Chapter 3 - Fire Accidents

Abstract

Some general aspects of fires—combustion, flammability, sources of ignition—are presented, together with the main features of the diverse types: pool fires, jet fires, flash fires, fireballs, and boilover. The shape and size, as well as view factor and flames emissive power, are analyzed for each type by applying the corresponding mathematical models, and the thermal radiation is calculated with the point source and solid flame models in several examples. The importance of fireproofing and pressure relief valves is finally commented.