Gorniczy Agregat Gasniczy
Encyclopedia
The Górniczy Agregat Gaśniczy (GAG) is a jet engine inertisation unit developed for use in mines, controlling and suppressing coal seam fires and neutralising firedamp
situations. The unit was designed in Poland in the 1970s, its name roughly translates as "Mine Fire Suppression Apparatus". A GAG 3A unit was developed by the Queensland Mines Rescue Service, in association with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
(CSIRO). GAG units have been used in Australia since 1998.
. The "GAG" unit from Holland is called Steamexfire
.
, where they successfully extinguished a 660-ft deep, two-month old fire at Loveridge Mine, after ten days of continuous use. Queensland's unit was also transported to New Zealand in 2010 for use after the Pike River Mine disaster
.
Firedamp
Firedamp is a flammable gas found in coal mines. It is the name given to a number of flammable gases, especially methane. It is particularly commonly found in areas where the coal is bituminous...
situations. The unit was designed in Poland in the 1970s, its name roughly translates as "Mine Fire Suppression Apparatus". A GAG 3A unit was developed by the Queensland Mines Rescue Service, in association with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation is the national government body for scientific research in Australia...
(CSIRO). GAG units have been used in Australia since 1998.
Mechanism
The GAG unit emits carbon dioxide, nitrogen and water vapour. The gases lower the oxygen levels, suppressing fires, and forcing methane out of the mine. A unit is capable of pumping a volume of 25 m3/s, creating levels of less than 1% oxygen. When fully assembled, the unit is 12 metres long and weighs 2.5 tonnes. As of 2010, there were only three GAG units in the world – in Australia, Holland and the Ukraine. The "GAG" unit from Holland is called Steamexfire
Steamexfire
The Steamexfire is a high flow inert gas generator -Principle:The Steamexfire is driven by a jet engine, in which air is compressed into a combustion chamber where fuel is injected. The flammable mixture of fuel and air is ignited by a sparkplug, and the gases expand as a result of the combustion...
.
Notable usage
GAG units have been used in Australia, most notably in 2000 at the Blair Athol Mine, Queensland, where it extinguished a 54-year old coal fire. In 2003, a team from the Queensland Mine Rescue Service took a unit to West VirginiaWest Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, where they successfully extinguished a 660-ft deep, two-month old fire at Loveridge Mine, after ten days of continuous use. Queensland's unit was also transported to New Zealand in 2010 for use after the Pike River Mine disaster
Pike River Mine disaster
The Pike River Mine disaster was a coal mining accident that began on 19 November 2010 in the Pike River Mine, northeast of Greymouth, in the West Coast Region of New Zealand's South Island. A first explosion occurred in the mine at approximately 3:44 pm . At the time of the explosion 31...
.