On the process of flame spreading over surface of plastic fuels in an oxidizing atmosphere

Abstract

A general theory of flame spreading over the surface of solid or liquid fuels in an oxidizing atmosphere is developed in the present work. The model of the process considers heating of the fuel ahead of the flame, fuel vaporization and mixing with the gaseous oxidizer and flame propagation through this combustible mixture. The flame spreading velocity results from the balance of all these processes. This theory is of a general type and may be applied to many kinds of flame spreading processes. However, the work has been directed to the case of flame spreading over the surface of plastic fuels in nitrogen-oxygen mixtures. The model of the process is solved by approximate analytical methods and an experimental investigation is also carried out. Theoretical and experimental results are obtained and compared, showing the influence of initial fuel temperature, pressure and mixture composition.