Effective Heat of Combustion for Flaming Combustion of Mediterranean Forest Fuels

An adapted bench-scale Mass Loss Calorimeter (MLC) device is proposed for evaluating effective heat of rapid flaming combustion of fine Mediterranean forest fuels. The MLC apparatus uses a calibrated thermopile to quantify heat release rate (HRR) as an alternative to the classical oxygen consumption...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Fire technology 2011-04, Vol.47 (2), p.461-474
Main Authors: Madrigal, J, Guijarro, M, Hernando, C, Díez, C, Marino, E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bomb calorimeters
Calibration
calorimetry
Characterization and Evaluation of Materials
Civil Engineering
Classical Mechanics
Combustion
Dead fine forest fuel
Energy consumption
Engineering
Fires
Forest & brush fires
Forest fires
Forests
Fuels
Gross heat of combustion
Heat of combustion
Heat transfer
Live fine forest fuel
Oxygen consumption
Physics
Plant populations
Rapid flaming combustion
Regression
Trees
Variables
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Summary:An adapted bench-scale Mass Loss Calorimeter (MLC) device is proposed for evaluating effective heat of rapid flaming combustion of fine Mediterranean forest fuels. The MLC apparatus uses a calibrated thermopile to quantify heat release rate (HRR) as an alternative to the classical oxygen consumption measurement. A porous holder was used to simulate rapid flaming combustion. Average effective heat of combustion (AEHC) during the flaming phase was related to the classical measurement of gross heat of combustion (GHC) obtained in oxygen bomb calorimeter. Results showed that the effective heat of combustion (oven-dry basis) was between 18% and 44% lower than the gross heat of combustion. A linear regression was obtained (r² = 0.48; SEE = 1.25; p < 0.01; n = 26) to relate AEHC and GHC values. The simple model developed (AEHC = GHC − 6.75) suggests the possibility of reducing the heat of combustion values used in forest fire behaviour models for Mediterranean forest fuels.
ISSN:0015-2684
1572-8099
DOI:10.1007/s10694-010-0165-x