Experimental Investigation of Burning Liquids in Reduced Oxygen

ABSTRACT The effects of oxygen concentration on combustion of gases have been investigated on fundamental levels in several studies. However, the same type of fundamental studies has not been made for liquid or solid fuels due to complex relationships between flame structure and changing mass loss rates (MLR). In this study, an experimental setup is designed that allows for extended times of stable combustion for methanol and ethanol in reduced oxygen concentrations. The results are analysed in comparison to the fundamental findings for gaseous fuels to try and bridge the gap. From this, some conclusions could be drawn on the radiative properties affecting the heat feedback to the surface of methanol and ethanol at reduced oxygen concentrations. Finally, the effect on the MLR is compared to a previously well‐defined correlation for liquid and solid fuels. It was seen that this correlation would underpredict the MLR of methanol and ethanol with a factor of 2 as the oxygen concentration is reduced to 15%. This could have a large impact on safety assessments.