Language selection

Government of Canada / Gouvernement du Canada

Search

Mechanism of burning of fully-developed compartment fires

From National Research Council Canada

Download
  1. (PDF, 1.2 MiB)
DOIResolve DOI: https://doi.org/10.4224/40001768
AuthorSearch for: 1
Affiliation
  1. National Research Council of Canada
FormatText, Article
SubjectFire; pyrolysis; fire; ventilation; air flow; oxidizers; rooms
Abstract
It has been widely believed that in ventilation-controlled building fires a shortage of air limits the rate of burning. This concept is critically examined and proved untenable. Other possible mechanisms by which the flow rate of air into a compartment may control the rate of burning ( pyrolysis) of cellulosic fuel are examined and a plausible model presented. It is suggested that oxidation of surface char is the link by which the rate of pyrolysis is related to the rate of entry of air. The proposed model provides conclusions compatible with present knowledge of both ventilation-controlled and fuel-surface-controlled fires. It is emphasized, in conclusion, that the model is probably not applicable to compartments in which the fuel consists predominantly of non-charring plastics.
Publication date
PublisherNational Research Council of Canada. Division of Building Research
Series
  • Paper (National Research Council of Canada. Division of Building Research), no. DBR-P-777 (1978).
Reprint of
NoteReprinted from: Combustion and Flame, v. 31, no. 1, 1978, p. 265-273. ISSN: 0010-2180. DOI: 10.1016/0010-2180(78)90139-6
LanguageEnglish
Peer reviewedYes
NRC numberNRCC 16722
NRC-IRC-2851
NPARC number20375010
Export citationExport as RIS
Report a correctionReport a correction (opens in a new tab)
Record identifierda59c99e-b492-48f3-b564-98ba22d9577b
Record created2012-07-23
Record modified2022-09-21
Date modified: