Radiation signature in opposed-flow flame spread. (31st July 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bhattacharjee, Subrata; Paolini, Christopher P.; Miller, Fletcher; Nagarkar, Rohit
• Is Part Of: Progress in computational fluid dynamics. Volume 12:Number 4(2012)
• Page Start: 293
• Page End: 301
• Publication Date: 2012-07-31
• Subjects: computational fluid dynamics -- flame spread -- RADCAL -- total transmittance non-homogenous -- TTNH -- microgravity -- radiation; Fluid dynamics -- Data processing -- Periodicals; Fluid dynamics -- Mathematics -- Periodicals; 620.10640285
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1468-4349

Abstract

A radiation calculation procedure is presented for opposed-flow solid fuel flame spread. The purpose is to aid selection of different approaches for infrared flame imaging during flame spread experiments in a quiescent microgravity environment. The RADCAL and TTNH models are compared for accuracy and computational cost. The TTNH model is shown to be sufficiently accurate to calculate radiative heat flux. The RADCAL calculations suggest the ratio of signals at two prominent bands is a good candidate to detect a radiation signature. A range of flow velocities, fuel thicknesses, and environmental conditions are considered to evaluate the strength of radiative losses compared to the heat released by combustion. The results confirm the importance of radiative heat transfer in the microgravity regime, where the opposed-flow velocity can be mild or even absent, and support the conclusion that a simplified model for radiation calculation produces sufficient accuracy when compared to detailed RADCAL calculations.