Mathematical modeling of heat and mass transfer at peat ignition

Abstract

The authors have studied the influence of heat and mass transfer on peat ignition with a local external heat source of cylindrical shape. The paper introduces the mathematical model of this phenomenon. Based on numerical calculations the minimum energy of a specified dimension source was determined. The source inflames peat at different moisture values and conditions of source heat exchange with the environment. The authors found out the dependences of warm-up time on average heat flow value and peat moisture content as well as their critical values at which the ignition and peat fire spread do not occur. The paper introduces the results of laboratory experiments at different values of the studied parameters. When comparing the results of mathematical modeling and the experimental data the authors obtained the matching in source initial temperature and heating time; one can conclude that the studied mathematical model of heat and mass transfer in peat formation describes peat ignition and burning with accuracy sufficient for practice.

Keywords

• heat-mass exchange
• peat
• minimum energy of ignition
• source of heat
• moisture content