NIOSHTIC-2 Publications Search

Underground fire detection and nuisance alarm discrimination.

Edwards JC; Franks RA; Friel GF; Lazzara CP; Opferman JJ

Coal Age 2000 Jul; :70-72

https://www.coalage.com/digital-editions/

20021297

A fire detection research program conducted at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Pittsburgh Research Laboratory (PRL) recently demonstrated the advantage of multiple fire sensors for early fire detection and nuisance alarm discrimination in underground coal mines. As an example, research has shown that an appropriate combination of smoke, CO, and metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) sensors has the capability to detect a smoldering conveyor belt fire which produces low visibility due to smoke, but CO concentrations too low for an early fire alarm. Such a sensor combination has the additional advantage of being able to distinguish a nuisance alarm event such as those produced by diesel engines or acetylene torches from mine fire products-of-combustion (POC) produced by a real fire. Research has also shown that the problem of hydrogen (H2) gas cross-interference with chemical CO sensors at battery-charging operations in diesel-emissions backgrounds can be resolved with a smoke sensor and a MOS sensor sensitive to NOx associated with diesel emissions. Other underground conditions, such as rock dust, exacerbate the problems with sensors. NIOSH has developed a neural network that takes many of these variables into account as it assesses real-time sensor data to discriminate nuisance alarms.

Fire prevention; Fire hazards; Fire protection; Coal mining; Coal miners; Underground mining; Underground miners; Miners; Mining industry; Mining equipment; Diesel emissions; Metal oxides; Semiconductors

COLAA7

20010701

Journal Article

2001

0009-9910

PRL

Coal Age

PA