2007 Volume 49 Issue 147 Pages 62-69
In this research, flame-spread characteristics of randomly-arranged one-dimensional fuel-droplet arrays in microgravity were studied. Flame-spread probability was calculated based on a percolation model with the flame-spread-limit distance with evenly spaced droplet arrays. Flame-spread probability depends on occupation fraction of droplet in lattice, and rapidly increases with the occupation fraction. Local flame-spread-limit distance of droplet array with uneven inter-droplet distance was investigated. Flame-spread experiments were performed in microgravity. The fuel droplets were hung on the fibers, and the fuel droplets were arranged in a straight line at uneven inter-droplet distance. N-decane was used as a fuel. Local flame-spread-limit distance of unevenly-spaced droplet array is affected by local droplet interaction and flame spread mode and is larger than that of evenly-spaced droplet array. Flame-spread probability considering the flame-spread-limit distance with uneven inter-droplet distance is larger than that without it.
