- Author
- Litton, C. D. | Conti, R. S. | Tabacchi, J. G. | Grace, R.
- Title
- Evaluation of a Nitric-Oxide-Compensated Carbon Monoxide Fire Sensor.
- Coporate
- Bureau of Mines, Pittsburgh, PA
- Report
- IC 9339, 1993, 14 p.
- Distribution
- Available from National Technical Information Service
- Keywords
- mine fires | nitric oxide | carbon monoxide | sensors | fire detectors | coal mines | diesel exhaust
- Abstract
- This U. S. Bureau of Mines report describes the results of two large-scale tests conducted to evaluate a prototype nitric oxide (NO)-compensated carbon monoxide (CO) fire sensor, developed by Carnegie Mellon Research Institute (CMRI). In the tests, small coal fires were allowed to develop in the presence of diesel exhaust at relatively low ventilation airflows. These tests compared the response of the CMRI fire sensor with that of other fire sensors, including the Bureau's diesel-discriminating smoke detector. During the tests, CO, NO, and smoke levels were continuously monitored in order to determine the sensor alarm times and gas levels as the fire developed. The data indicted that the NO-compensated CO fire sensor was capable of suppressing the CO produced by a diesel engine and that the sensor responded reliably to the CO produced from the test fires. The tests also showed that the Bureau's diesel-discriminating smoke detector alarmed earlier than the prototype NO-comprnsated CO fire sensor.