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Influence of Environmental Factors on Spark Ignition Probability.

PB95264800

Publication Date	1995
Personal Author	Peterson, J. S.
Page Count	18
Abstract	In past years, the U.S. Bureau of Mines has been involved in safety research that could ultimately relate the conditions of spark testing and actual use by estimating the simple ignition probability of a circuit in question. A major problem in estimating this probability is that results show a significant variability, even though gas mixtures and electrical parameters may be closely controlled. Some researchers have suggested that the ambient environmental conditions of the testing may influence the results. A series of tests were conducted using a Spark Test Apparatus to simulate a falling electrical circuit. By independently adjusting the temperature, pressure, or relative humidity of the combustible gas mixture, multiple test environments were examined. At each ignition, a computer recorded the temperature, pressure, and relative humidity of the gas immediately prior to the explosion. These data were then used to establish the effect of the test environment on the ignition probability and to create a mathematical model of the test environment's synergistic effects. The analysis indicated that these effects were not as significant as previously expected. No general algorithm was found that could be used to predict these effects across the range of circuits tested.
Keywords	Spark ignition Safety engineering Electrodes Mine fixes Ignition current Explosions Probability Test facilities Mathematical models Electric circuits Electric sparks
Source Agency	Bureau of Mines
NTIS Subject Category	48A - Mineral Industries 81A - Combustion & Ignition
Corporate Authors	Bureau of Mines, Pittsburgh, PA. Pittsburgh Research Center.
Supplemental Notes	See also PB92-216929.
Document Type	Technical Report
Title Note	Rept. of investigations/1995.
NTIS Issue Number	199523

Influence of Environmental Factors on Spark Ignition Probability.

Influence of Environmental Factors on Spark Ignition Probability.
PB95264800

Publication Date	1995
Personal Author	Peterson, J. S.
Page Count	18
Abstract	In past years, the U.S. Bureau of Mines has been involved in safety research that could ultimately relate the conditions of spark testing and actual use by estimating the simple ignition probability of a circuit in question. A major problem in estimating this probability is that results show a significant variability, even though gas mixtures and electrical parameters may be closely controlled. Some researchers have suggested that the ambient environmental conditions of the testing may influence the results. A series of tests were conducted using a Spark Test Apparatus to simulate a falling electrical circuit. By independently adjusting the temperature, pressure, or relative humidity of the combustible gas mixture, multiple test environments were examined. At each ignition, a computer recorded the temperature, pressure, and relative humidity of the gas immediately prior to the explosion. These data were then used to establish the effect of the test environment on the ignition probability and to create a mathematical model of the test environment's synergistic effects. The analysis indicated that these effects were not as significant as previously expected. No general algorithm was found that could be used to predict these effects across the range of circuits tested.
Keywords	Spark ignition Safety engineering Electrodes Mine fixes Ignition current Explosions Probability Test facilities Mathematical models Electric circuits Electric sparks
Source Agency	Bureau of Mines
NTIS Subject Category	48A - Mineral Industries 81A - Combustion & Ignition
Corporate Authors	Bureau of Mines, Pittsburgh, PA. Pittsburgh Research Center.
Supplemental Notes	See also PB92-216929.
Document Type	Technical Report
Title Note	Rept. of investigations/1995.
NTIS Issue Number	199523