Modeling carbon monoxide spread in underground mine fires

Yuan, Liming; Zhou, Lihong; Smith, Alex C.

doi:10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2016.03.007

Cited by 26 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…The sensor data from the other sensor stations will be discussed in a separate publication. It was found in a previous study that CO concentration downstream of a fire could be reduced significantly due to leakage through ventilation structures (Yuan, Zhou and Smith, 2016). …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of a mine fire using atmospheric monitoring system sensor data

Yuan¹,

Thomas²,

Zhou³

2017

Mining Engineering

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Atmospheric monitoring systems (AMS) have been widely used in underground coal mines in the United States for the detection of fire in the belt entry and the monitoring of other ventilation-related parameters such as airflow velocity and methane concentration in specific mine locations. In addition to an AMS being able to detect a mine fire, the AMS data have the potential to provide fire characteristic information such as fire growth — in terms of heat release rate — and exact fire location. Such information is critical in making decisions regarding fire-fighting strategies, underground personnel evacuation and optimal escape routes. In this study, a methodology was developed to calculate the fire heat release rate using AMS sensor data for carbon monoxide concentration, carbon dioxide concentration and airflow velocity based on the theory of heat and species transfer in ventilation airflow. Full-scale mine fire experiments were then conducted in the Pittsburgh Mining Research Division’s Safety Research Coal Mine using an AMS with different fire sources. Sensor data collected from the experiments were used to calculate the heat release rates of the fires using this methodology. The calculated heat release rate was compared with the value determined from the mass loss rate of the combustible material using a digital load cell. The experimental results show that the heat release rate of a mine fire can be calculated using AMS sensor data with reasonable accuracy.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of a mine fire using atmospheric monitoring system sensor data

Yuan¹,

Thomas²,

Zhou³

2017

Mining Engineering

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“…The large eddy simulation (LES) model was used, which allows the resolution of turbulent models in a computational calculation time shorter than other options by filtering the Navier-Stokes equations. It is a system widely used in the resolution of combustion models [17,21,23].…”

Section: Model Formulationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sun et al [21] exposed a detailed layout of the experiment that can be extrapolated to full-scale tests, while results from Tong et al [22] indicated that FDS simulations agreed well with small-scale experiments. However, there is a lack of research in real-scale underground mines applying and comparing experimental data and simulations [23].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mine Fire Behavior under Different Ventilation Conditions: Real-Scale Tests and CFD Modeling

et al. 2020

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Fires in underground spaces are especially relevant due to their potential mortality. However, there is not much research in real-scale spaces done so far. In this study, several fire scenarios were analyzed in an underground drift, taking into account the main environmental variables: airflow, temperature, oxygen, and pollutants. The behavior before and after the fire load was determined, as well as the evolution of the fire over time throughout the drift and its cross-section, finding important trends of the fire based on the airflow–fuel load ratio. Furthermore, the five most representative scenarios were modeled using the fire dynamics simulator (FDS). Results obtained in the simulations, with the adjusted parameters, display a good correlation between simulated and experimental values, being able to extrapolate these values to know the performance of potential fires in other underground spaces or mines. The outcomes could also be a very useful tool to study the effectiveness of possible emergency measures or the potential impact of a fire in this type of environments.

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“…Fires may even persist for months in circumstances where the fire outbreak is of a specific kind and isolated [1,2]. The process of combustion related to the fires, besides generating heat [3,4], causes the production of combustion products (including carbon monoxide and sulphur dioxide)-gases that are poisonous for a human [4][5][6][7][8][9]-as well as those that are explosive (methane, hydrogen) [10]. Additionally, the gases produced cause a decrease of oxygen concentration in the mine atmosphere.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reversal Ventilation as a Method of Fire Hazard Mitigation in the Mines

et al. 2020

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Reversal ventilation is one of prevention methods against fire hazard in underground mines, but it is not recommended for the mines where methane is present. The authors introduce the new method of reversal and by conducting numerical simulations they prove that it allows to keep methane at the acceptable level during miners escape. However, it requires connection between the subnetworks of the main ventilation fans. It was also shown, that by using the method some escape routes will be shortened. It is possible to apply this method in the mines where the fans and stoppings are fully controlled across the full range of their operating parameters. The findings are important for underground mines, as well as for surface facilities where air control or smoke control is managed by two or more fans.

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Modeling carbon monoxide spread in underground mine fires

Cited by 26 publications

References 6 publications

Characterization of a mine fire using atmospheric monitoring system sensor data

Characterization of a mine fire using atmospheric monitoring system sensor data

Mine Fire Behavior under Different Ventilation Conditions: Real-Scale Tests and CFD Modeling

Reversal Ventilation as a Method of Fire Hazard Mitigation in the Mines

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