Control parameters of flame spreading in a fuel container

The processes involved in flame spreading over liquid fuels are subject of this work. A heat and momentum transfer analysis has been undertaken for fuel temperatures below the flash-point that confirms (within this range of temperatures studied in this work) that flame spreading is assisted by a convection pattern ahead of the flame. This assistance mechanism, which is not observed for solid fuels, is the origin (for lower temperatures) of a pulsating behaviour of the flame. A first experimental determination of the characteristic horizontal length of this assistance zone will be given. The analysis of our data lead us to conclude that flame spreading can be reduced by simultaneously preventing the formation of the convection zone and reducing the fuel surface temperature.