Smoldering constitutes a significant fire risk both in normal gravity and in microgravity. This space experiment has been conducted aboard the China Recoverable Satellite SJ-8 to investigate smoldering characteristics of flexible polyurethane foam with central ignition in a forced flow of oxidizer. This configuration resulted in a combination of opposed and forward flow smolder. The microgravity experiment is rather unique in that it was performed at constant pressure, and with a relatively high ambient oxygen concentration (35% by volume). The smoldering characteristics are inferred from measurements of temperature histories at several locations along the foam sample. Particularly important is the discovery that there is a transition from smoldering to flaming near the sample end in the opposed smoldering. This transition seems to be caused by strong acceleration of the smoldering reaction. The observed transition serves to initiate a vigorous forward-propagating oxidation reaction in the char left behind by the smoldering reaction. The secondary char oxidation reaction propagates through the sample and consumes most of the remaining char. In forward flow smoldering, the oxidizer depletion by the upstream opposed smolder prevents an exothermic oxidation reaction from being established in the foam until this preceding reaction is completed. Once fresh oxidizer flows in the sample, the existing conditions are sufficient for a self-sustained forward smoldering reaction to take place.


    Zugriff

    Zugriff über TIB

    Verfügbarkeit in meiner Bibliothek prüfen

    Bestellung bei Subito €


    Exportieren, teilen und zitieren



    Titel :

    Microgravity smoldering combustion of flexible polyurethane foam with central ignition


    Weitere Titelangaben:

    Schwelbrand von flexiblem Polyurethanschaum mit zentraler Entflammung unter Schwerelosigkeit


    Beteiligte:
    Wang, Shuangfeng (Autor:in) / Zhang, Xia (Autor:in)

    Erschienen in:

    Erscheinungsdatum :

    2008


    Format / Umfang :

    7 Seiten, 7 Bilder, 1 Tabelle, 18 Quellen




    Medientyp :

    Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)


    Format :

    Print


    Sprache :

    Englisch




    Piloted Ignition to Flaming in Smoldering Polyurethane Foam

    Putzeys, Olivier / Rein, Guillermo / Fernandez-Pello, A. et al. | AIAA | 2006


    Smoldering Combustion Experiments in Microgravity

    Walther, D. C. / Fernandez-Pello, A. C. / Urban, D. L. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1998


    Smoldering combustion experiments in microgravity

    Walther, David / Fernandez-Pello, A. / Urban, David | AIAA | 1998


    AIAA 2006-1131 Piloted Ignition to Flaming in Smoldering Polyurethane Foam

    Putzeys, O. M. / Rein, G. / Fernandez-Pello, A. C. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2006


    Fundamental Study of Smoldering Combustion in Microgravity

    C. Fernandez-pello / P. J. Pagni | NTIS | 1993