FIRE IN MINE

By: Group 7

MEMBERS OF GROUP:
ADVENTIUS RONALD PALISU

D62113004

KSATRIA SURAHMAT RAUF

D62113005

YUNI WULAN AGRIANI

D62113014

ADY KURNIAWAN

D62113315

FIRES IN MINE MAY BE DIVIDED TWO TYPES

Open fires caused as a result of ignition of a combustible

material
Fires resulting from spontaneous combustion of coal
and sulfhide ore

OPEN FIRES
Combustible material
The combustible material encountered underground are as follows
Methane
PVC and other similar materials( belts,brattice cloth, insulation
on cables, tyres)
Flammable fluids and greases (hydraulic oils, lubricans)
Others (paper, rags)

POTENTIAL SOURCES OF HEAT FOR FIRES

Heat can be generated by:
Conversion of mechanical energy
Conversion of electrical energy
Chemical reaction

FIRE EXTINGUISHING AGENTS

Water
Foam
Carbon dioxide
Dry chemical
1. Sodium bicarbonate based
2. Potassium bicarbonate based

3. Monommonium phosphate

FIRE EXTINGUISHING EQUIMENT

Portable Fires extinguishers

Fixed Fire extinguishing systems

UNDERGROUND REPAIR AND REFUELLING BASE

a.
b.

Underground fuel storage area fire

protection.
Underground fuel transfer area fire
protection (after Pomroy, 1977)
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SHAFT AND SHAFT STATION AREAS

PLAN VIEW OF THE FIRE PROTECTION SHAFT

AND SHAFT STATION AREAS

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THE EFFECTS OF A LARGE (SEVERE) OPEN MINE

FIRE IN MINE ROADWAYS (AFTER WILLET, 1973)

(a) Level road negligible (assuming

level downwind)
(b) Dipping road opposes ventilation
(c) Rising road assists ventilation.

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EFFECT OF A SEVERE FIRE IN A DIPPING

ROADWAY (AFTER WILLET, 1973)

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EFFECT OF A SEVERE FIRE ON A DESCENSIONALLY

VENTILATED LONGWALL FACE (AFTER WILLET, 1973)

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EXTINGUISHING A FIRE
to extinguish a fire in its incipient stage, almost any method
is effective. the most common is a shovel full of rock dust
and the use of multipurpose dry chemical from a fire
extinguisher directed at the fire.

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EX SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION OF COAL

TINGUISHING A FIRE
1.

Evaluation of the potential of coal for spontaneous combustion.

a.
b.

c.
d.

2.

Oxygen absorption
heating rate/crossing-point temperature
adiabatic calorimetry
Isothermal calorimetry

Factors contributing to spontaneous combustion

a.

b.
c.
d.
e.

Coal characteristic
Airflow rate
Geological factors
Mining practice
Incubation period

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9.2.3 PREVENTION OF
SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION
1. Mining layout
2. Air leakage
3. Inhibitors
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9.2.4 DETECTION OF SPONTANEOUS

COMBUSTION

1. Haze formed when air heated by an

incipient fire meets colder air
2. Sweating or condensation in the roof and
exposed surface due to the moisture
formed by combustion
3. Fire stink with a characteristic smell,
variously described as musty.
4. Smoke in airways and
5. Fire
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9.2.4 DETECTION OF SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION

Carbon monoxide/oxygen deficiency ratio (Grahams
ratio)

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9.2.4 DETECTION OF SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION

typical values of the carbon monoxide / oxygen
deficiency ratio for underground coal mines are
given below
0,4 or less normal value
0,5 neccesity for a thorough check-up
1,0 heating is almost certain
2,0 heating is serious, with or without the
presense of active fire
3,0 active fire surely exists
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9.2.4 DETECTION OF SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION

Continuous monitoring of carbon monoxide in mine air

Automatic minitoring for carbon monoxide is done in
mines susceptible to heating. automatic monitoring also
permits the determination of carbon monoxide trend
and absolute values using microprocessors without the
need to relate them oxygen deficiency.
The infra-red analyser is one type of analyser, available
for continious monitoring of carbon monoxide in the air.
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INJECTION OF INERT GASES

Inert gases such as carbon dioxide gases produced after
complete combustion and nitrogen have all been used to fight
mine fires. Carbon dioxide is delivered to the site in liquid
form and is then vapourised. this method has not been used to
any significant extent for the following reason:
1.
2.
3.

Carbon dioxide is not available in large quantities

The permissible maximum carbon dioxide content of 1%
by volume would be very rapidly reached and exceeded
on the return side of the fire
Carbon dioxide is absorbed by rock

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9.3 SPONTANEOUS OXIDATION AND COMBASTION

OF SULPHIDE IN UNDERGROUND MINES
Before starting to mine, a thorough assesstment of a
potentially reactive ore body should be carried out.
Important considerations include the geological
structures, composition of ground waters and the
chemical behavior of the sulphide minerals

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9.3 SPONTANEOUS OXIDATION AND COMBASTION

OF SULPHIDE IN UNDERGROUND MINES
At mount isa mines, estimated volume flow rate
requrements for each particular mining method are
given below

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9.4 SEALING OFF FIRES UNDERGROUND

When more direct methods of combatting a fire or
heating underground have proved unsuccessful or are
considered impractiable on unsafe, it is necessary to
seal off the area from the rest of the mine.

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The build up of methane percentage in the a ir depends upon the cross sectional area
of the pipe, the percentage of gas in the pipe and the cross sectional area of the
roadway, and can be calculated using the following relationship

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9.4.1. MINIMUM FLOW RATE OF AIR REQUIRED AT

THE SEAT OF FIRE.
The minimum flow rate of air required over a fire zone must be calculated using triangle.
However, sometimes a quick calculation can be made using the following equation:

Where:

Qam

= Minumum air volume flow rate, m3/minute

LL

= Lower limit explosibility of the mixture flowing over the seat of the fire as determined by analysis, %.

cCH
4

= initial concentration of inflammable

Qg

= Volume flow rate of inflammable

Cg

= sum total of the percentage of the inflammbel gases

Qa

= Volume flow rate of air over the fire zone, m3/minute.

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9.4.2 PRESSURE BALANCING ACROSS STOPPINGS

When an area is scaled by two or more stoppings, the pressureson the outer faces of
each stopping should, as far as is practicable, bebalanced to prevent circulation of air
through the scaled area, particularlypast the seal of the fire.The pressures on the
stoppings can be elicicnlly balanced by removingor adjusting doors in roadways
connecting the outbyc sides of thestoppings

Fig. 9.11. Methods of balancing pressures on stoppings by

pressureequalising roadways and ducts (after Willett,
1973). (a) By removingdoors in a roadway connecting the
outbye sides of the stoppings; (b) byerecting further
stoppings in the intake and return roadways outbye ofthe
open Connecting roadway; (c) by a ventilation duct. A, B,
C =stoppings; D = doors.
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9.4.3 REMOTE SEALING SYSTEMS

To overcome the risks involved in building stoppings underground, remote
sealing systems have been develoved that are capable of working at a depth of
almost 500 m.

A. layout of venture injectors for controlling chamber

air pressure.
B. layout of auxiliary fan for controlling pressure
chamber air pressure. (after Willet, 1973). A =
leakage regulating valve: B = throttle valve.l

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9.5 REMOTE SEALING SYSTEM

As the fire hazard is always present, every mine should perfect and maintain its
own rescue and fire fighting organisastion by:

(1) training rescue crew and other personnel

(2) preparing a detailed plan of action in which all workers. Super visory
officials, rescue crew and managemcn( know what they are required to do at
the time of a mine fire;
(3) providing necessary fire fighting facilities at suitable places underground as
well as providing for their care and maintenance:
(4) providing communications;
(5) pros ding copies of fIre fIghting plans a suitable places under ground and
on the surface;
(6) laying down procedures conducting fire fighting operations.
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9.5.1 TRAINING
The mine should develop a fire fighting organisation by training
personnel with special reference to matters such as fire prevention,
fire drill, sealing, procedure, ventilation control, use of different
types of extinguishing agents and methods which may be used in
the case of different classes of fires.
Personnel should be well aware of the procedures and regulations
for the checking of person leaving and entering the workings, the
first aid organization and fasilities, transportation priorities,
communication systems and steps to be adopted in case of an
emergency.
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9.5.2 PROSEDURES AFTER DETECTION OF

A FIRE
At the appearance of any sign of fire, the worker who notices
itshould inform the nearest supervisory official as soon as possible.
Ondiscovery of an open tire, the person and any others in the
vicinity of thefire should make a prompt effort lo extinguish it and
inform without delaythe nearest supervisory official. If the fire
cannot be easily and quicklyextinguished or if the Smoke from the
fire is too dense to permitinvestigation. all workers in the section
and other parts of the mine likelyto be affected by fire gases or a
possible explosion must withdraw to a safe area.

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9.5.3 FIRE FIGHTING FACILITIES

The efficiency of a mine fire fighting organisation depends on the
availability of adequate and proper fire fighting facilities at suitable
places underground as well as on their constant maintenance so
that they operate reliably at peak operating efficiency at all time. It
is advisable for large mines to appoint a safety officier responsible
for fire protection.

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9.5.4 COMMUNICATION
Every mine should have adequate communication facilities between
suitable points underground and the mine surface so that alarms can be
sent in emergencies at all times. Telephones are the simplest and
thequickest means of communication in mines. They should be provided
atthe top and bottom of evcry shaft or mine entry, at each shaft landing,
atloading Stations and on the ititake and return sides of ventilating
districts.In large mines with cxtcnsivc mine workings, it is advantageous
to set upa telephone exchange underground which is connected to key
points onthe surface and to a surface telephone exchange and a central
communication office which can he used ;is the main central office for all
operationsin case of an emergency. An emergency communication system
is invariably installed in mines which is independent of the normal
communicationsystem, which has a tendency to be jammed by incoming
and outgoingcalls during an emergancy.
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9.5.5 PLANS
At every mine there must be provided in the control and mine
rescue rooms as well as at suitable places underground a complete
set of plans and sections of the mine and tire fighting plans showing
mineventilation, water lines with diameters, hydrants and water
pressure.location of fire and hose stations, fire trucks, fire doors,
stone dustbarriers, preparatory fire stoppings, tire-proof zones,
telephones, andcompressed air, pumping. and electrical systems.

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9.6 RECOVERY OF SEALED OFF AREAS IN

MINES
The re-opening of an area which has been sealed off owing to anopen fire
or spontaneous combustion is an arduous and hazardous task. There is
no one procedure of recovery which would satisfy all conditionsand each
case has to be considered separately.The recovery of a sealed-off area
should be undertaken only whenconditions inside the area are safe for
those engaged in the recovery workand will not cause additional damage
to the mine. A certain amount oftime must clapse before the conditions
become favourable. The time ofopening of a seated-off area depends on
the following factors (Ramlu,1975).
1. Extent and intensity of fire at the time of sealing.
2. Nature of adjacent strata
3. Airtightness of stoppings and the enclosed
4. composition of the fire gases
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