1D flame pluses in narrow channels

We are presenting experimental and computational results on the propagation of fire pulses in narrow channels (width w = (2.5 – 5.5) mm, height h = (1.0 - 7.0) mm). After covering the channel bottom homogeneously with a flammable fluid, a short fire pulse can be created by igniting the evaporated hydrocarbon vapor within the channel cavity. This one-dimensional reaction-diffusion pulse behaves similar to a two-dimensional fire front. The fire pulse propagates forward, leaving an unexcitable region, the refractory tail behind. Evaporation from the fluid will again create excitable (flammable) conditions for the next pulse to pass by. We explore the effects of channel height h and width w on the pulse propagation speed and investigate the length of the pulse’s refractory tail. Our experiments are supported by Mathematica simulations.