Program: [Link].
– Semester: VII
Course: Mine Disasters, Rescue and Recovery.
Session No: 10
Dealing With Underground Fire
By
Mithilesh Kumar Mishra
Disclaimer: This PPT is the property of the ICFAI University, Jharkhand and can be used only for the educational purpose of the students of the University
Title
• Introduction to the topic being covered in the
Session:
• Open fire in coal seams are one of the most
serious threats to miners as well as mines.
• Open fires can be dealt with effectively in
initial stage otherwise it becomes
uncontrollable.
• Open fire has been responsible for enormous
loss of life.
• In this Chapter we will discuss the different
methods to deal with fire, the hindrances in
dealing with fire and the remedy.
After this session the learner will be able to:
Foresee the hindrances in dealing with fire
1
and can take suitable steps to overcome it.
Save precious lives of miners and valuable
2
properties by adopting suitable methods.
Title I Learning Objectives
The Technique and methodology used for
dealing underground mine fire may be divided
broadly in two groups.
• 1) Direct Methods
• 2) Indirect Mdthods.
Title I Subtitle I Example
Direct Method
1) The direct method of fire fighting include water deluge and water sprinkler system. It
can be very effective in areas close to fixed equipment and activated by fixed sensors.
The major difficulty in fighting subsurface fire is the limited reach of water jets imposed
by the height of airways. It has been found that for spraying up to a distance of 30
meters we require a pressure of 800 to1400kPa.
2) High–expansion foam containing large volume of water based foam is a valuable
tool for fighting fire in enclosed space such as a blind gallery. The bubbles are
generated by a fan that blows air through a fabric net stretched across the diffuser. The
net is sprayed continuously with a mixture of water and foaming agent. Ammonium
lauryl sulphate foaming agent mixed with carboxyl-methyl-cellulose improves the
stability of the bubbles.
A major obstructinon is roof fall which are most likely to occur during dealing with large
mine fires.
Title I Subtitle I Example
Direct Method ( Contd...)
3).High pressure high stability nitrogen foam (HPHS) with cooling, inertizing and
inhibiting properties is effective when used in upstream of the fire location with
controlled air flow rate. This method was successfully used in a long wall panel with
chamber technology at Jhanjhra Colliery of ECL & Jitpur Colliery Of SAIL.
4). Water misting technology based on wetting of air flowing to the seat of fire through
adding water droplets of the order of 400μM or less in size to extract from the seat of fire
by evaporation with creation of an oxygen deficient environment near the seat of fire is
an added advantage. Water mist does not behave like a gaseous agent in fire
suppression. The effectiveness of a water misting system is dependent on spray
characteristics like the size distribution of the droplets, flux density, and spray dynamics
with respect to the fire scenario. Due to complex extinguishing process the relationship
between fire scenario and the characteristic of a water misting system is not well
understood to design a compatible water misting system. The efficacy of this
technology is location and capacity dependent. It has not been applied in Indian
mines as yet.
Title I Subtitle I Example
Indirect Method
Ventilation control technique have three types of effect on fire:
i)The combustion process and distribution of combustion.
ii)Direction and rate of propagation of the fire.
iii)Air flow distribution in other parts of the mines.
In controlling of air flow rate in an open ventilation circuit the probability
of shifting the environment of the fire area from oxygen rich to fuel rich is
increased due to less dissipation of convective heat. Moreover the status
of open fire is very sensitive to air velocity. Ventilation control technique
therefore should be applied judiciously in the case of complex
ventilation network.
Title I Subtitle I Example
Pressure Control Technique:
In pressure control technique airways parallel and adjacent to the fire
path is kept free from fire gases by maintaining higher atmospheric
pressure with the brattice stopping erected in crosscut to facilitate the
application of water sprays into the fire path. Devices such as parachute
stopping erected in or inflammable seal have been developed to
replace brattice cloth in such circumstances. A consequence of this
technique is that the air flow over the fire is increased to an extent that
depends upon the configuration and resistance of local air ways.
Pressure differential between the airways can also be modified by the
use of a temporary fan instead of restriction in the adjacent airways. In
this case the airflow over the fire will be reduced. The location of the
pressure developed by fan should be selected with care in order to
avoid aggravation of fire.
Title I Subtitle I Example
In many cases fire is located in remote areas in the mine and is detected
in very advance stage when the return airways is highly polluted with
hazardous gases. This necessitates the suspension of deployment of
persons due to the methane explosion hazard. In this situation two
options are adopted
i) Sealing of mine entries from surface then application of measures
for controlling fire followed by recovery of the mine.
ii) Sealing of the mine from the surface for a long period. A mine once
sealed face the problem of water logging and deterioration of roof
condition.
Title I Subtitle I Example
3. Modified Method of Ventilation Control:
In the light of deficiencies of different technique a modified method of
ventilation control was adopted in dealing with fire in ¾ mine at
surakachar colliery SECL.
In this method the sealing was done at a strategic location upstream of
fire to short-circuit the airflow adjacent to the sealing, stage wise
reduction of fan pressure and barometric pressure over the fire while
closely monitoring of status of fire followed by sealing of the fire area
underground.
Title I Subtitle I Example
