Development of an improved radiant heat source for fire testing
✍ Scribed by A. F. Robertson
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 1982
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 479 KB
- Volume
- 6
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0308-0501
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✦ Synopsis
Abstract
The development, construction, and testing of a gas‐fired radiant heat source for use as part of a fire test method is described. The unit has been shown capable of operation over extended periods at surface temperatures yielding radiance corresponding to that of a black body at 935 °C. This permits a 60% increase of specimen irradiance over that possible with a burner previously used, without modifying the specimen–burner configuration factor. One such application of this burner allows operation with specimen irradiance levels at 5 W cm^−2^ or for short periods at levels approaching 7 W cm^−2^ at higher temperatures. This performance is achieved while maintaining effective spatial separation between specimen and heat source. This assists in avoiding imposition of vitiated air near the surface of a burning specimen. Some performance data are provided on its behavior when supplied with natural gas. The unit can burn propane but only with a significant reduction of thermal output.