[TheForge] Re: Spontanious Combustioninsubject

[Ralph Sproul]

I believe your on the right tangent with this Mike.  In a woodshop the
sawdust never ignites on the floor around the machines - but at a
sawmill....you'll watch the pressure of a pile steam the sawdust and can
cause this combustion process as well with wood. 

My take on it is it's moisture, pressure, and kind of coal - I doubt that
our insignificant amounts around a shop could ever amount to much.

Ralph

-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Mike Spencer
Sent: Friday, September 08, 2006 12:01 AM
To: theforge at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [TheForge] Re: Spontanious Combustioninsubject


> If coal could self ignite, we would have lots of coal
> fire in the thousands of buildings that were heated
> with coal furnaces during the 20th century and before.

I think the problem lies with piles or bunkers that are big enuough to
insulate themselves and hold the heat in.  From some hurried reading
on the net, it seems like a ton or two stored in a cool, dry cellar or
shed is the least likely case to cause a fire.  Fifty or a hundred
tons in a deep pile exposed to rain, sun and air seems to be way more
problematic. 

- Mike

-- 
Michael Spencer                  Nova Scotia, Canada       .~. 
                                                           /V\ 
mspencer at tallships.ca                                     /( )\
http://home.tallships.ca/mspencer/                        ^^-^^
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