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Project ID: 11-1-4-19

Year: 2011

Date Started: 09/01/2011

Ending Date:  08/30/2014

Title: Determination of the Effects of Heating Mechanisms and Moisture Content on Ignition of Live Fuels

Project Proposal Abstract: After many years of research examining the ignition of wood and other cellulosic fuels, it is still unclear which modes of heat transfer will result in successful ignition of live wildland fuel particles. Thermal radiation can cause a fuel particle to pyrolyze to produce a gaseous mixture that can be pilot ignited. Convective heating can produce a pyrolysis mixture that ignites without a pilot. Moisture content of the live fuel particle may influence these results. We propose to examine the ability of heating by different combinations of thermal radiation and convection to ignite pyrolyzates from foliage of common live fuels. By testing fresh foliar samples monthly for a year, we will examine the influence of live fuel moisture content on the pre-ignition and ignition processes. We will accomplish this by designing and performing a series of collaborative experiments drawing upon ongoing work in two combustion labs and comparing experimental results with existing models. The anticipated benefit of this work will be expansion of our limited understanding and description of the ignition process of live wildland fuels that will contribute to improved fire behavior models.

Principal Investigator: David R. Weise

Agency/Organization: Forest Service

Branch or Dept: PSW-Forest Fire Lab-Riverside

Other Project Collaborators

Type	Name	Agency/Organization	Branch or Dept
Budget Contact	Anna Wong	Forest Service	PSW-Pacific Southwest Research Station
Co-Principal Investigator	Thomas H. Fletcher	Brigham Young University	Department of Chemical Engineering
Co-Principal Investigator	William ’Matt’ M. Jolly	Forest Service	RMRS-Fire Sciences Lab-Missoula
Co-Principal Investigator	Shankar M Mahalingam	University of California-Riverside	Department of Mechanical Engineering
Co-Principal Investigator	Sara S. McAllister	Forest Service	RMRS-Fire Sciences Lab-Missoula
Co-Principal Investigator	Babak B. Shotorban	University of Alabama-Huntsville	Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
Federal Cooperator	David R. Weise	Forest Service	PSW-Forest Fire Lab-Riverside
Grants and Agreements Contact	Jennifer R. Jones	Forest Service	PSW-Pacific Southwest Research Station

Project Locations

Consortium

California

Great Basin

Northern Rockies

South

Level	State	Agency	Unit
NATIONAL		N/A

Project Deliverables

There is no final report available for this project.

	ID	Type	Title
	10339	Poster	Fuel Element Combustion Properties for Live Wildland Utah Shrubs

Supporting Documents

There are no supporting documents available for this project.

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