The Experiments With Cone Calorimeter - Term Paper Example

Report of the experiments with cone calorimeter Results of experiment with blue carpet samples Blue carpet sample of mass 21.96 g with a surface areaof 100 cm2 and thickness 8 mm was used for the study. The heat flux of the experiment was 25 kW/m2. The time of test was 481 seconds and the total heat evolved was 45.5 MJ/m2. Total amount of oxygen consumed was 31.8 g and the amount of smoke released was 651 m2/m2. The mass lost during the experiment was 12.1 g with a specific mass loss rate of 2.79 g/m2s. During the experiment the average heat release rate was 108.79 kW/m2 and effective heat of combustion was 38.66 MJ/ Kg. The mass loss rate was 0.028 g/sec and specific extinction area was 494.81 m2/kg. The carbon monoxide yield was 0.0194 kg/kg and carbon dioxide yield was 2.04 kg/kg. During the period from ignition to ignition plus the heat release rate reduced from 148.5 kW/m2 to121.3 kW/m2 in 6 minutes, effective heat of combustion increased from 35 MJ/ Kg to 37.6 MJ/ Kg during this period and mass loss rate decreased from 0.043 g/sec to 0.032 g/sec. The specific extinction area reduced from 750.3 m2/kg to 517.3 m2/kg, the carbon monoxide yield reduced from 0.0237 kg/kg to 0.0196 kg/kg and carbon dioxide yield reduced from 2.06 kg/kg to 2.04 kg/kg. The second blue carpet sample had a slightly lesser mass of 17.63 g with the same surface area and thickness as the first sample. The heat flux of the experiment was increased to 35 kW/m2. The time of test was only 378 seconds and the total heat evolved was 34.9 MJ/m2. Total amount of oxygen consumed was 24.7 g and the amount of smoke released was 474 m2/m2. The mass lost during the experiment was 13.2 g with a specific mass loss rate of 5.09 g/m2s. During the experiment the average heat release rate was 103.45 kW/m2 and effective heat of combustion was 20.88 MJ/ Kg. The mass loss rate was 0.051 g/sec and specific extinction area was 204.47 m2/kg. During this 6 minutes the carbon monoxide yield was 0.0149 kg/kg and carbon dioxide yield was 1.21 kg/kg. During the period from ignition to ignition plus the heat release rate reduced from 268 kW/m2 to104.3 kW/m2 in 6 minutes, at the same time effective heat of combustion increased from 13.7 MJ/ Kg to 20.9 MJ/ Kg and mass loss rate decreased from 0.203 g/sec to 0.051 g/sec. The specific extinction area decreased from 284.3 m2/kg to 204.5 m2/kg in 6 minutes, the carbon monoxide yield increased from 0.0136 kg/kg to 0.0149 kg/kg and carbon dioxide yield increased from 0.90 kg/kg to 1.21 kg/kg. The third blue carpet sample had a mass almost same as first sample 24.9 g with the same surface area and thickness as the first sample. The heat flux of the experiment was increased to 45 kW/m2. The time of test was very high 715 seconds and the total heat evolved was 39.4 MJ/m2. During the experiment the total amount of oxygen consumed was 27.5 g and at the same time the amount of smoke released was 449.4 m2/m2. The mass lost during this test was 12.4 g and the specific mass loss rate was1.82 g/m2s. The average heat release rate during the experiment was 57.32 kW/m2 and effective heat of combustion was 31.41 MJ/ Kg. The mass loss rate was 0.018 g/sec and specific extinction area was 180.12 m2/kg. The carbon monoxide yield during this experiment was 0.0126 kg/kg and carbon dioxide yield was 1.68 kg/kg. From ignition to ignition plus the heat release rate reduced from 235 kW/m2 to 96.2 kW/m2 in 6 minutes and effective heat of combustion increased from 29.3 MJ/ Kg to 31.8 MJ/ Kg and mass loss rate decreased from 0.079 g/sec to 0.030 g/sec. In 6 minutes the specific extinction area decreased from 689.2 m2/kg to 342.8 m2/kg, the carbon monoxide yield decreased from 0.0267 kg/kg to 0.0147 kg/kg and carbon dioxide yield from 1.93 kg/kg to 1.86 kg/kg. Blue carpet sample number four was having a mass of 27.6 g with a surface area and thickness same as above samples. The heat flux of the experiment was 55 kW/m2. The time of test was 458 seconds. During the experiment the total heat evolved was 38.8 MJ/m2 and total amount of oxygen consumed was 27.4 g. The amount of smoke released was 736.3 m2/m2. The mass lost during the experiment was 13.2 g with a specific mass loss rate of 3 g/m2s. During the experiment the average heat release rate was 87.95 kW/m2 and effective heat of combustion was 28.83 MJ/ Kg. The mass loss rate was 0.030 g/sec while; specific extinction area was 506.11 m2/kg. The gas yields such as the carbon monoxide yield was 0.0170 kg/kg and carbon dioxide yield was 1.65 kg/kg. During the 6 minutes period from ignition to ignition plus the heat release rate reduced from 271.9 kW/m2 to 104.9 kW/m2, effective heat of combustion increased from 26.6 MJ/ Kg to 28.1 MJ/ Kg. During this period the mass loss rate decreased from 0.099 g/sec to 0.037 g/sec and the specific extinction area reduced from 681.5 m2/kg to 525.5 m2/kg, the carbon monoxide yield reduced from 0.0258 kg/kg to 0.0168 kg/kg and carbon dioxide yield from 1.74 kg/kg to 1.65 kg/kg. Thus it could be seen that as the heat flux is increased the heat release rate is decreasing with the lowest value at 45 kW/ m2. The total oxygen consumed was comparable in all these experiments irrespective of the heat flux used. The smoke released was high at 25 kW/ m2 and 55 kW/ m2 compared to 35 kW/ m2 and 45 kW/m2. The mass lost was not dependent on the heat flux rate. Average specific mass loss rate was high for a flux of 35 kW/ m2 may be because of the smaller weight of sample used for this experiment. In the case of experiment with 35 kW/ m2 and 45 kW/ m2 all the average values for heat release rate and mass loss rate and specific extinction area were smaller. The effective heat of combustion as high only for 25 kW/ m2 flux. A 45 kW/ m2 heat release rate was very less may be because of the increase in time of the test. The carbon monoxide and dioxide yield was less for 35 kW/ m2 and 45 kW/ m2 compared to 25 kW/ m2 and 55 kW/ m2, but at 35 kW/ m2 both these values increased during the period from ignition to ignition plus, while all the other values followed the same pattern in all the heat flux used. Results of experiment with green carpet samples The first green carpet sample was having a mass of 13.68 g with a surface area of 100 cm2 and thickness 5.5 mm. The heat flux of the experiment was 25 kW/m2. The time of test was 495 seconds and the total heat evolved was 25.9 MJ/m2. Total amount of oxygen consumed was 18.6 g and the amount of smoke released was 393.9 m2/m2. The mass lost during the experiment was 9 g with a specific mass loss rate of 2.45 g/m2s. During the experiment the average heat release rate was 57.53 kW/m2 and effective heat of combustion was 23.10 MJ/ Kg. The mass loss rate was 0.025 g/sec and specific extinction area was 131.71 m2/kg. The carbon monoxide yield was 0.0140 kg/kg and carbon dioxide yield was 1.52 kg/kg. During the period from ignition to ignition plus the heat release rate reduced from 191.7 kW/m2 to 61.9 kW/m2 in 6 minutes, effective heat of combustion increased from 18.3 MJ/ Kg to 23.3 MJ/ Kg during this period and mass loss rate decreased from 0.103 g/sec to 0.030 g/sec. The specific extinction area reduced from 479.8 m2/kg to 187.4 m2/kg, the carbon monoxide yield reduced from 0.0178 kg/kg to 0.0145 kg/kg and carbon dioxide yield increased from 1.12 kg/kg to 1.54 kg/kg. The green carpet sample number two had a mass of 12.95 g with the same surface area and thickness as the first sample. The heat flux of the experiment was 35 kW/m2. The time of test was only 281 seconds. The test did not give any result. The third green carpet sample had a mass almost same as first sample 12.65 g with the same surface area and thickness as the first sample. The heat flux of the experiment was increased to 45 kW/m2. The time of test was 265 seconds and the total heat evolved was 309.7 MJ/m2. During the experiment the total amount of oxygen consumed was –1174.7 g and at the same time the amount of smoke released was 486.2 m2/m2. The mass lost during this test was 8.1 g and the specific mass loss rate was 3.25 g/m2s. The average heat release rate during the experiment was 1237.36 kW/m2 and effective heat of combustion was 380.66 MJ/ Kg. The mass loss rate was 0.033 g/sec and specific extinction area was 549.70 m2/kg. The carbon monoxide yield during this experiment was 0.0239 kg/kg and carbon dioxide yield was 1.90 kg/kg. From ignition to ignition plus within 6 minutes all the values noted were reduced to 0. The fourth green carpet sample was having a mass of 12.17 g with a surface area and thickness same as above samples. The heat flux of the experiment was 50 kW/m2. The time of test was 460 seconds. During the experiment the total heat evolved was 28.2 MJ/m2 and total amount of oxygen consumed was 20 g. The amount of smoke released was 517.9 m2/m2. The mass lost during the experiment was 9.6 g with a specific mass loss rate of 2.11 g/m2s. During the experiment the average heat release rate was 62.3 kW/m2 and effective heat of combustion were 29.21 MJ/ Kg. The mass loss rate was 0.021 g/sec and specific extinction area was 423.16 m2/kg. The gas yields such as the carbon monoxide yield was 0.0239 kg/kg and carbon dioxide yield was 1.68 kg/kg. During the 6 minutes period from ignition to ignition plus the heat release rate reduced from 283 kW/m2 to 72.6 kW/m2, effective heat of combustion increased from 27.3 MJ/ Kg to 28 MJ/ Kg. During this period the mass loss rate decreased from 0.101 g/sec to 0.026 g/sec and the specific extinction area reduced from 760.9 m2/kg to 464.2 m2/kg, the carbon monoxide yield reduced from 0.0290 kg/kg to 0.0229 kg/kg and carbon dioxide yield from 1.76 kg/kg to 1.66 kg/kg. In this set of experiment at 35 kW/m2 flux no results could be obtained and most of the values at 45 kW/m2 flux were erroneous. Only 25 kW/m2 and 50 kW/m2 flux could be compared. At 50 kW/m2 flux, all the values such as total heat evolved, total amount of oxygen consumed, amount of smoke released and mass lost during the experiment except average specific mass loss rate were high compared to values at 25 kW/m2. Average specific mass loss rate was high at 25 kW/m2. The total smoke released was exceptionally high at 50 kW/m2. The average values of heat release rate, effective heat of combustion, specific extinction area, carbon monoxide yield and carbon dioxide yield were high but mass loss rate was slightly less at 50 kW/m2 comapred to 25 kW/m2. Specific extinction rate was about 4 times the value at 25 kW/m2 flux. During the period from ignition to ignition plus effective heat of combustion increased where as all the other values decreased at 50 kW/m2. In the case of 25 kW/m2 the carbon dioxide yield increased during this period and the pattern of change of other values were similar to that in 50 kW/m2. Results of experiment with underlay samples The first underlay sample was having a mass of 10.46 g with a surface area of 100 cm2 and thickness 10 mm. The heat flux of the experiment was 45 kW/m2. The time of test was 139 seconds and the total heat evolved was 16.2 MJ/m2. Total amount of oxygen consumed was 12 g and the amount of smoke released was 416.6 m2/m2. The mass lost during the experiment was 12 g with a specific mass loss rate of 8.63 g/m2s. During the experiment the average heat release rate was 118.71 kW/m2 and effective heat of combustion was 13.66 MJ/ Kg. The mass loss rate was 0.086 g/sec and specific extinction area was 338.71 m2/kg. The carbon monoxide yield was 0.0291 kg/kg and carbon dioxide yield was 1.04 kg/kg. During the period from ignition to ignition plus all the values were reduced to 0 by 4 minutes. The initial heat release rate was 232.9 kW/m2, the effective heat of combustion was12.7 MJ/ Kg and mass loss rate, 0.181 g/sec. The initial specific extinction was 365 m2/kg, the carbon monoxide yield was 0.0207 kg/kg and carbon dioxide yield was 0.99 kg/kg. The effective heat of combustion, and carbon monoxide and dioxide yields increased during this period where as all the other values decreased. The second underlay sample had a mass of 11.68 g with the same surface area and thickness as the first sample. The heat flux of the experiment was increased to 25 kW/m2. The time of test was 225 seconds and the total heat evolved was 16.3 MJ/m2. Total amount of oxygen consumed was 11.9 g and the amount of smoke released was 291 m2/m2. The mass lost during the experiment was 12.4 g with a specific mass loss rate of 6.85 g/m2s. During the experiment the average heat release rate was 74.94 kW/m2 and effective heat of combustion was 10.69 MJ/ Kg. The mass loss rate was 0.069 g/sec and specific extinction area was 154.9 m2/kg. The carbon monoxide yield was 0.0125 kg/kg and carbon dioxide yield was 0.79 kg/kg. During the period from ignition to ignition plus all the values were reduced to 0 in 4 minutes. The heat release rate reduced from 160 kW/m2 to 70.2 kW/m2 in 4 minutes, at the same time effective heat of combustion increased from 7.8 MJ/ Kg to 10.8 MJ/ Kg and mass loss rate decreased from 0.2 g/sec to 0.064 g/sec. The specific extinction area decreased from 196.2 m2/kg to 152.9 m2/kg in 4 minutes, the carbon monoxide yield increased from 0.0116 kg/kg to 0.0126 kg/kg and carbon dioxide yield increased from 0.59 kg/kg to 0.79 kg/kg. Here also, the effective heat of combustion, and carbon monoxide and dioxide yields increased during this period where as all the other values decreased. The underlay number three had a mass of 12.12 g with the same surface area and thickness as the other samples. The heat flux of the experiment was 35 kW/m2. The time of test was 303 seconds and the total heat evolved was 18.3 MJ/m2. Total amount of oxygen consumed was 13.4 g and the amount of smoke released was 305.7 m2/m2. The mass lost during the experiment was 9.3 g with a specific mass loss rate of 3.15 g/m2s. During the experiment the average heat release rate was 61.44 kW/m2 and effective heat of combustion was 19.49 MJ/ Kg. The mass loss rate was 0.031 g/sec and specific extinction area was 221.93 m2/kg. The carbon monoxide yield was 0.0269 kg/kg and carbon dioxide yield was 1.40 kg/kg. During the period from ignition to ignition plus the heat release rate reduced from 190.2 kW/m2 to 57.7 kW/m2 in 6 minutes, at the same time effective heat of combustion increased from 18.5 MJ/ Kg to 19.7 MJ/ Kg and mass loss rate decreased from 0.102 g/sec to 0.029 g/sec. The specific extinction area decreased from 451.3 m2/kg to 215.4 m2/kg in 6 minutes. The carbon monoxide yield and carbon dioxide yield was almost steady during this time. The fourth underlay sample had a mass 16.05 g with the same surface area and thickness. The heat flux of the experiment was increased to 55 kW/m2. The time of test was very high 240 seconds and the total heat evolved was 23.6 MJ/m2. During the experiment the total amount of oxygen consumed was 17.4 g and at the same time the amount of smoke released was 553.6 m2/m2. The mass lost during this test was 58.4 g and the specific mass loss rate was 21.93 g/m2s. The average heat release rate during the experiment was 99.55 kW/m2 and effective heat of combustion was 4.48 MJ/ Kg. The mass loss rate was 0.219 g/sec and specific extinction area was 102.46 m2/kg. The carbon monoxide yield during this experiment was 0.0093 kg/kg and carbon dioxide yield was 0.33 kg/kg. From ignition to ignition plus all the values were reduced to 0 by 6 minutes. In the first 5 minutes, the heat release rate reduced from 266.4 kW/m2 to 99.5 kW/m2 and effective heat of combustion increased from 3.2 MJ/ Kg to 4.5 MJ/ Kg and mass loss rate decreased from 0.816 g/sec to 0.219 g/sec. In 5 minutes the specific extinction area increased from 89.7 m2/kg to 102.5 m2/kg, the carbon monoxide yield decreased from 0.0053 kg/kg to 0.0093 kg/kg and carbon dioxide yield increased from 0.25 kg/kg to 0.33 kg/kg. Reliable values were obtained only at 35 kW/m2 flux since at 45 kW/m2 flux all the values were reduced to zero in 4 minutes, at 25 kW/m2 all the values were reduced to zero in 5 minutes and at 55 kW/m2 flux the same thing happened at 6 minutes. The total heat evolved was slightly high at 55 kW/m2 compared to other fluxes. Total smoke released, mass lost and average specific mass loss rate were proportional to the heat fluxes used. The mass lost and average specific mass loss rate at 55 kW/m2 was very high compared to same values at other fluxes. The specific heat release rate was also proportional to the heat flux used. The effective heat of combustion was very low at 55 kW/m2 compared to other heat fluxes. During the period from ignition to ignition plus the carbon monoxide and dioxide yields were almost steady at all time intervals at 35 kW/m2 flux. Since the sample size, time etc are different for different materials it is difficult to compare the properties of the three materials used for the study. However it could be concluded that the total heat evolved, total oxygen consumed and smoke released are highest for blue carpet. Mass lost is lowest for green carpet. Average specific mass loss rate is highest for underlay. Heat release rate and effective heat of combustion are highest for blue carpet, where as mass loss rate was highest for underlay. The specific extinction area was very high for blue carpet. The carbon dioxide and monoxide yields were also highest for blue carpet. These comparisons were made at 25 kW/m2. Read More