Citation

Fernandez-Pello C, McAllister S. J. Combust. Soc. Jpn. 2019; 61(196): 112-119.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Combustion Society of Japan)

DOI

10.20619/jcombsj.61.196_112

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Flame spread is the process by which a flame propagates over the surface of a solid fuel. Its practical interest is that is a primary mechanism for a fire to develop and grow. However, it is also of fundamental interest because the spread of a flame is a complex process involving the interaction between solid thermo-physical processes (heat transfer, thermal decomposition, gasification) and gas thermo-chemical processes (transport, mixing, chemical kinetics). As these processes are complex, simplifications are often made to gain some traction. One approach that is discussed here is to non-dimensionalize the conservation equations, evaluate the dominant terms while neglecting those less important for the situation at hand. Using this approach, simplified models for both opposed and concurrent flame spread over the surface of solid combustible materials in laboratory scale environments are derived from the concept of flame spread as a series of ignitions where the flame is both the source of heating and ignition. Our treatise concludes by discussing the application of these concepts to spread in both microgravity and porous fuel beds (wildland fires). The insight gained from such a fundamental understanding of the flame spread process can inform many aspects of large outdoor fires, be they through structures or wildland fuels.

Language: ja

Keywords

Flame spread; Microgravity; Wildland fire