BibTex format
@inproceedings{Putzeys:2006,
author = {Putzeys, OM and Rein, G and Fernandez-Pello, AC and Urban, DL},
pages = {13747--13755},
title = {Piloted ignition to flaming in smoldering polyurethane foam},
year = {2006}
}
Citation
RIS format (EndNote, RefMan)
TY - CPAPER
AB - Experimental results are presented on the piloted transition from smoldering to flaming in flexible polyurethane foam. The experiments are conducted with small parallelepiped samples vertically placed in a wind tunnel. Three of the sample lateral-sides are insulated and the fourth side is exposed to an upward oxidizer flow and to a variable radiant flux. Thermocouples placed along the sample centerline allow monitoring of the smolder temperatures and calculation of the smolder velocity. The results show that the piloted transition from smoldering to flaming is possible under a wider range of external conditions than the spontaneous transition from smoldering to flaming. It is found that the smolder velocity and peak smolder temperature, which are strongly affected by the oxygen mole fraction and radiant heat flux, are strongly correlated to the ignition to flaming event, in that there are minimum values of these parameters for ignition to take place. The minimum smolder velocity and temperature for ignition are found to be approximately 0.185 mm/s, and 363°C, respectively. The existence of a minimum smolder velocity for ignition supports the concept of a gaseous mixture reaching a lean flammability limit as the criteria for ignition to flaming, because the pyrolysate mass production rate is proportional to the smolder velocity. The critical mass production rate of smolder gaseous products is calculated from the minimum smolder velocity to be approximately 7.35 mg/s. A one-step Arrheniustype reaction proposed for the solid-to-gas conversion in smoldering helps explain the relationship between the peak smolder temperature and the pyrolysate mass production, and the observed effects of smolder temperature on the piloted ignition.
AU - Putzeys,OM
AU - Rein,G
AU - Fernandez-Pello,AC
AU - Urban,DL
EP - 13755
PY - 2006///
SP - 13747
TI - Piloted ignition to flaming in smoldering polyurethane foam
ER -
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