Ignition Phenomena

Condensed Fuel Ignition

An important aspect of the combustion of liquid and solid
fuels is their ease of ignition.
This is important not only for the utilization of the fuel in a
combustor but also for safety reasons

Condensed-phase fuels burn mostly in the gas phase

For a condensed fuel to ignite and burn in the gas phase,

enough fuel must vaporize so that when mixed with air, the
combustible mixture falls within the flammability limits of the
fuel.
Fuel Vaporization
In liquid fuels, the partial pressure of fuel vapor near the
liquid surface is approximately in equilibrium with the
liquid phase.
 For solid fuels, determining the mole fraction of gaseous
fuel above the surface is more complex.

The rate of pyrolysis per volume of solid fuel is

estimated by:

the rate of pyrolysis is highly temperature dependent and

is very slow at low temperatures. At a sufficiently high
temperature, the pyrolysis rate dramatically increases and
the corresponding temperature is referred to as the
pyrolysis temperature.
If the temperature profile in the solid is known, the mass
flux of fuel leaving the fuel surface can be calculated as

the fuel mole fraction decreases with height. Conversely,

the air diffuses back toward the condensed surface, so that
the mole fraction of air increases with height.

A combustion reaction can then be ignited if a spark or

pilot were to exist in the flammable region above the
surface
Important Physiochemical Properties

The lower the evaporation temperature of a liquid fuel,

the easier it will ignite.

Flash point is defined as the minimum liquid temperature

at which a combustion reaction (flame) is seen (flashing)
with the assistance of a spark or a pilot flame.

Fire point refers to the minimum liquid temperature for

sustained burning of the liquid fuel.
 Characteristic Times in Condensed Fuel
Ignition

the ignition of a condensed fuel requires the gasification of

the fuel, mixing of the fuel vapor and oxidizer, and ignition
of the mixture. Each one of these processes requires some
amount of time.

Their combined times determine the time of ignition.

Critical Heat Flux for Ignition