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Experimental study of flame spread on conveyor belts in a small-scale tunnel.

Yuan L; Litton CD

Fire and Materials 2007 -10th International Conference, January 29-31, 2007, San Francisco, California. London: Interscience Communications, 2007 Feb; :1-10

20031658

This paper presents experimental results for conveyor belt flame spread from tests conducted in a small-scale tunnel. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of belt type, ventilation velocity, belt surface-to-roof distance and ignition source power on the flame spread properties. The tunnel used was 4.9 m long by 0.46 m square with the ventilation velocity ranging from 0.7 to 3.2 m/s. The ignition source was an impinged methane jet burner with heat output ranging from 7 to 21 kW. The belts tested included non-fire resistant rubber belts, fire-resistant rubber belts, fire-resistant neoprene belt and fire resistant PVC belt with belt samples measuring 0.23 m wide by 2.5 m long. Experimental results show that with a ventilation velocity of 1.02 m/s all conveyor belts could be ignited, and that with sufficient ignition source power, flames spread the full length of the belt sample. The data showed a coupling effect of the ventilation air velocity and the belt surface-to-roof distance on the flame spread rate. For instance, flames could not spread with a ventilation velocity higher than 1.52 m/s and a surface-to-roof distance of 0.22 m. The use of the measured CO/CO2 ratio as an indicator of combustion stoichiometry is also discussed.

Mining-industry; Mining-equipment; Fire-hazards; Fire-prevention; Fire-resistant-materials

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Pittsburgh Research Laboratory, 626 Cochrans Mill Road, P.O. Box 18070, Pittsburgh, PA 15236, USA

20070201

Conference/Symposia Proceedings

2007

PRL

Fire and Materials 2007 -10th International Conference, January 29-31, 2007, San Francisco, California.

PA