Table of contents Detailed Contents are given at the start of the individual chapters. Foreword, by Morgan J. Hurley......................................................................... iii Preface.........................................................................................................iv Acknowledgements .........................................................................................v Chapter 1. Introduction ................................................................................ 1 Chapter 2. Terminology ...............................................................................13 Chapter 3. Fundamentals of combustion ........................................................24 Chapter 4. Ignition of gases and vapors .........................................................41 Chapter 5. Ignition of dust clouds ............................................................... 141 Chapter 6. Ignition of liquids ...................................................................... 182 Chapter 7. Ignition of common solids .......................................................... 234 Chapter 8. Ignition of elements .................................................................. 352 Chapter 9. Self-heating ............................................................................. 367 Chapter 10. Explosives, pyrotechnics and reactive substances ........................ 444 Chapter 11. Characteristics of external ignition sources.................................. 497 Chapter 12. Preventive measures ............................................................... 591 Chapter 13. Special topics ......................................................................... 609 Color Plates. ........................................................................................... 637 Chapter 14. Information on specific materials and devices.............................. 675 Chapter 15. Tables ................................................................................. 1022 Index. ................................................................................................... 1081 Chapter 1. Introduction Background ..............................................................................................................................................1 Fire ignition statistics.............................................................................................................................2 The fire triangle and taxonomy of ignitions......................................................................................6 Some complications of definition............................................................................................................8 Types of combustion and combustion-like reactions ..............................................................................8 Apparatus-dependent nature of ignition............................................................................................9 The probabilistic nature of ignition and negative proof.................................................................9 Comments to the fire investigator .....................................................................................................10 Computer methods ...............................................................................................................................11 References ..............................................................................................................................................12 Chapter 2. Terminology Terms used in this book ......................................................................................................................13 Definitions .............................................................................................................................................13 Abbreviations and acronyms..............................................................................................................20 References ..............................................................................................................................................22 Chapter 3. Fundamentals of combustion Introduction........................................................................................................................................... 24 Thermochemistry ................................................................................................................................. 24 Heat of combustion.............................................................................................................................. 25 Constant-volume heat of combustion.................................................................................................. 27 Effective heat of combustion; heats of explosion and detonation ......................................................... 28 Relations between fuel and air............................................................................................................. 28 Adiabatic flame temperature ............................................................................................................... 30 Reaction kinetics .................................................................................................................................. 32 Branching chain reactions................................................................................................................... 33 Autocatalytic reactions........................................................................................................................ 34 Flame speed........................................................................................................................................... 35 Types of explosions ............................................................................................................................. 36 Pressure piling .................................................................................................................................... 37 Deflagration to detonation transition.................................................................................................. 38 Catalytic combustion........................................................................................................................... 38 Tests for fundamental combustion properties ............................................................................... 39 Further readings ................................................................................................................................... 39 References.............................................................................................................................................. 39 Chapter 4. Ignition of gases and vapors Highlights and summary of practical guidance ..............................................................................43 Exothermic reactions in gases.............................................................................................................44 Slow oxidation......................................................................................................................................44 Cool flames...........................................................................................................................................45 Multiple ignition temperatures............................................................................................................45 Autoignition of premixed gases.........................................................................................................46 Theory ..................................................................................................................................................46 Ignition of specific fuels...............................................................................................................53 Experimental determination of the AIT...............................................................................................54 Variables affecting the AIT ..................................................................................................................55 Molecular structure......................................................................................................................55 Fuel concentration........................................................................................................................56 Pressure..........................................................................................................................................57 Oxygen concentration..................................................................................................................57 Vessel size and operating conditions.........................................................................................58 Wall material.................................................................................................................................59 Flow velocity and turbulence .....................................................................................................59 Other relations .....................................................................................................................................60 AIT of mixtures....................................................................................................................................60 Ignition