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Process
OXYGEN
FIRE
combustion
FUEL
HEAT
COMBUSTION PROCESS
A chemical reaction
FUEL: PHOTOSYNTHESIS
(storage of chemical energy)
Decay
COMBUSTION
(conversion of stored energy to thermal,
radiant, kinetic energy)
Preignition (pre-heating)
Pyrolysis
Thermal degradation of the fuel = heat divided
( ~250 355 C )
char (low temperatures = glowing)
tar (high temperatures = volatile gases = flaming)
mineral ash (inorganics)
2. IGNITION
Transition between preignition and combustion
- Low temps = charring glowing combustion
- High temps = gases flaming combustion
Ignition continued
Spontaneous ignition
Pile heating (heat liberated faster than lost to surroundings)
- chip piles: fresh chips + foliage, moisture > 20%
- pile > 1m in height
Microbial activity = respiration CO2 + H2O + HEAT
Requirements for ignition: Oxygen + formation of char
- surface oxidation of char = smoldering
- smoldering heat continuous pyrolysis (flaming)
PHASES OF COMBUSTION
3. COMBUSTION 2 types:
- Smoldering / glowing
- Flaming
Flaming combustion
Volatile gases mix with air = flames
High temperatures necessary (425-480 C)
In general, fewer emissions than smoldering fires
OXYGEN
FIRE
combustion
FUEL
HEAT
Radiation:
Transmission of heat by electromagnetic waves.
Examples of radiation:
Convection:
Transfer of heat by
movement of a gas
or liquid (air).
Hot air moves vertically
(exceptions: winds, slopes)
Examples: heating a pot of
water, smoke from a fire.
Important for pre-heating of
shrub layers and crown
canopy
What Factors
can Increase
Heat Transfer?
Wind
...bringing the
flames closer
to the fuel.