Determination of Woody Fuel Flame Properties by Means of Emission Spectroscopy Using a Genetic Algorithm

• Published in: Combustion science and technology Vol. 185; no. 4; pp. 579 - 599
• Main Authors: Billaud, Y., Boulet, P., Pizzo, Y., Parent, G., Acem, Z., Kaiss, A., Collin, A., Porterie, B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA Taylor & Francis Group 03-04-2013; Taylor & Francis; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Combustion; Combustion. Flame; Emission; Emission spectroscopy; Emissions; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Engineering Sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Forest & brush fires; Fuels; Gallium; Genetic algorithm; Genetic algorithms; Infrared radiation; Infrared spectrometry; Radiation model; Sensitivity analysis; Simulation; Soot; Spectrum analysis; Spreads; Theoretical studies. Data and constants. Metering; Sensitivity analysis; On line; Soot; Emission; Combustion; Calibration; Flame propagation; Infrared spectrometry; Emission spectrometry; Genetic algorithm; Particle emission; Radiation model; Flame structure
• ISSN: 0010-2202; 1563-521X
• DOI: 10.1080/00102202.2012.731118

Because radiation from flames is often the dominant mechanism for wildfire spread, detailed information on flame properties is required. The proposed procedure combines a spectrally resolved radiation model for simulating the line-of-sight infrared emission intensity and spectroscopy data and uses a genetic algorithm (GA) to determine a set of flame properties, allowing optimal agreement between model and outdoor experiments. GA calibration and sensitivity analysis were conducted using well-defined reference flames. The combined GA/radiation model was used with emission data to estimate the effective properties of flames from the combustion of woody fuel beds from 0.5 to 4 m in thickness. Experimental results show that the contribution of soot particles to flame emission increases with flame thickness. The GA was found to be robust and efficient in providing relevant flame properties from line-of-sight intensities on the infrared spectrum of radiation.