Aerosol characterization of a smoldering source

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1982 · Aerosol Sci. Technol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5360061

Mulholland, G; Ohlemiller, T J

The aerosol emitted by a moderately large smoldering combustion source (16 cm in diameter) has been characterized in detail. The fuel is a permeable bed of cellulosic insulation (wood fibers) receiving its primary air supply by flow up from the bottom of the bed while the smolder wave propagates downward. The mass mean particle size of the aerosol is 2-3 ..mu..m; this shows no clear trend with smolder wave depth in the bed or with air flow velocity. The large average particle size is shown to imply that, compared to punk smoke, the present aerosol requires a sevenfold greater concentration to trigger an ionization detector. Coagulation of the aerosol in the plume above the source is shown to be minimal, but substantial coagulation can occur within the source. The apparent fractional conversion of gasified mass (60-75% of the fuel) to aerosol mass decreases with smolder wave depth in the bed and with decreasing air flow rate. The mass and number flow rate of the aerosol show these same trends. The decreasing aerosol emissions with wave depth or air flow rate are plausibly explained by filtration effects in the smolder bed.

• Research Organization: National Bureau of Standards, Washington, DC
• OSTI ID: 5360061
• Journal Information: Aerosol Sci. Technol.; (United States), Vol. 1:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
09 BIOMASS FUELS
AEROSOLS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
WOOD
COMBUSTION
PARTICLE SIZE
AIR FLOW
CELLULOSE
FIBERS
FLOCCULATION
FLOW RATE
IONIZATION
PLUMES
POLLUTION SOURCES
SMOKES
VELOCITY
WOOD WASTES
CARBOHYDRATES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
FLUID FLOW
GAS FLOW
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
POLYSACCHARIDES
PRECIPITATION
RESIDUES
SACCHARIDES
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SIZE
SOLID WASTES
SOLS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
WASTES
500200* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
090400 - Solid Waste & Wood Fuels- (-1989)