stages of flame spread. Fire growth rates during rapid flame spread were much greater than rates measured during the early stages of belt burning. Data were analyzed to determine the early-warning capability of fire sensors. Smoke sensors provided the earliest warning, followed closely by CO sensors. Thermal sensors did not exhibit any early warning capability.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/175939}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Dec 31 00:00:00 EST 1995},
month = {Sun Dec 31 00:00:00 EST 1995}
}

Book:
Other availability
Please see Document Availability for additional information on obtaining the full-text document. Library patrons may search WorldCat to identify libraries that hold this book.

Save / Share: