Thermal Agent Extinguishment of Two Types of Diffusion Flames

Published

March 25, 2001

Author(s)

William M. Pitts, Rodney A. Bryant, Jiann C. Yang

Abstract

The extinguishment of diffusion flames on two types of burners-an opposed-flow Tsuji burner and an axisymmetric burner with a surrounding coflow-by thermal agents has been investigated. Thermal agents are those that act primarily by extracting heat and diluting the flame. In this study nitrogen, argon, helium, and carbon dioxide have been used as thermal agents. Both methane and propane have been used as fuels. Extinguishing concentrations are found to depend on the agent, type of burner, and on the fuel used. Propane flames are found to be more difficult to extinguish than methane flames on the same burner, while the Tsuji-type burner requires much higher concentrations of thermal agents for extinguishment than the coflow burner. Possible explanations for the observed differences are discussed.

Proceedings Title

Combustion Institute/Western States Section. U.S. Sections of the Combustion Institute, 2nd Joint Meeting

Conference Dates

March 25-28, 2001

Conference Location

Oakland, CA

Pub Type

Conferences

Download Paper

Local Download

Keywords

diffusion flames, extinguishment, burners, combustion, diluents, fire extinguishing agents, fire suppression, laminar flames

Citation

Pitts, W. , Bryant, R. and Yang, J. (2001), Thermal Agent Extinguishment of Two Types of Diffusion Flames, Combustion Institute/Western States Section. U.S. Sections of the Combustion Institute, 2nd Joint Meeting, Oakland, CA, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=911578 (Accessed October 2, 2025)