CHAPTER 1

Combustion
COMBUSTION
 a chemical reaction
between substances ,
usually including OXYGEN
and usually accompanied
by the generation of HEAT
and LIGHT in the form of
flame.
3 THEORIES OF COMBUSTION
1. Fire triangle theory -
Three element necessary
to create/produced fire
in EQUAL proportion.
 2.Fire Tetrahedron Theory
-The fourth element of fire known as
the “chemical chain reaction”.
 3. Life cycle of fire theory

- Stages / steps wherein fire is created.

Using the same theory , there are three ways
to extinguish fire;

1. Reduce the temperature (Cooling)

 2. Cut-off the oxygen supply
 3.Remove the fuel
ELEMENTS OF FIRE:
1.Heat - a form of energy measure in degree of
temperature , the product of combustion that caused
the spread of fire.
For a fire to start there must be a source of
ignition.

2.Oxygen - a colorless and odorless gas and one of

the composition of air that support fire is
approximately 21% by volume.
Approximately 16% is required. Normal air contains
21%.

3. Fuel – any substance/combustible which reacts

chemically with the oxygen and produces flames.
For a fire to start there must be something to burn.
FUEL SOURCES:
 1.Solid - molecules are closely packed
together.
 2. Liquid - molecules are loosely packed.

 3 Gas - molecules are free to moved.

COMMON TYPES OF SOLID

 A. BULKY B. Finely divided C .dust

 1. coal 1.plastic
1.sawdust
 2.wood 2.paper
2.sugar
 3.wax 3.cork
3.grain
 4.grease 4.leather
4.others
COMMON TYPES OF GASES:
 1.Natual gas
 2.propane
 3.butane
 4.hydogen
 5.acetylene
 6.carbon monoxide
 7.others
COMMON TYPES OF LIQUIDS;
 1.gasoline

 2.kerosene

 3.turpentine

 4.alcohol

 5. cod liver oil

 6.paint

 7.varnish

 8.lacquer

 9.olive oil
ELEMENTS OF TETRAHEDRON:
 1.Oxygen (oxidizing agent)- material/substance that yield
oxygen or oxidizing gases during the process of chemical
reaction . For the purpose of discussion , the oxygen in the
air in the surrounding are is considered the primary
oxidizing agent.

 2.Fuel(reducing agent) – material or substance being burn

in the combustion process. Most common fuel contains
carbon along with combination with hydrogen and oxygen.

 3.Heat(Temperature) – the energy component of fire

tetrahedron . When heat comes in the contact of fuel, the
energy support the combustion process.

 4.Self Sustained Chemical Reaction – (The fourth element)

- a series of event that occur in sequence with the result of
each individual reaction being added the rest.
 once flaming starts, it can only continue
when enough heat or energy is produced to
cause the continued chain reaction.
COMMON SOURCES OF HEAT:

 TYPES OF ENERGY
 1.chemical energy

 2.electrical energy

 3.nuclear energy

 4.mechanical energy

 5.heat

 6.lights
CHEMICAL ENERGY
 The most common source of heat in
combustion reactions. An energy released as
a result of chemical reaction such as
combustion. When any combustibles is in
contact with oxygen oxidation occurs.
 ex:
ELECTRICAL ENERGY:
 An energy developed when electrons flows
through a conductor. Electrical energy can
generate temperatures high enough to ignite
any combustible materials near heated
gases.
NUCLEAR ENERGY
 An energy generated when atoms either
split apart (Fission) or combine (Fusion).
Nuclear power plants generate power as a
result of the fission of uranium 235.
MECHANICAL ENERGY:
 An energy created by friction and
compression.
 HEAT FRICTION - The movement of two

surfaces against each other. This movement

produced sparks being generated.
 HEAT OF COMPRESSION – heat is generated
when a gas is compressed in a container or
cylinder
ENERGY EXIST IN TWO TYPES:

 1.Potential energy - an energy

possessed by an object that can be
released in the future.

 2.
Kinetic energy - an energy
possessed by a moving object.
THE NATURE OF FIRE:

When a piece of wood is ignited, the fire is

not from the burning wood , rather, from the
vapors that are given off by the wood .

The heat causes the substance in the wood to

vaporize.

The heated vapors mix quickly with oxygen in

the air and fire results.
This process is known as PYROLYSIS.
PYROLYSIS DEFINED
 The chemical process whereby fire
consumed the most solid part of the fuel . It
is the thermal decomposition of a solid fuel
through the action of heat.
THE PROCESS OF PYROLYSIS:

 - the fuel heated until its temperature

reaches its fire point;
 -decomposition takes place – moisture in the

fuel converted into vapors;

 -decomposition produces combustible vapors

that rise to the surface of the fuel

 These combustible vapors are technically

termed FREE – RADICALS;

 Free radicals undergo combustion if proper

amount of oxygen is present.

THE MOST COMMON TYPES OF FREE
RADICALS:
 1.hydrogen gas
 2.carbon monoxide
 3.cardioxide
 4.nitrogen
PRODUCTS OF COMBUSTION:

 Common combustible contain carbon , which

for, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide
when burned.
 Records of fatal fires show that more people

died from inhaling these super heated and

toxic fire gases than from other cause.
 When CO is not the most toxic fire gas , it

causes more deaths than any other gases

because it robs the body oxygen.
TYPES OF POISONOUS GASES:
 1.Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) - a fire gas formed
during fires involving organic material
containing sulfur such as, ;
 rubber , hair ,wood , meat and hides.

 Exposure for even a short period of time is

dangerous.

 2.Hydrogen cyanide(HCN) - a toxic fire found

in oxygen starve fires involving nitrogen
containing such as;
 Wool , silk, urethane and acrylics
 3.Hydrogen chloride (HCL) – a gas which can
be fatal after only a few breaths , is produced
in fires involving chloride containing plastic.