The Opposed-Flow Flame Spread over Thin Solid Fuel in Finite Space under Normal and Microgravity

Abstract

Apparatus to simulate microgravity combustion under normal gravity is important for the safety of manned spaceflight. The narrow channel is such an apparatus in still an open question. In present paper, the opposed-flow flame spread over thin solid fuel in finite space under different gravities was compared experimentally and numerically. The comparison of flame appearances and flame spread rates under various gravities suggest that the horizontal channel of 1 cm height can suppress natural convection effectively. Such apparatus can simulate the microgravity flame spread in the channel of same geometrical size. Therefore, using the horizontal narrow channel on the ground to simulate the microgravity flame spread in the same environment, then considering the effect of channel size on flow field and heat loss to get the characteristics of microgravity flame spread in space of other size may be a feasible method. Keywords: microgravity, flame spread, thin solid fuel, finite space, numerical simulation, experiment