Spontaneous Combustion in Piles with Comminuted Wood Fuel: Fid-Bau Portal

Spontaneous Combustion in Piles with Comminuted Wood Fuel

T. Thoernqvist

This report was prepared in order to summarize experiences of thirteen fires breaking out in piles of comminuted wood fuel. The method used was to interview by telephone representatives of the companies involved in order to obtain an opinion on the size of the spontaneously combusted piles and the composition of the material in the pile as well as the expenses involved as a result of the fire. In addition, the reason for the spontaneous self-ignition has also been analysed. The fuel volume in the thirteen piles which combusted during 1986/ 87 varied between 3000 and 93000 m/sup 3/. The fires caused fuel losses ranging between 30 and 48000 m/sup 3/ in the different piles. In six of the piles the losses ranged between 2500 and 6000 m/sup 3/ wood fuel. The costs involved varied between 6000 SEK and 5.3 MSEK. In nine of the fires the costs were in the range from 100000 to 850000 SEK. The cause of the fires can probably be found in the different permeability in various parts of the piles. This assumption is supported by the fact that most of the fires originated in the border area between different assortments of wood fuel or in the border area between compacted and uncompacted fuel. In two cases the centres of the outbreaks were localized to areas containing objects. In these cases the metal has been assumed to function as a catalyst. Recommendations for storage of comminuted wood fuel are given in the report. (ERA citation 13:035994)