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Improved Method for Extinguishing Coal Refuse Fires.

PB91227819

Publication Date	1991
Personal Author	Gross, S. S.
Page Count	138
Abstract	Coal refuse fires present environmental and personnel hazards to those living in the vicinity of the fire as well as those engaged in the reclamation efforts. The fire can also increase subsidence problems as well as prevent revegatation and reclamation of the site. Conventional efforts have been excavation and quenching; expensive, dangerous, and very often unsuccessful techniques. Water flooding has also proven unsuccessful due to the poor distribution of the water in the refuse pile. Water quickly drains from the coal refuse pile below its injection point with little or no laterial distribution. As an alternate to excavation and/or quenching, the feasibility of using water based foams to improve the distribution of water injected into a coal refuse fire was examined. Using surfactants to foam the water and gelling agents to reduce its fluidity, tests were conducted in the lab and the field. The foam still tends to follow the larger channels/openings in the pile, although above, as well as below the injection point. While the foam does improve water distribution in the pile, additional work needs to be conducted to prevent preferential channel flow and further improve distribution.
Keywords	Coal refuse Fire extinguishing agents Fire control Mine wastes Performance evaluation Experimental design Chemical compounds Foam Fire resistant coatings Fire tests Dry methods Compatibility
Source Agency	Bureau of Mines
NTIS Subject Category	68C - Solid Wastes Pollution & Control 81A - Combustion & Ignition 48A - Mineral Industries
Corporate Authors	MSA Research Corp., Pittsburgh, Pa.; Bureau of Mines, Pittsburgh, PA.
Supplemental Notes	Color illustrations reproduced in black and white. Sponsored by Bureau of Mines, Pittsburgh, PA.
Document Type	Technical Report
Title Note	Final research rept. Jun 89-Feb 91.
NTIS Issue Number	199122
Contract Number	J0398007

Improved Method for Extinguishing Coal Refuse Fires.

Improved Method for Extinguishing Coal Refuse Fires.
PB91227819

Publication Date	1991
Personal Author	Gross, S. S.
Page Count	138
Abstract	Coal refuse fires present environmental and personnel hazards to those living in the vicinity of the fire as well as those engaged in the reclamation efforts. The fire can also increase subsidence problems as well as prevent revegatation and reclamation of the site. Conventional efforts have been excavation and quenching; expensive, dangerous, and very often unsuccessful techniques. Water flooding has also proven unsuccessful due to the poor distribution of the water in the refuse pile. Water quickly drains from the coal refuse pile below its injection point with little or no laterial distribution. As an alternate to excavation and/or quenching, the feasibility of using water based foams to improve the distribution of water injected into a coal refuse fire was examined. Using surfactants to foam the water and gelling agents to reduce its fluidity, tests were conducted in the lab and the field. The foam still tends to follow the larger channels/openings in the pile, although above, as well as below the injection point. While the foam does improve water distribution in the pile, additional work needs to be conducted to prevent preferential channel flow and further improve distribution.
Keywords	Coal refuse Fire extinguishing agents Fire control Mine wastes Performance evaluation Experimental design Chemical compounds Foam Fire resistant coatings Fire tests Dry methods Compatibility
Source Agency	Bureau of Mines
NTIS Subject Category	68C - Solid Wastes Pollution & Control 81A - Combustion & Ignition 48A - Mineral Industries
Corporate Authors	MSA Research Corp., Pittsburgh, Pa.; Bureau of Mines, Pittsburgh, PA.
Supplemental Notes	Color illustrations reproduced in black and white. Sponsored by Bureau of Mines, Pittsburgh, PA.
Document Type	Technical Report
Title Note	Final research rept. Jun 89-Feb 91.
NTIS Issue Number	199122
Contract Number	J0398007