Numerical Analysis of Steady Smoldering of Biomass Rods

Understanding the steady mechanism of biomass smoldering plays a great role in the utilization of smoldering technology.In this study numerical analysis of steady smoldering of biomass rods was performed.A two-dimensional(2D)steady model taking into account both char oxidation and pyrolysis was developed on the basis of a calculated propagation velocity according to empirical correlation.The model was validated against the smoldering experiment of biomass rods under natural conditions,and the maximum error was smaller than 31%.Parameter sensitivity analysis found that propagation velocity decreases significantly while oxidation area and pyrolysis zone increase significantly with the increasing diameter of rod fuel.

Smoldering charcoal detection in forest soil by multiple CO sensors

Cleaning up residual fires is an important part of forest fire management to avoid the loss of forest resources caused by the recurrence of a residual fire.Existing residual fire detection equipment is mainly infrared temperature detection and smoke identification.Due to the isolation of ground,temperature and smoke characteristics of medium and large smoldering charcoal in some forest soils are not obvious,making it difficult to identify by detection equipment.CO gas is an important detection index for indoor smoldering fire detection,and an important identification feature of hidden smoldering ground fires.However,there is no research on locating smoldering fires through CO detection.We studied the diffusion law of CO gas directly above covered smoldering charcoal as a criterion to design a detection device equipped with multiple CO sensors.According to the motion decomposition search algorithm,the detection device realizes the function of automatically searching for smoldering charcoal.Experimental data shows that the average CO concentration over the covered smoldering charcoal decreases exponentially with increasing height.The size of the search step is related to the reliability of the search algorithm.The detection success corresponding to the small step length is high but the search time is lengthy which can lead to search failure.The introduction of step and rotation factors in search algorithm improves the search efficiency.This study reveals that the average ground CO concentration directly above smoldering charcoal in forests changes with height.Based on this law,a CO gas sensor detection device for hidden smoldering fires has been designed,which enriches the technique of residual fire detection.

Numerical study of forward smoldering combustionof polyurethane foam

A two-dimensional and two-phase numerical model is presented for the smolder propagation in a horizontal polyurethane foam. The chemical processes considered include endothermic pyrolysis and exotherrnic oxidation degradation of polyurethane foam and exothermic oxidation of char. The governing equations are discretized in space using the finite element method and solved by the software package FEMLAB. Predicted profiles of solid temperature as well as evolutions of solid compositions （including foam, char and ash） are presented at an airflow velocity of 0. 28 cm/s. The computed average smoldering velocity is 0. 021 4 cm/s, and the average maximum temperature is 644. 67 K. Based on the evolutions of solid compositions, the packed bed can be obviously divided into four zones： unreacted zone, fuel pyrolysis and oxidation zone, char oxidation zone and fuel burned-out zone. Simultaneously, the effects of inlet air velocity and fuel properties （including thermal conductivity, specific heat, density and pore diameter） are studied on the smoldering propagation. The results show that the smoldering velocity and temperature have a roughly linear increase with increasing inlet air velocity; the fuel density is the most important factor in determining smoldering propagation; radiation has a non-negligible role on the smoldering velocity for larger pore diameters of porous material. The computational results are compared with the experimental data and a general agreement is reached.

Numerical study on the propagation characteristics of forward smoldering in a cellulosic packed bed

Based on a three-step kinetic mechanism, a one-dimensional, time dependent, numerical model is presented for the smoldering propagation in a horizontally packed bed of cellulosic material. The kinetic processes include pyrolysis and oxidation degradation of fuel and oxidation of char. Heat transfer between solid and gas is taken into account, and the diffusion coefficient varies with the temperature. Radiative heat transfer is included by using the diffusion approximation. The effects of airflow velocity and oxygen concentration are simulated on the smoldering velocity and the averaged maximum temperature of smoldering fuel. The results indicate that the spread rate varies linearly with increasing airflow velocity, and the inlet air velocity has little effect on the maximum temperature. The evolutions of gas species and solid compositions are predicted. The effects of frequency factors （A1, A2 and A3） are analyzed. Simulations show that the smoldering spread rate increases with increasing A2 （fuel oxidation）, but decreases with A1 （fuel pyrolysis） and A3 （char oxidation）.

Characterizing and predicting smoldering temperature variations based on non-linear mixed effects models

Underground fires are slow spreading,long-lasting and low temperature smoldering combustion without flames,mainly occurring in peatlands and wetlands with rich organic matter.The spread of the smoldering is maintained by heat released during combustion and monitoring this is an important approach to detect underground fires.The Daxing'an Mountains region is a hotspot for underground fires in northeast China.This study examined a L arix gmelinii plantation in the Tatou wetlands of the Daxing'an Mountains and determined the maximum temperature variation of humus of varying particle sizes,and the temperature rising process based on non-linear mixed effects models by an indoor combustion experiment.Maximum combustion temperatures up to 897.5°C,increased with humus depth;among the three models tested,Richard's equations were best for characterizing temperature variations;a non-linear equation with three parameters had the highest accuracy in fitting the combustion temperature variations with varying humus particle sizes.These results are informative for predicting temperature variations and provide technical support for underground fire monitoring.

Gastrointestinal amyloidosis in a patient with smoldering multiple myeloma:A case report

BACKGROUND Smoldering multiple myeloma(SMM)is an asymptomatic plasma cell proliferative disorder that can progress to multiple myeloma(MM).Amyloidosis(light chain)(AL)is the most common form of systemic amyloidosis.There are few reports of SMM coexisting with AL involving the digestive tract.CASE SUMMARY A 63-year-old woman presented with lower limb edema,abdominal distension,abdominal pain,and hematochezia.Gastroscopy showed gastric retention,gastric angler mucosal coarseness,hyperemia,and mild oozing of blood.Colonoscopy showed hyperemic and edematous mucosa of the distal ascending colon and sigmoid colon with the presence of multiple round and irregular ulcers,submucosal ecchymosis,and hematoma.Gastric and colonic tissue biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of AL by positive Congo red staining.MM was confirmed by bone marrow biopsy and immunohistochemistry.The patient had no hypercalcemia,renal dysfunction,anemia,bone lesions or biomarkers of malignancy defined as plasma cells>60%in bone marrow.Additionally,no elevated serum free light chain ratio,or presence of bone marrow lesions by magnetic resonance imaging(SLiM criteria)were detected.The patient was finally diagnosed with SMM coexisting with AL.She received chemotherapy and was discharged when the symptoms were relieved.She is doing well at nearly five years of follow up.CONCLUSION This case highlights that high index of suspicion is required to diagnose gastrointestinal AL.It should be suspected in elderly patients with endoscopic findings of granular-appearing mucosa,ecchymosis,and submucosal hematoma.Timely diagnosis and appropriate therapy can help to improve the prognosis of these patients.

Numerical study on waste polyethylene pyrolysis driven by self-sustaining smoldering

Polyethylene is the type of waste plastic that accounts for the most significant proportion of municipal solid waste.Waste polyethylene can be valorized via pyrolysis and produce value-added oil,gas,and char.On the other hand,self-sustaining smoldering is an emerging technical means to deal with sand/soil contaminated by organic matter.The high-temperature heat generated by smoldering can be used as a heat source for pyrolyzing waste polyethylene.Therefore,this study investigates numerically the pyrolysis of waste polyethylene driven by self-sustaining smoldering.A novel 4-step lumped kinetic model is proposed for simulating the pyrolysis of waste polyethylene.The results indicate that the operating parameters can determine the pyrolysis product yields by regulating the pyrolysis temperature and the volatile residence time.Note that higher temperatures and longer residence times favor the generation of shorter-chain pyrolysis products because of the intensified volatiles’secondary cracking.It can be concluded that a high interface-wall heat transfer coefficient(400 W m^(-2)K^(-1)),a low PE content(0.20),a high char concentration(2.4%),and a moderate air velocity(0.040 m s^(-1))are beneficial to oil yield.To some extent,this study may broaden the boundaries for the application of self-sustained smoldering-driven pyrolysis.

Effects of the Imbibition Ability of Extinguishant in Pulverized Coals

The imbibition ability of extinguishant is an important factor influencing the extinguishing effect for smoldering fire in pulverized coals. The coal particle size, bulk compactness, and aqueous solution properties significantly affect the imbibition ability of extinguishment. This work aims to reveal the influence of the properties of pulverized coals and aqueous solution on the imbibition ability of extinguishant for smoldering fire through experiments and capillary theories. The imbibition height and rate were adopted to evaluate the imbibition ability of extinguishment. The results showed that a relatively small bulk compactness and a fine coal particle size negatively influenced the extinguishing process dominantly because of its high surface energy and low wettability. An additive was used to adjust the properties of aqueous solution. The liquid with a larger surface tension, a smaller contact angle, and a lower viscosity induced a better imbibition ability of extinguishment.

Structure and stability of non-adiabatic reverse smolder waves

The structure and stability of non-adiabatic reverse smolder waves are investigated numerically. First, the 1D steady-state responses of reverse smolder waves in the presence of convective heat losses are studied with the rate of incoming air flow as the control parameter. Based on the 1D steady solutions, the linear stability and the Lewis number effects on the stability are examined by a numerical normal mode analysis. Finally, the dynamical evolution processes of unstable reverse smolder waves are studied by direct numerical simulations. It is shown that, in comparison with the adiabatic case, the presence of heat losses leads to a backward shift of the extinction limit. For varying Lewis numbers, the extinction limit shifts forward with the increase of the Lewis number while the smolder temperature remains unchanged. Furthermore, results of a linear stability analysis show that the maximum growth rate decreases with the increasing Lewis number, implying that increasing the Lewis number tends to weaken the thermal-diffusive instability of non-adiabatic reverse smolder waves. Direct numerical simulation results show that, on the fuel-rich branch, the unstable plane reverse smolder wave gradually develops to a regular steady fingering pattern, whereas on the fuel-lean branch, similar to the adiabatic case, vigorous fragmentation instability occurs, and is accompanied by a substantial local temperature rise, which may be sufficiently high to trigger the transition to flaming combustion.

A Mathematical Approach to the Property of One-dimensional Steady Solution of Reverse Smolder Waves

The mathematical property of one-dimensional steady solution for reverse smolder waves in the context of a model that permits both fuel-rich and fuel-lean has been studied using the method of analysis. Based on the equations and the boundary conditions some asymptotic properties of the solution at infinity are proved. It is shown that the value of oxygen or the mass of fuel （corresponding to the fuel-rich case and the fuel-lean case, respectively） tends to zero, and the temperature approaches to a fixed value. This is confirmed by other authors using large activation energy asymptotic methods.