Performance of retimet metal foam vents on explosion-proof enclosures.
Authors
Scott-LW; Hudson-AJ
Source
Pittsburgh, PA: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, RI 9410, 1992 Jan; :1-9
Abstract
The performance of RETIMET metal foam as a flame arrester on explosion-proof enclosures was investigated by the U.S. Bureau of Mines both in laboratory tests and at the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration's (MSHA's) approval and certification center, Triadelphia, West Virginia. The objective of this research was to develop a permissible pressure vent for use on lightweight, vented, explosion- proof enclosures. In laboratory tests, four grades of RETIMET, a stainless steel foam material, were evaluated: 45 NC-7, 45 NC-13, 80 NC-7, and 80 NC-13. Explosive gas mixtures were prepared by a dynamic flow system. Ignition was by a low-voltage arc. Each grade of retimet metal foam successfully arrested the flame front in all methane-air tests. To evaluate RETIMET metal foam on large, commercial-size enclosures, a multicompartmented enclosure was designed and tested in MSHA's explosion gallery in Triadelphia, West Virginia. Extensive explosion testing revealed that a minimum vent-area-to- enclosure-volume ratio of 11.33 in2/ft3 is required to keep internal pressure rises below 3 psig. The retimet metal foam functioned satisfactorily in all tests as evidenced by the absence of external ignitions.
Keywords
Mining-industry; Explosive-hazards; Fire-retardants; Fire-extinguishing-agents; Underground-mining; Ventilation; Engineering-controls; Control-technology; Mine-fires; Safety-engineering; Safety-equipment
Document Type
IH; Report of Investigations
NTIS Accession No.
PB92-201029
Source Name
Pittsburgh, PA: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, RI 9410
