The effect of surface radiation on flame spread in a quiescent, microgravity environment
- Dept. of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, Mississippi State Univ., MS (US)
In most theories of laminar flame spread over solid combustibles, radiation is neglected. However, when gas motion is completely absent, which may occur in the quiescent, microgravity environment of a spacecraft; the importance of radiation compared to convection is enhanced. The authors develop a theoretical model of flame spread over a thin solid fuel into an opposing flow of oxidizer, the opposing flow being present in the quiescent environment in flame-fixed coordinates, including the effects of radiative heat transfer from the fuel surface. Numerical solutions to the conservation equations in the gas and the solid phase and describe the spreading flame are presented for a variety of ambient conditions and surface emittances. When surface radiation is significant the solid surface acts as a heat sink, causing the flame to cool, shrink in size, and spread more slowly. Better agreement with experiment for net heat transfer to the surface is obtained when surface radiation is included. For low ambient oxygen levels, radiative effects lead to flame extinction. A radiation/conduction parameter is identified that adequately describes the importance of surface radiation.
- OSTI ID:
- 5641708
- Journal Information:
- Combustion and Flame; (USA), Journal Name: Combustion and Flame; (USA) Vol. 84:1 and 2; ISSN 0010-2180; ISSN CBFMA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Heat transfer to a thin solid combustible in flame spreading at microgravity
Flame spread in an opposed turbulent flow