United States Department of Agriculture STANDARD TEST Forest Service PROCEDURE FOR Technology & Development Program GENERAL PURPOSE 5100—Fire Management August 1999 9951 1805—SDTDC SPARK ARRESTERS EST SERVI FOR CE D E P E A R RTMENT OF AGR IC U L T U STANDARD TEST PROCEDURE FOR GENERAL PURPOSE SPARK ARRESTERS Ralph Gonzales—Mechanical Engineer San Dimas Technology & Development Center August 1999 Information contained in this document has been developed for the guidance of employees of the Forest Service, USDA, its contractors, and cooperating Federal and State agencies. The Department of Agriculture assumes no responsibility for the interpretation or use of this information by other than its own employees. The use of trade, firm, or corporation names is for the information and convenience of the reader. Such use does not constitute an official evaluation, conclusion, recommendation, endorsement, or approval of any product or service to the exclusion of others that may be suitable. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, and marital or familial status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA Office of Communications at 202-720-2791 (voice), or 800-855-1234 (TDD). To file a complaint, write the Secretary of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250, or call 1-800-245-6340 (voice), or 800-855-1234 (TDD). USDA is an equal employment opportunity employer. 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 I. Scope ...................................................................... 1 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 II. Overview ...................................................................... 1 1234567890123456789012345TABLE 6 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 III. Hardware Setup 12345678901234567890123456 1234567890123456789012345OF 6 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 A. Stack Selection and Installation ........................... 2 12345678901234567890123456 1234567890123456789012345CONTENTS 6 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 B. Initial Orifice Plate Selection and Installation....... 3 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 C. Valve Control ....................................................... 3 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 D. Blower Motor Start-Up ......................................... 3 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 E. Signal Conditioning Panel Calibration.................... 4 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 F. Initial Back Pressure Adjustment ........................... 4 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 G. Mounting the Test Spark Arrester .......................... 4 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 H. Pretest System Adjustment................................... 4 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 IV. Preliminary Test Run...................................................... 5 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 V. Test Run ...................................................................... 5 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 VI. Cleanout Run. ................................................................ 6 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 VII. Subsequent Runs............................................................ 6 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 VIII. Low Spark Arrester Efficiencies ....................................... 6 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 IX. Screen Type Spark Arrester Test Procedure 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 A. Scope.................................................................. 7 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 B. Screen and Periphery Probe................................... 7 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 C. Effective Screen Open Area Calculations ................ 7 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 Appendixes 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 A. Abbreviated Test Procedure........................................... 11 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 B. System Symbols and Maximum (Do Not Exceed) Values .... 13 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 C. Diagrams and Parts List ................................................ 15 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 D. Preparing Test Carbon................................................... 21 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 E. Orifice Factors ............................................................. 23 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 F. Facility Certification .................................................... 25 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 G. Console Calibration Check............................................. 31 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456 STANDARD TEST PROCEDURE FOR GENERAL PURPOSE SPARK ARRESTERS I. SCOPE may break apart the particles to a size small enough to eliminate fire This test procedure establishes ignition potential. A spark arrester can either be an add-on device, or equipment and procedures for an integral part of the exhaust system. The challenge for the spark testing spark arresters used on arrester manufacturer is to design an arrester that effectively traps or medium size, single-position pulverizes the solid particles without restricting the flow of exhaust internal combustion engines used gasses such that the engine performance is adversely affected. in proximity to grass, brush, timber and similar cellulose material Spark arresters are tested for their effectiveness by introducing in accordance with Forest Service special carbon particles (simulated sparks) while air (simulated Standard 5100-1c, Spark Arresters exhaust gas) is flowing through the device. The effectiveness is for Internal Combustion Engines. quantified simply by the ratio of particles trapped or pulverized by The document also includes special the arrester to those introduced during the test. This test is performed requirements for screen type at several flow rates to simulate a normal range of engine speeds. To devices. The procedure outlined accomplish this, the test apparatus basically consists of a blower to in the text is based on equipment supply the air flow, valves and instruments to control and measure used in the spark arrester laboratory the flow of air, a particle injection system, and a means to collect, maintained by the USDA Forest separate, and weigh the particles that pass through the spark arrester. Service, San Dimas Technology and Development Center. The test chamber is primarily the joining of two 42-inch (1.07 m) diameter cylinders. The vertical cylinder is used for structural Spark arresters qualified to the support and to house an inlet air plenum. The vertical cylinder also Forest Service standard are listed serves as one of two outlet air ducts. The horizontal cylinder is in the Spark Arrester Guide Volume approximately 13 feet (4 m) long and has access doors on both ends. 1, General Purpose and The horizontal cylinder serves as the main test chamber. The spark Locomotive. This guide is to be arrester is mounted in the test chamber in a position specified by the used by field personnel to inspect manufacturer. Stacks and adapters are used to insure proper mounting. internal combustion