Flame spread behavior characterization of discrete fuel array under a forced flow

Giovanni Di Cristina; Nicholas Skowronski; Albert Simeoni; Ali S. Rangwala; Seong-kyun Im

doi:10.1016/j.proci.2020.05.035

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Flame spread behavior characterization of discrete fuel array under a forced flow

Formally Refereed

Authors:

Giovanni Di Cristina, Nicholas Skowronski, Albert Simeoni, Ali S. Rangwala, Seong-kyun Im

Year:

2021

Type:

Scientific Journal

Station:

Northern Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proci.2020.05.035

Source:

Proceedings of the Combustion Institute

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Abstract

The forced flow driven flame spread behavior along an array of discrete wooden fuel elements was ex- perimentally investigated, which could be an important step to understanding the flow-flame interactions that govern fire spread. Fuel arrays with fiv e different spacings (0.75, 0.875. 1.00, 1.125, and 1.25 cm) were subject to flow speeds ranging from 2.2 to 4.3 m/s at approximately 0.2 m/s intervals. For spacing-flow speed conditions tested in the current study, the flame spread behavior was categorized into three different regimes, continuous, discrete, and quenching, and the regimes were presented in a flammability map. Visual analysis of top and side view video data were used to describe the changing flame behavior and increasing discretiza- tion of the overall flame structure as the flow speed increases. An analysis of the fluid mechanics and heat transfer conditions revealed a correlation between the Stanton number (St), the Damkohler number (Da), and the onset of flame instabilities and quenching.

Keywords

Flame spread, Quenching, Wood combustion, Flow-flame interaction, Wind-driven fire

Citation

Di Cristina, Giovanni; Skowronski, Nicholas S.; Simeoni, Albert; Rangwala, Ali S.; Im, Seong-kyun. 2021. Flame spread behavior characterization of discrete fuel array under a forced flow. Proceedings of the Combustion Institute. 38(3): 5109-5117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proci.2020.05.035.