Experimental study on oscillating behaviour in a small-scale compartment fire

To investigate fire behaviour in a compartment, the effect of ventillation factor and fuel surface area was studied experimentally by using methanol as a fuel. A limit of stable combustion appeared at a small ventillation factor. As the fuel surface became larger, the stable combustion limit increased. Oscillating combustion was observed in both an unstable combustion region and a stable combustion region near the boundary of these regions. In the unstable combustion region, extinction followed the oscillating combustion. On the other hand, in the stable region the oscillating combustion lasted until the fuel was exhausted. The period of the oscillating combustion was 1·–1·5 s in the stable combustion region.