An analysis of some practical methods for estimating heats of combustion in fire safety studies
Abstract
The theoretical (net) heat of combustion of materials is a basic information important for fire safety studies. This paper is a review of existing methods ranging from use of tabulated data to calculations relying on more or less sophisticated engineering correlations based on the elemental compositions of materials and in some cases on their chemical structures. The presentation emphasises only those calculation methods that allow user-friendly estimations of the heats of combustion, that is to say when at most a simple datasheet processor is the only tool required. Empirical correlations developed in early times of combustion science by Dulong (France), Boie (Germany) and some others are examined here in the context of fire engineering. More recently proposed predictive methods of heats of combustion in fire or chemical engineering background, taking account of structural effects of the molecules on their heats of combustion are then presented and compared. Finally, consideration of the relevance and accuracy of the listed methods is provided and commented either by comparison of literature and calculated values, either by reference to measured data obtained by use of conventional oxygen bomb calorimetry.
Domains
Engineering Sciences [physics]
Origin : Files produced by the author(s)
Loading...