Influence of particle size on the heat release rate and smoke opacity during the burning of dead Cistus leaves and twigs

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This experimental study is a contribution to the understanding of the phenomena of the wildfire. This work was realized on the dead twigs of Cistus monspeliensis exposed to the heat flux at 50 kW m2 using a cone calorimeter. The experiments were realized on the shrub particles with different thicknesses (range of leaves and twigs: 1–20 mm) in function of the stage of combustion (pre-ignition, flaming, and glowing phases). For this, heat release rate, smoke production rate, smoke extinction area, the aerosol yield ( Ya) via the light extinction measurements, and modified combustion efficiency were measured. The results show that there is a size limit for which the heat release rate had a different combustion behavior. The smoke production rate was also measured, and it showed that smoke was mainly emitted during the pre-heating phase. Aerosol yield ( Ya) was calculated depending on these combustion phases (pre-ignition and flaming stage) and for the range of thickness of the samples.