NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY TIRUCHIRAPPALLI

END SEMESTER EXAMINATION – JAN – 2021 SESSION

DEPARTMENT : Mechanical Engineering

DATE & TIME OF EXAM : 18/05/2021 & 11.00 AM
SUB CODE : ME656 DURATION: 120 Minutes
FACULTY NAME : Dr. S. Vedharaj
Note to Student:
1. Make sure the ‘Declaration and statement of authorship’ is uploaded along with the
answer sheet as cover sheet (First Sheet)
2. TIME MANAGEMENT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY
3. Use A4 sheets for answering all the questions and number the pages
4. All the answers should be handwritten.
5. Mention your Roll number in all the pages at the top right corner. Pages without your Roll
Number will not be considered for evaluation.
6. Arrange the scanned pages in sequential order and upload it as a single pdf file.
7. If any details are missing/required, the students can make suitable assumption with
proper justification.

Answer all the Questions: Max. Marks: 30

1. Consider that you have been appointed as a fire safety engineer and you need to design
the fire safety system and protocols for paper industry which produces paper of different
grades. (Processes involved in Paper industry – wood (Lignocellulosic material) is
broken down to small chips –chips are processed to remove the lignin content and extract
pulp – pulp is washed and sent through the paper machine – Paper is produced and
stored for transportation). Based on your understanding, answer the following questions.
(a) What are the fire protection system that can be integrated in this industry? Justify
your suggestion.
(b) How the workers are trained to follow the safety protocols in an industry?
(c) Calculate the fire load associated with raw material (100 Sq. m) and delivery section
(50 Sq. m), if the industry utilizes 10 tonne of wood per day with a storage capacity of 25
tonnes and produces 5 tonnes of paper per day which is being dispatched on daily basis.
(Calorific value of wood and paper can be taken as 3500 and 3200 kJ/kg, respectively).
(d) What type of structural components are preferred in raw material and delivery section
of this industry?

2. (a) What are the different elements of fire?

(b) List down the factors which influences the flash and fire point of a flammable liquid
(c) Briefly explain the different steps involved in burning a solid fuel
(d) What is meant by fire retardant material? Give some examples of it.
(e) What is air fuel ratio at which ignition energy requirement is minimum for methane?
Why it is minimum at that point?
(f) What is the difference between BLEVE and UCVE?

3. (a) What are the different types of commercial fire extinguisher? Also mention the fire
extinguisher which is suitable for handling electrical fire with proper justification
(b) Give a brief outline about the foam type fire extinguisher and explain the different
means to generate the pressure inside the extinguisher with a neat sketch
 NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY TIRUCHIRAPPALLI
END SEMESTER EXAMINATION – JAN – 2021 SESSION

4. (a) Briefly explain the operating principle of the conventional smoke detectors
(b) Give a brief note of optical beam detector and how it is different from conventional
smoke detectors

5. (a) What is the difference between wet and dry pipe sprinkler system?
(b) Define expansion rate and explain different foaming agent based on the expansion
rate
(c) What are the different types of CO sensors used in conjunction with smoke alarms?
(d) List down the merits and demerits of a Deluge type sprinkler system
(e) What are the components of a fire alarm system?

6. (a) List down the fire suppression systems that are most suited for places where human
beings are working, free from cleaning and leaves no residue.
(b) Explain any one such type of suppression system with a neat sketch. List the different
components associated with it and its purpose

7. (a) What is the difference between detonation and deflagration?

(b) Give a brief note on the flame arrestor and its types
(c) How effective is the explosion venting system? Explain the different types of explosion
venting system