The effects of wind on the flame characteristics of individual leaves

2011 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 657 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wesley J. Cole ◽  
McKaye H. Dennis ◽  
Thomas H. Fletcher ◽  
David R. Weise

Individual cuttings from five shrub species were burned over a flat-flame burner under wind conditions of 0.75–2.80 m s–1. Both live and dead cuttings were used. These included single leaves from broadleaf species as well as 3 to 5 cm-long branches from coniferous and small broadleaf species. Flame angles and flame lengths were determined by semi-automated measurements of video images. Additional data, such as times and temperatures corresponding to ignition, maximum flame height and burnout were determined using video and infrared images. Flame angles correlated linearly with wind velocity. They also correlated with the Froude number when either the flame length or flame height was used. Flame angles in individual leaf experiments were generally 50 to 70% less than flame angles derived from Froude number correlations reported in the literature for fuel-bed experiments. Although flame angles increased with fuel mass and moisture content, they were unaffected by fuel species. Flame lengths and flame heights decreased with moisture contents and wind speed but increased with mass. In most cases, samples burned with wind conditions ignited less quickly and at lower temperatures than samples burned without wind. Most samples contained moisture at the time of ignition. Results of this small-scale approach (e.g. using individual cuttings) apply to ignition of shrubs and to flame propagation in shrubs of low bulk density. This research is one of the few attempts to characterise single-leaf and small-branch combustion behaviour in wind and is crucial to the continued development of a semi-empirical shrub combustion model.

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camilo Andrés Sedano ◽  
Omar Darío López ◽  
Alexander Ladino ◽  
Felipe Muñoz

A computational model using Large Eddy Simulation (LES) for turbulence modelling was implemented, by means of the Eddy Dissipation Concept (EDC) combustion model using the fireFoam solver. A small methanol pool fire experiment was simulated in order to validate and compare the numerical results, hence trying to validate the effectiveness of the solver. A detailed convergence analysis is performed showing that a mesh of approximately two million elements is sufficient to achieve satisfactory numerical results (including chemical kinetics). A good agreement was achieved with some of the experimental and previous computational results, especially in the prediction of the flame height and the average temperature contours.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Noah T. Thompson ◽  
Phillip R. Whitworth ◽  
Konstantin I. Matveev

Unmanned boats have gained a lot of interest in the maritime community during the last decade. Most hydrodynamic platforms employed for unmanned boats are based on traditional relatively simple hulls. In the present study, small-scale hydrofoil-assisted unmanned boats (0.6–0.7 m in length and 3.5–5.5 kg in mass) have been developed and tested. Design calculations using a hydrodynamic transverse-strip engineering method with semi-empirical correlations were applied to determine suitable dimensions for hydrofoil systems. The boat hulls and hydrofoils were fabricated by laying up carbon-fiber cloth sheets on foam cores or 3-D printed profiles. The boats were instrumented with outboard propulsors and electronic equipment for operations in both remote control and autopilot modes. In addition, an in-situ thrust-measuring module was designed and installed at the hull sterns to gather thrust data at GPS-measured speeds in the range between 0 and 11 m/s. The developed boats proved to be robust platforms capable of going over 600 m distances at high speeds while autonomously following preset paths. The presented methods and results can assist engineers developing unmanned surface vehicles that utilize advanced hydrodynamic concepts.


1980 ◽  
Vol 26 (94) ◽  
pp. 189-196
Author(s):  
T. E. Lang ◽  
J.D. Dent

AbstractSmall–scale modeling of flow and impact of snow avalanches is demonstrated to be both feasible and accurate. Geometric, kinematic, and force variables are scaled correctly under equivalence of Froude number between prototype and model using sifted snow as the model fluid. Physical and computer–simulated impact processes show correspondence, so that computer modeling is demonstrated to be a viable tool in flow and impact predictions.


1996 ◽  
Vol 26 (10) ◽  
pp. 1849-1858 ◽  
Author(s):  
David R. Weise ◽  
Gregory S. Biging

The combined effects of wind velocity and percent slope on flame length and angle were measured in an open-topped, tilting wind tunnel by burning fuel beds composed of vertical birch sticks and aspen excelsior. Mean flame length ranged from 0.08 to 1.69 m; 0.25 m was the maximum observed flame length for most backing fires. Flame angle ranged from −46° to 50°. Observed flame angle and length data were compared with predictions from several models applicable to fires on a horizontal surface. Two equations based on the Froude number underestimated flame angle for most wind and slope combinations; however, the data support theory that flame angle is a function of the square root of the Froude number. Discrepancies between data and predictions were attributed to measurement difficulties and slope effects. An equation based on Byram's convection number accounted for nearly half of the observed variation in flame angle (R2 = 0.46). Byram's original equation relating fireline intensity to flame length overestimated flame length. New parameter estimates were derived from the data. Testing of observed fire behavior under a wider range of conditions and at field scale is recommended.


1992 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 115 ◽  
Author(s):  
MA Finney ◽  
RE Martin

The concept of a passive flame height sensor involves thin strings permeated with fire retardant or solder which record heights of flame contact. Both types of sensors were calibrated during 12 experimental test fires with respect to flame heights measured on video tape. Three thresholds of fire damage to string-type sensors were identified: singeing of fine string fibers, complete blackening of the string, and thorough charring or consumption. These damage thresholds were found to exceed95%, 71% and48% of all flame heights measured from video tape, respectively. 18-gauge solder melted to a height exceeding 86% of measured flame heights. Field testing of 512 sensors during prescribed burning affirmed the potential practicality of this technique for estimating flame length.


1994 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 719-727 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gilberto E. Urroz ◽  
Robert Ettema

Two principal ice-jam initiation mechanisms, namely, lodgement and gorging, were identified through ice conveyance experiments in a small-scale, curved flume of rectangular cross section. Polyethylene blocks and beads were used to simulate ice fragments. Lodgement occurred for ice fragments that were large relative to channel width, while gorging took place when ice pieces were relatively small and were transported through the channel in multilayer. Channel roughness was found to have a significant effect in helping the arching mechanism that produces lodging. Maximum ice-floe concentration before jamming was found to increase linearly with Froude number, F, when gorging was dominant, but showed little dependence on F for ice jams initiated by lodging. Experiments conducted with point bars placed at the bends indicated that ice jams were initiated mainly by beaching of floes on the point bar. Maximum ice-floe concentration also increased linearly with Froude number for the point-bar experiments. Key words: ice-covered rivers, river bends.


2017 ◽  
Vol 372 ◽  
pp. 11-20
Author(s):  
Renan Spilka Miranda ◽  
Maria Luiza Sperb Indrusiak ◽  
Felipe Roman Centeno

With the increasing demand for energy and fuels in Brazil, the storage of liquid fuels in multiple tanks is becoming much more usual, posing challenges from the point of view of fire safety. To study this type of phenomenon and to evaluate its possible causes, detecting failures such as ones in design and erection of storage systems or in detection and protection equipment, numerical simulations are performed based on real data. This work presents numerical simulations of a small-scale tank for gasoline storage, based on an experimental study reported in literature. The present research shows results related to temperature in the region adjacent to the tank on fire, fuel mass burning rate, heat release rate and average flame height. Comparisons are made between numerical and experimental results, as well as with available literature results for similar conditions. In addition to gasoline type C (which has anhydrous ethanol in its composition), also gasoline type A (anhydrous ethanol free) is considered. The results obtained for simulations with gasoline type A presented better agreement with literature data than those for gasoline type C, the differences being due to the variable composition of the type C fuel. For example, the reported fuel mass burning rate for gasoline in literature is 0.045 kg/(m2∙s), while the present simulations provided values of 0.038 kg/(m2∙s) for type C and 0.047 kg/(m2∙s) for type A.


2000 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 209-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Menon

Next-generation gas turbine and internal combustion engines are required to reduce pollutant emissions significantly and also to be fuel efficient. Accurate prediction of pollutant formation requires proper resolution of the spatio-temporal evolution of the unsteady mixing and combustion processes. Since conventional steady state methods are not able to deal with these features, methodology based on large-eddy simulations (LESs) is becoming a viable choice to study unsteady reacting flows. This paper describes a new LES methodology developed recently that has demonstrated a capability to simulate reacting turbulent flows accurately. A key feature of this new approach is the manner in which small-scale turbulent mixing and combustion processes are simulated. This feature allows proper characterization of the effects of both large-scale convection and small-scale mixing on the scalar processes, thereby providing a more accurate prediction of chemical reaction effects. LESs of high Reynolds number premixed flames in the flamelet regime and in the distributed reaction regime are used to describe the ability of the new subgrid combustion model.


2013 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 977-986 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. A. Druzhinin ◽  
L. A. Ostrovsky ◽  
S. S. Zilitinkevich

Abstract. This paper presents the results of modeling the interaction between internal waves (IWs) and turbulence using direct numerical simulation (DNS). Turbulence is excited and supported by a random forcing localized in a vertical layer separated from the pycnocline. The main attention is paid to the internal wave damping due to turbulence and comparison of the results with those obtained theoretically by using the semi-empirical approach. It is shown that the IW damping rate predicted by the theory agrees well with the DNS results when turbulence is sufficiently strong to be only weakly perturbed by the internal wave; however, the theory overestimates the damping rate of IWs for a weaker turbulence. The DNS parameters are matched to the parameters of the laboratory experiment, and an extrapolation to the oceanic scales is also provided.


Author(s):  
В.О. Чупраков ◽  
С.В. Посыпанов

Использование мобильных малогабаритных причалов дает возможность при снижении затрат организовать погрузку лесоматериалов на суда в пунктах отправления с помощью техники лесозаготовителей. Это создает предпосылки для существенного увеличения объемов перевозки лесоматериалов более дешевым водным транспортом, обеспечивает экономическую доступность древесного сырья, основная часть которого находится в удаленных лесных массивах. Предполагается, что при эксплуатации мобильных причалов они нередко будут перемещаться с одного пункта погрузки на другой в условиях небольших рек с помощью судов малой мощности. Для выполнения расчетов, связанных с указанным перемещением, нужны достаточно точные сведения о сопротивлении воды движению причалов при наличии влияния дна. При теоретическом исследовании установили факторы, влияющие на величину сопротивления воды равномерному перемещению причала. Представили соответствующую зависимость в символьном виде. Преобразовали ее, получив зависимость в безразмерном виде. Обосновали возможность исключения из числа определяющих факторов числа Рейнольдса и целесообразность фиксирования факторов, характеризующих форму подводной части причала. Полученное в результате символьное решение - зависимость коэффициента сопротивления воды от относительной глубины и числа Фруда. Опираясь на нее, провели эксперименты на модели с обеспечением физического подобия. По данным эксперимента получена регрессионная модель, позволяющая вычислять коэффициент сопротивления воды равномерному движению причала, а по величине этого коэффициента определять с использованием формулы Ньютона значение силы сопротивления. Анализируя регрессионную модель, установили, что изменение скорости буксировки относительно воды от 0,5 до 1,5 м/с и соответственно числа Фруда приводит к увеличению коэффициента сопротивления на 20…25%. Изменение относительной глубины от 4,0 до 1,5 вызывает увеличение указанного коэффициента на 110…120%. Столь существенное влияние мелководья в данном случае объяснили наличием постепенно сужающей области между днищем причала и дном водоема, что приводит к более значительному увеличению относительной скорости в задней части причала. Полученная информация дает возможность наилучшим образом спланировать мероприятия, связанные с буксировкой причалов от одного пункта перевалки грузов к другому. Appliance of the relocatable small-sized pontoon piers allows to use the logging machinery for loading of the round wood at the sites of shipment. It enables to increase volumes of the timber transportation volumes using relatively unexpensive water transport and provides better access to the raw wood resources placed at the remote wood stands. It is suggested that the mobile pontoon piers will be replaced from one loading site at the small-scale shallow river to another, using the small-sized tugboats. In order to make projections of these towing operations, the reliable information regarding water resistance to the pontoons motion is needed, taking into consideration the low depths conditions. The named circumstances justify necessity of the mentioned research. As a part of the theoretical study, the factors affecting the resistance of water to uniform velocity motion of a pontoon were characterized. The corresponding dependence was presented in the symbolicand dimensionless forms. The reasons for exclusion of the Reynolds number and fixing of the of a pontoon underwater body patterns were justified. The resulting symbolic form establishes dependence of water resistance coefficient from relative depth and the Froude number. Based upon the developed equation, the model experiments were proceeded. The regression model for calculation of the resistance coefficient and consequently, using the Newton equation, the force of hydraulic drag - was developed. Variation of the towing speed (related to water) from 0.5 to 1.5 m/sec. and, consequently, increase of the Froude number, lead to 20…25% raise of the coefficient of resistance. The relative depth decrease from 4.0 to 1.5 causes 110…120% increase of the mentioned coefficient. Such a sufficient impact of shallowness is explained by increase of the relative velocity in the afterbody zone of a pontoon. The acquired information allows to improve planning of towing operations during relocation of the pontoon piers from one loading site to another.


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