Other Research Web-Applications
Java Applet for Horizontal Flame Spread Over Solid Fuels on Flat Plate
Tan Cao and Subrata (Sooby) Bhattacharjee
Description:
This Applet calculates the Flame Spread Rate for Horizontal Flame Spread over a Solid Fuel in an Opposing Forced Gas Flow on Flate Plat using the Modified Extended Simplified Theory (MEST) developed at San Diego State University as presented below:

This model requires as inputs: Ambient properties of gas (gas is mixture of Oxygen and Nitrogen), properties of solid fuels, PMMA (Polymethylmethachrylate) or Cellulose, and model configuration parameters.

The results of calculations found in the blue fields are:
RexFP_amb, Reynolds number x_FP at ambient temperature and pressure.
V_eqv, equivalent gas velocity experienced by the flame.
V_f, flame spread rate.
tau_cr, thickness at which the fuel behavior changes from thin fuels case to thick fuels case or vice versa. 
T and eta, dimensionless spread rate and thickness. 
 
User Instructions:
Launch the Java Applet by clicking here or the schematic.
Click the "Initialize" button to retrieve the default properties and modify them to match the conditions of interest.
Click the "Calculate" button when ready to solve for unknown values. 
Examples:
Example #1: How do you find the flame spread rate over a horizontal PMMA having a half thickness of 0.02 m, in an opposing forced gas flow having a velocity of 0.1m/s, an oxygen percentage of 70%, a pressure equal to 1 standard atmosphere, at ambient temperature of 298 F with MEST, EST, and deRis  Thick Fuel Formulas? (All other properties have default values).
Note: Thick Fuel Formulas are applied when tau > tau_cr. 

Launch the Java Applet by clicking on the link above.
Modify the percentage of Oxygen, y_O2 to indicate 70% and the gas velocity, V_g to show 0.1m/s.
Modify the values of the coefficients from C1 to C6 and the value of T_vap using appropriate data given in Table 1 for each type of formula.
Click the "Calculate" button. The flame spread rate, V_f, from MEST is  0.9184 mm/s, from EST is 0.6955mm/s, ,from deRis is 0.8696mm/s

Example #2: How do you find the flame spread rate for 1 mm thick cellulose in gas having 21% Oxygen and at standard atmosphere with EST and deRis Thin Fuel Formulas? (All other properties have default values).
Note: Thin Fuel Formulas are applied when tau < tau_cr.
Launch the Java Applet by clicking on the link above.
Select Cellulose from the fuel menu.
Change the half thickness, tau to 0.5 mm/s..
Modify the values of the coefficients from a1 to a5 using appropriate data given in Table 2 for each type of formula.
Click the "Calculate" button. The flame spread rate, V_f, from EST is 1.257 mm/s, from deRis is 0.790 mm/s.          . 
Modified Extended Simplified Theory, MEST, Formula for Spread Rate:
Comparison of the simplified model prediction with experimental results:
Related Paper:"Determination of Spread Rate for Downward Flame Spread over Thick Fuels"