Impact of air velocity on the development and detection of small coal fires. Report of investigations/1993
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 of 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 state 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.
- Research Organization:
- Bureau of Mines, Pittsburgh, PA (United States). Pittsburgh Research Center
- OSTI ID:
- 5719977
- Report Number(s):
- PB-94-112364/XAB; BUMINES-RI-9480
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Library of Congress catalog card No. 93-28787
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
AIR INFILTRATION
VELOCITY
FIRES
DETECTION
COAL MINES
COMBUSTION PRODUCTS
EVACUATION
FIRE PREVENTION
HEAT
IGNITION
LIGHT TRANSMISSION
OPTICAL SYSTEMS
PARTICLES
RELIABILITY
SAFETY
SMOKES
VENTILATION
AEROSOLS
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
ENERGY
MINES
RESIDUES
SOLS
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
012033* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Underground Mining- Mine Environment- (1987-)
016000 - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Health & Safety