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Experimental Investigation of Burning Liquids in Reduced Oxygen

Åström, Joakim LU ; van Hees, Patrick LU orcid ; Runefors, Marcus LU orcid and Johansson, Nils LU orcid (2026) In Fire and Materials 50(4). p.448-459
Abstract

The effects of oxygen concentration on combustion of gases have been investigated on fundamental levels in several studies. However, the same type of fundamental studies has not been made for liquid or solid fuels due to complex relationships between flame structure and changing mass loss rates (MLR). In this study, an experimental setup is designed that allows for extended times of stable combustion for methanol and ethanol in reduced oxygen concentrations. The results are analysed in comparison to the fundamental findings for gaseous fuels to try and bridge the gap. From this, some conclusions could be drawn on the radiative properties affecting the heat feedback to the surface of methanol and ethanol at reduced oxygen concentrations.... (More)

The effects of oxygen concentration on combustion of gases have been investigated on fundamental levels in several studies. However, the same type of fundamental studies has not been made for liquid or solid fuels due to complex relationships between flame structure and changing mass loss rates (MLR). In this study, an experimental setup is designed that allows for extended times of stable combustion for methanol and ethanol in reduced oxygen concentrations. The results are analysed in comparison to the fundamental findings for gaseous fuels to try and bridge the gap. From this, some conclusions could be drawn on the radiative properties affecting the heat feedback to the surface of methanol and ethanol at reduced oxygen concentrations. Finally, the effect on the MLR is compared to a previously well-defined correlation for liquid and solid fuels. It was seen that this correlation would underpredict the MLR of methanol and ethanol with a factor of 2 as the oxygen concentration is reduced to 15%. This could have a large impact on safety assessments.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
burning liquids, constant liquid level, ethanol, heat flux gauge, methanol, reduced oxygen
in
Fire and Materials
volume
50
issue
4
pages
12 pages
publisher
John Wiley & Sons Inc.
external identifiers
  • scopus:105032908312
ISSN
0308-0501
DOI
10.1002/fam.70066
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2026 The Author(s). Fire and Materials published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
id
5e345a79-df48-4a89-a0ec-bfad046dbb88
date added to LUP
2026-05-19 13:24:23
date last changed
2026-05-19 13:26:55
@article{5e345a79-df48-4a89-a0ec-bfad046dbb88,
  abstract     = {{<p>The effects of oxygen concentration on combustion of gases have been investigated on fundamental levels in several studies. However, the same type of fundamental studies has not been made for liquid or solid fuels due to complex relationships between flame structure and changing mass loss rates (MLR). In this study, an experimental setup is designed that allows for extended times of stable combustion for methanol and ethanol in reduced oxygen concentrations. The results are analysed in comparison to the fundamental findings for gaseous fuels to try and bridge the gap. From this, some conclusions could be drawn on the radiative properties affecting the heat feedback to the surface of methanol and ethanol at reduced oxygen concentrations. Finally, the effect on the MLR is compared to a previously well-defined correlation for liquid and solid fuels. It was seen that this correlation would underpredict the MLR of methanol and ethanol with a factor of 2 as the oxygen concentration is reduced to 15%. This could have a large impact on safety assessments.</p>}},
  author       = {{Åström, Joakim and van Hees, Patrick and Runefors, Marcus and Johansson, Nils}},
  issn         = {{0308-0501}},
  keywords     = {{burning liquids; constant liquid level; ethanol; heat flux gauge; methanol; reduced oxygen}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{448--459}},
  publisher    = {{John Wiley & Sons Inc.}},
  series       = {{Fire and Materials}},
  title        = {{Experimental Investigation of Burning Liquids in Reduced Oxygen}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/fam.70066}},
  doi          = {{10.1002/fam.70066}},
  volume       = {{50}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}