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CVFD Training – Fire Behavior. SFFMA Training Objectives: 15-01.01 – 15-01.11. Matter is…. anything that occupies space and has mass (weight). Physical and Chemical Changes of Matter Related to Fire. Physical change Water freezing Water boiling Chemical reaction
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CVFD Training – Fire Behavior SFFMA Training Objectives: 15-01.01 – 15-01.11
Matter is… anything that occupies space and has mass (weight). Firefighter I
Physical and Chemical Changes of Matter Related to Fire • Physical change • Water freezing • Water boiling • Chemical reaction • Reaction of two or more substances to form other compounds • Oxidation (Continued) Firefighter I
Physical and Chemical Changes of Matter Related to Fire • Chemical and physical changes • Usually involve exchange of energy • Potential energy released and changed to kinetic energy • Exothermic reaction • Endothermic reaction Firefighter I
DISCUSSION QUESTION What are some examples of physical and chemical changes of matter? Firefighter I
Combustion — Modes Firefighter I
Fire Triangle Firefighter I
Fire Tetrahedron Firefighter I
Heat as Energy • Heat is a form of energy. • Potential energy — Energy possessed by an object that may be released in the future • Kinetic energy — Energy possessed by a moving object Firefighter I
Temperature • Temperature is a measurement of kinetic energy • Heat energy moves from objects of higher temperature to those of lower temperature. • Understanding this movement is important Firefighter I
Measuring energy • Not possible to measure directly • Work means increasing temperature • Measured in joules in International System of Units or metric system • Measured in British thermal units in customary system Firefighter I
Scales Used to Measure Temperature • Celsius — Metric • Fahrenheit — Customary Firefighter I
Conversion of Energy Into Heat • Heat is the energy component of tetrahedron • Fuel is heated = temperature increases • Starting ignition • Forms of ignition Firefighter I
Chemical Heat Energy • Most common heat source in combustion reactions • Oxidation almost always results in production of heat • Self-heating Firefighter I
Electrical Heat Energy • Can generate temperatures high enough to ignite any combustible materials near heated area • Can occur as • Resistance • Overcurrent/overload • Arcing • Sparking Firefighter I
Mechanical Heat Energy • Generated by friction or compression • Movement of two surfaces against each other creates heat of friction • Movement results in heat and/or sparks being generated • Heat of compression generated when gas compressed (Continued) Firefighter I
Mechanical Heat Energy Firefighter I
DISCUSSION QUESTION What are some examples of chemical, electrical, and mechanical sources of heat energy? Firefighter I
Transfer of Heat • Basic to study of fire behavior • Affects growth of any fire • Knowledge helps firefighters estimate size of fire before attacking • Heat moves from warmer objects to cooler objects (Continued) Firefighter I
Transfer of Heat • Rate related to temperature differential of bodies and thermal conductivity of material • Greater the temperature differences between bodies, greater the transfer rate • Measured as energy flow over time Firefighter I
Conduction • Transfer of heat within a body or to another body by direct contact • Occurs when a material is heated as a result of direct contact with heat source • Heat flow depends on several factors Firefighter I
Convection • Transfer of heat energy from fluid to solid surface • Transfer of heat through movement of hot smoke and fire gases • Flow is from hot fire gases to cooler components Firefighter I
Radiation • Transmission of energy as electromagnetic wave without intervening medium (Continued) Firefighter I
Radiation • Thermal radiation results from temperature • Affected by several factors • Energy travels in straight line at speed of light Firefighter I
Passive Agents • Materials that absorb heat but do not participate in combustion • Fuel moisture = passive agent • Relative humidity and fuel moisture Firefighter I
DISCUSSION QUESTION What is the impact of high fuel moisture on fire spread? Firefighter I
Fuel • Material being oxidized in combustion process • Reducing agent • Inorganic or organic; organic most common (Continued) Firefighter I
Fuel • Organic can be broken into: • Hydrocarbon-based • Cellulose-based • Key factors influencing combustion process • Physical state of fuel • Distribution or orientation of fuel Firefighter I
Gaseous Fuel • Must be gaseous for flaming combustion • Methane, hydrogen, etc. most dangerous because exists naturally in state required for ignition • Has mass but no definite shape or volume Firefighter I
Liquid Fuel • Has mass and volume but no definite shape except for flat surface • Assumes shape of container • Will flow downhill and pool in low areas • Density is compared to that of water • Must be vaporized in order to burn Firefighter I
Liquid Fuel Characteristics Flash point (Continued) Firefighter I
DISCUSSION QUESTION From a practical standpoint, why should the flash point generally be considered the temperature at which a liquid or gas will sustain combustion? Firefighter I
Liquid Fuel Characteristics • Fire point • Surface area • Solubility • Fire fighting considerations Firefighter I
Solid Fuel • Definite size and shape • May react differently when exposed to heat (Continued) Firefighter I
Solid Fuel • Pyrolysis evolves solid fuel into fuel gases/vapors. • As it is heated, begins to decompose, giving off combustible vapors (Continued) Firefighter I
Solid Fuel • Commonly the primary fuel • Surface-to-mass ratio — Primary consideration in ease or difficulty of lighting (Continued) Firefighter I
Solid Fuel • Proximity/orientation of solid fuel relative to source of heat affects the way it burns Firefighter I
Heat of Combustion/Heat Release Rate • Heat of combustion — Total amount of energy released when a specific amount of fuel is oxidized • Usually expressed in kilojoules/gram (kJ/g) • Heat release rate (HRR) — Energy released per unit of time as fuel burns • Usually expressed in kilowatts (kW) Firefighter I
Oxygen • In air, is the primary oxidizing agent in most fires • Air consists of about 21 percent oxygen • Other materials can react with fuels in same way Firefighter I
Oxygen Concentrations • At normal ambient temperatures, materials can ignite/burn at concentrations as low as 14 percent. • When limited, flaming combustion may diminish; combustion will continue in surface or smoldering mode. (Continued) Firefighter I
Oxygen Concentrations • At high ambient temperatures, flaming combustion may continue at much lower oxygen concentrations. • Surface combustion can continue at extremely low oxygen concentrations. (Continued) Firefighter I
Oxygen Concentrations • When higher than normal, materials have different burning characteristics. • Fires in oxygen-enriched atmospheres are difficult to extinguish and present a potential safety hazard. • Flammable explosive range — Range of concentrations of fuel vapor and air Firefighter I
Self-Sustained Chemical Reaction • Very complex • Example: Combustion of methane and oxygen (Continued) Firefighter I
Self-Sustained Chemical Reaction Firefighter I
Flaming Combustion Sufficient heat causes fuel/oxygen to form free radicals, initiates self-sustained chemical reaction Fire burns until fuel/oxygen exhausted or extinguishing agent applied Agents may deprive process of fuel, oxygen, sufficient heat for reaction Firefighter I
Surface Combustion • Distinctly different from flaming combustion • Cannot be extinguished by chemical flame inhibition • Must be extinguished by working on one side of the fire triangle Firefighter I
General Products of Combustion Include Heat, Smoke, Light • Heat, smoke impact firefighters most • Heat generated during fire helps spread fire • Lack of protection from heat may cause burns and other health issues • Toxic smoke causes most fire deaths Firefighter I
Common Products of Combustion • Carbon monoxide • Hydrogen cyanide • Carbon dioxide Firefighter I
Hazards to Firefighters • Toxic effects of smoke inhalation not results of any one gas • Smoke contains a wide range of irritating substances that can be deadly • Firefighters must use SBCA when operating in smoke Firefighter I
Flame • Visible, luminous body of a burning gas • Becomes hotter, less luminous when burning gas mixes with proper amounts of oxygen • Loss of luminosity caused by more complete combustion of carbon • Product of combustion Firefighter I