Flame Propagation Speed of Hydrocarbon Aerosols Generated By Electrospray

Flammable liquid hazard is usually classified by using a fuel’s flash point. However, this conventional approach may neglect the potential hazards of high flash point fluids. Aerosol or mist usually forms when liquid is released under high pressure and high temperature, or vapor condenses in a cooled environment. Under such circumstances, aerosol behavior differs significantly from bulk liquid or vapor. Given that the hazards associated with high flash point liquids are usually overlooked, aerosol risks may not be properly managed, which may lead to severe incidents. In this study, a series of experiments were conducted to investigate the combustion behavior of high flash point hydrocarbon aerosols including a heat transfer fluid, hexadecane, and dodecane. Aerosols generated by electrospray were characterized by a laser diffraction particle analyzer before ignition, and flame propagations after ignition were analyzed by using a high speed camera. The trends of flame propagation as a function of fluid characteristics are also discussed in this work.