Smoldering behavior of peat fire

Abstract

This research is conducted to study the effect of airflow rate on the smoldering combustion dynamics and transition to flaming. The test is done using three types of peat extracted from South Sumatera, Central Kalimantan, and Papua Provinces, Indonesia. The combustion is carried out on natural, 1.33 cm/s, 3.98 cm/s, and 6.63 cm/s of airflow, respectively, representing the oxidation with lack and excess of air as calculated by stoichiometric equilibrium. For Central Kalimantan and Papuan Peat, the smoldering spread rate tends to increase with increasing the air supply. While in South Sumatran Peat, it begins to decrease at the air velocity of 6.63 cm/s. Differences in physical properties yield the difference in the smoldering dynamic behavior. In general, a higher airflow velocity leads to higher smoldering temperature, spread rate, and mass loss rate. Combustion with natural air and lack of oxygen will result in smoldering whereas excess air led to a transition to flaming.