A Radiative Ignition Model of a Solid Fuel

Abstract

A theoretical model describing radiative ignition of a solid fuel is constructed and is numerically analyzed. The model includes the effects of gas phase reaction and a finite value of the absorption coefficient of the solid (in-depth absorption of incident radiation). It is found that the gas phase reaction must be included in the model in order to understand radiative ignition of a solid fuel and to find its ignition boundary. The in-depth absorption of the incident radiation by a solid fuel significantly affects the ignition delay time. The results indicate that there is a finite range of values for pyrolysis or gas phase reaction activation energy for which ignition will occur. This finding has a direct bearing on efforts to reduce material ignitability.