Prevention and suppression of self-propelled grain combine fires
Abstract
The occurrence of an accidental fire on a self-propelled grain combine can cause large financial losses through property damage and costs associated with machine downtime during the critical harvest season. The purpose of this research was to examine the nature and magnitude of these losses, and to develop specific research-based fire prevention recommendations as well as extinguisher/extinguisher system selection and use criteria based on full-scale fire tests and the use of a mathematical fire model. Fire reports from approximately 122 Indiana combine fires were analyzed, including 50 in which in-depth information was collected from the fire victim. An additional 3,655 combine and tractor fire reports were analyzed to provide additional information. The primary causes were electrical malfunctions, exhaust heat, and frictional heat. The two combustible substances most commonly involved were found to be liquid engine fuel and crop residue. Fire prevention recommendations for combine designers and the end users of these machines were developed from this analysis of actual fire cases. Based on the information obtained in early phases of the study, and from work completed in other research, a fire model, capable of simulating the combine fire phenomenon was developed. This model was used in the evaluation and testing of an ABC dry chemical and a halon 1211 extinguishing system, tested on an International Harvester 1460 combine in an effort to develop specific recommendations regarding fire protection device selection. Both estinguishing agents performed well under a variety of test conditions, and limitations of the fire extinguishing systems were defined. The fire model's results accurately predicted the results of the full-scale testing in terms of temperature variations and flame height. Extended pre-burn periods were found to be detrimental to the extinguishing process. It was also found that air movement caused by the engine during operation had adverse effects on the fire detection and extinguishing process. The extinguisher tests resulted in specific recommendations being developed related to extinguisher and extinguishing system selection and use.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Field, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Agricultural engineering
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