Flame propagation and combustion in some dust-air mixtures

Some results of measurements of laminar burning velocities and of maximum flame temperatures for combustible dust-air mixtures (starch dust-air mixtures, lycopodium-air mixtures and sulphur flour-air mixtures) are presented. Thin (25 and 50 mu m) thermocouples have been used to measure maximum flame temperatures. The results are compared with those obtained with other devices such as resistors, pyrometers and are compared to the theoretical values. It appears that the observed discrepancies seem principally to come from the relatively poor efficiency of the burning processes inside the flame front than to heat losses by radiation as suggested before. Two methods for determining laminar burning velocities have been used: the classical 'tube method' and a 'direct method' based on the simultaneous determination of the flame speed and of the mixture velocity ahead of the flame front using a tomographic technique. Two different tube diameters are considered as well as additional results obtained with a small burner. The validity of these techniques is firstly assessed by comparing the results obtained with CH4-air mixtures and secondly by considering their relevancy for combustible dust-air mixtures (influence of the size of the apparatus). In particular, the influences of heat flame by radiation and of flame stretching are considered. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.