Effect of acoustic energy on onset of fire propagation phenomenon

Abstract

Scholars and scientists have been making efforts to discover ways to control and lessen the resonance of concurrent fires such as forest fires, and various space fires; however, no potential solutions have been concluded from their studies so far. The origin of these types of fires concerns the unstable nature of the flames and the considerable unpredictability associated with them. This work led us to do proper experimentation for the effect of sound on the spreading of the flames. Sound energy as a wave is always accompanied by compression and rarefaction. As an external effect, sound in the immediate vicinity of spreading flame can affect the flame spread rates. Appreciable work had been carried out however; the effect of sound on flames in a purely natural convective environment is an aspect yet to be thoroughly understood. Flame spread rate is a direct indication of forwarding heat transfer from burning to non-burning region. Formation of localized pressure and velocity fields occurs around the pilot fuel by the presence of sound waves. Change in heat transfer may results in increment or decrement in spread rates, when compared with one without sound. The present work attempts physical insight into the effect of sound frequency of intermediate range (3500 Hz to 7500Hz) on the spreading of flames in different configurations coupled with external sources. Results advocate the noteworthy impact of acoustics on the fire propagation phenomenon in distinct modes. Experimentation have revealed that acoustics has a critical influence on fire propagation, reducing the spread rate by 100 percent in a unilateral configuration.