Gravitationally Affected Combustion PDF Download

Author: Matthew D. King
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Combustion
Languages : en
Pages : 340

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Book Description
This dissertation is an investigation into the effects of natural convection on the combustion process of a spreading flame in a gravitational environment. The flame is spreading into an opposing flow of oxidizer over a solid fuel. This is approached as a steady state problem with coordinates fixed at the tip of the flame. This investigation incorporates the use of experimental data, numerical simulations and a simplified approach to develop a better understanding of combustion. The focus of the material presented can be separated in two components: First, a well validated forced flow numerical model is used to evaluate flame structure for the natural convection configuration. A simplified approach is developed and compared to the numerical model for flame structure and flame spread rates in chapters 2 and 3. Critical parameters controlling flame spread such as pressure, fuel thickness, oxygen concentration, and strength of gravitational field are widely varied. In the thermal regime, where this simplified approach applies, comparisons between experimental data, numerical solutions and simplified approach predictions are excellent. The numerical model is also compared to experimental data outside the thermal regime including a prediction of the regression rate of the solid fuel and gas phase characteristics. Second, a hybrid two-color pyrometry technique is developed and used to analyze flame structure for experiments in a microgravity environment. Images of flame intensity are calibrated and converted into temperature profiles for various opposed flow velocities and oxygen concentration. Numerical simulations are used to demonstrate various approximate techniques and their accuracies. The experimental images are used in conjunction with the numerical simulation to determine the temperature profiles and the partial pressure of carbon dioxide. Techniques are discussed on how to improve the results for future experiments by modifying the filter bandwidth selections. Through a greater understanding of the physics and controlling mechanisms for flame spread, the ability to control fire and the establishment of comprehensive guidelines for fire safety will be realized. This dissertation is another step toward that goal.