Combustion

and flame
Introduction - combustion
Combustion or burning is the
sequence of exothermic chemical
reactions between a fuel and
an oxidant accompanied by the
production of heat and
conversion of chemical species.
The release of heat can result in
the production of light in the
form of either glowing or
a flame.
 FLAME
A flame is the visible (light-
emitting), gaseous part of a fire.
It is caused by a
highly exothermic reaction
taking place in a thin zone. If a
fire is hot enough to ionize the
gaseous components, it can
become a plasma.
Types
Smoldering

Rapid

Turbulent

Microgravity
Smoldering combustion
 Smoldering is the slow, low-
temperature, flameless form of
combustion, sustained by the
heat evolved when oxygen
directly attacks the surface of
a condensed-phase fuel. Solid
materials that can sustain a
smoldering reaction include
coal, cellulose, wood.
 Rapid combustion
Rapid combustion is a form of
combustion, otherwise known
as a fire, in which large
amounts of heat
and light energy are released,
which often results in a flame.
This is used in a form of
machinery such as internal
combustion engines .
 Turbulent combustion
Combustion resulting in a turbulent flame is
the most used for industrial application (e.g.
gas turbines, gasoline engines, etc.) because
the turbulence helps the mixing process
between the fuel and oxidizer.
COMBUSTIBLE
SUBSTANCES

MATCHSTICK
PAPER
NON-COMBUSTIBLE
SUBSTANCES

SAND STONES
During extreme heat
of summer, at some
places dry grasses
catch fire. From
grasses, it spreads to
trees, and very soon
the whole forest is on
fire .It is
very difficult to
control such fires.
IGNITION TEMPERATURE

WHITE
PHOSPOROUS

The lowest temperature at which a

substance catches fire is called its
ignition temperature.
 Microgravity
 Combustion processes
behave differently in
a microgravity
environment than in Earth-
gravity conditions due to
the lack of buoyancy. For
example, a candle's flame
takes the shape of a sphere.
 Fuels
 Fuel is any material that stores energy that can later be
extracted to perform mechanical work in a controlled
manner. Most fuels used by humans undergo combustion,
a redox reaction in which a combustible substance releases
energy after it ignites and reacts with the oxygen in the
air.
Types
 LIQUID FUELS

 Combustion of a liquid fuel in an oxidizing atmosphere actually

happens in the gas phase. It is the vapour that burns, not the
liquid. Therefore, a liquid will normally catch fire only above a
certain temperature: its flash point.
 SOLID FUELS
 Solid fuel refers to various types of solid material that are used
as fuel to produce energy and provide heating, oih sually released
through combustion.Solid fuels
include wood , charcoal, peat, coal, Hexamine fuel tablets, and
pellets made from wood, corn,wheat, rye and other grains.
 HOW CAN WE CONTROL FIRE??
The most common fire extinguisher is water.
But water works only when things like wood
and paper are on fire. If electrical equipment is
on fire, water may conduct electricity and harm
those trying to douse the fire. Water is also not
suitable for fires involving oil and petrol. For
fires involving electrical equipment and
inflammable materials like petrol, carbon
dioxide is the best extinguisher. CO2, being
heavier than oxygen, covers the fire like a
blanket. Since the contact between the fuel and
oxygen is cut off, the fire is controlled. The
added advantage of CO2 is that in most cases it FIRE
does not harm the electrical equipment. EXTINGUISHER
Different Zones of
Candle flame
The amount of heat energy produced on complete combustion
of 1 kg of a fuel is called its calorific value. The calorific value
of a fuel is expressed in a unit called kilojoule per kg (kJ/kg).

Calorific
Values of
Different Fuels
 Burning of Fuels Leads to Harmful
Products

1. Incomplete combustion of these fuels gives carbon

monoxide gas. It is a very poisonous gas. It is dangerous
to burn coal in a closed room. The carbon monoxide gas
produced can kill persons sleeping in that room.
2. Combustion of most fuels releases carbon dioxide in
the environment. Increased concentration of carbon
dioxide in the air is believed to cause global warming.
3. Burning of coal and diesel releases sulphur dioxide gas.
It is an extremely suffocating and corrosive gas. Moreover,
petrol engines give off gaseous oxides of nitrogen. Oxides
of sulphur and nitrogen dissolve in rain water and form
acids. Such rain is called acid rain. It is very harmful for
crops, buildings and soil.
Director
Bharath