Opening of Explosion-Resistant Seals During Degassing After Mine Fire Suppression

Objective. The aim of the study is to develop a technical solution for the safe and simple opening of seals based on the development of a methodology for remotely opening the lids of a slot pipe in an explosion-resistant seal after fire suppression using special manual devices. Method. A significant disadvantage of slotted pipes in the jumper is the inability to remotely open the cover. This creates additional aerodynamic resistance to the air flow and worsens the ventilation conditions of the isolated area. Therefore, for operational regulation of the amount of air, it is necessary to provide remote and simple control of the covers in the sections of slotted pipes. To do this, it is necessary to develop a method for safely and easily opening the covers using special manual winches for explosive accidents, which then escalate into a fire. Results. It is known that there are certain methods for actively or passively extinguishing mine fires. Underground fire isolation is used as an independent method of extinguishing only when active firefighting measures fail to produce positive results. The main danger in isolating a fire zone is the possibility of a secondary explosion of combustible gases accumulated in the confined space. Therefore, passive fire suppression involves isolating the fire. For this purpose, explosion-resistant gypsum seals are constructed in advance. In this case, conducting mining operations near emergency zones is a highly dangerous and complex technological process. However, a significant drawback of known slot pipe designs is the inability to fully open the lid remotely if the force required to open the lid exceeds the pressure of the ventilation airflow on the inner surface of the lid. In reality, as the lid of the slot pipe opens, the airflow through the passage hole of the pipe increases, while the airflow pressure on the lid decreases. This article proposes a method for using a manual winch to remotely regulate the position of the damper (lid) in the main section of the slot pipe during mine fire suppression, which is protected by a Ukrainian patent. Scientific Novelty. A new technical solution is proposed for using manual winches to remotely regulate the position of the damper (lid) in the main section of the slot pipe. This technical solution allows for the remote full opening, closing, or fixing of the slot pipe lid in any position. The advantages of the new method for remotely opening or closing the slot pipe lid are demonstrated. Practical Significance. The developed solution underwent industrial testing during the suppression of a mine fire at the «Heroes of Cosmos» Mine, where slot pipe lids were installed in 10 explosion-proof seals. As a result, the high efficiency and ease of operation of this method were confirmed.