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Microgravity smoldering combustion on the USML-1 Space Shuttle missionPreliminary results from an experimental study of the smolder characteristics of a porous combustible material (flexible polyurethane foam) in normal and microgravity are presented. The experiments, limited in fuel sample size and power available for ignition, show that the smolder process was primarily controlled by heat losses from the reaction to the surrounding environment In microgravity, the reduced heat losses due to the absence of natural convection result in only slightly higher temperatures in the quiescent microgravity test than in normal gravity, but a dramatically larger production of combustion products in all microgravity tests. Particularly significant is the proportionately larger amount of carbon monoxide and light organic compounds produced in microgravity, despite comparable temperatures and similar char patterns. This excessive production of fuel-rich combustion products may be a generic characteristic of smoldering polyurethane in microgravity, with an associated increase in the toxic hazard of smolder in spacecraft.
Document ID
19960008388
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Stocker, Dennis P. (NASA Lewis Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Olson, Sandra L. (NASA Lewis Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Torero, Jose L. (California Univ. Berkeley, CA., United States)
Fernandez-Pello, A. Carlos (California Univ. Berkeley, CA., United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
August 1, 1995
Publication Information
Publication: The 3rd International Microgravity Combustion Workshop
Subject Category
Materials Processing
Accession Number
96N15554
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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IDRelationTitle19960008386Collected WorksThird International Microgravity Combustion Workshop
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