THERMAL SCIENCE
International Scientific Journal
EXPERIMENTAL AND SCALE UP STUDY OF THE FLAME SPREAD OVER THE PMMA SHEETS
ABSTRACT
To explore the flame spread mechanisms over the solid fuel sheets, downward flame spread over vertical polymethylmethacrylate sheets with thicknesses from 1.75 to 5.75 mm have been examined in the quiescent environment. The dependence of the flame spread rate on the thickness of sheets is obtained by one-dimensional heat transfer model. An equation for the flame spread rate based on the thermal properties and the thickness of the sheet by scale up method is derived from this model. During combustion, temperature within the gas and solid phases is measured by a fine thermocouple. The pyrolysis temperature, the length of the pyrolysis zone, the length of the preheating zone, and the flame temperature are determined from the experimental data. Mathematical analysis has yielded realistic results. This model provides a useful formula to predict the rate of flame spread over any thin solid fuel.
KEYWORDS
PAPER SUBMITTED: 2008-10-19
PAPER REVISED: 2008-10-29
PAPER ACCEPTED: 2009-01-01
THERMAL SCIENCE YEAR
2009, VOLUME
13, ISSUE
Issue 1, PAGES [79 - 88]
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