IFSTA CH 4 Fire Dynamics Flashcards
(105 cards)
physical change
substance remains chemically the same but changes in size, shape or appearance (ex. freezing/boiling)
Chemical reaction
occurs when a substance changes from on type of matter into another
oxidation
chemical reaction involving the combination of an oxidizer with other materials
timeline of oxidation
potential energy
the amount of energy that an object can release at some point in the future
kinetic energy
energy that a moving object possesses
exothermic reaction
reactions that emit energy as they occur
ex. Fire, releases energy in the form of heat and sometimes light
endothermic reaction
reactions that absorb energy as they occur
ex. converting water to steam
fire triangle
Fire Tetrahedron
eliminate any of the elements in the fire triangle
the fire will be extinguished
ignition
fuels must be in a gaseous state in order to burn
pyrolysis
occurs when a solid fuel is converted into a gaseous fuel
vaporization
is the conversion of a liquid to a vapour by heat energy
piloted ignition
most common form of ignition
occurs when a mixture of fuel and oxygen encounter an external heat source with sufficient heat or thermal energy to start the combustion reaction
autoignition
occurs without any external flame or spark to ignite the fuel gases or vapours
autoignition temperature (AIT)
minimum temp at which a fuel in the air must be heated in order to start self-sustained combustion
always higher then its piloted ignition temperature
two modes of combustion
flaming and non-flaming
non-flaming combustion
occurs more slowly and at a lower temperature, producing a smoldering glow in the materials surface (fire triangle)
flaming combustion
commonly referred to as fire
produces a visible flame above the materials surface
occurs when a gaseous fuel mixes with oxygen in the correct ratio and heats to ignition temperature (fire tetrahedron)
products of combustion
often described as heat and smoke
materials produced and released during burning
incomplete combustion
smoke is a product of incomplete combustion
combustion is incomplete when any of the fuel is left after combustion has occurred
has the potential to burn
carbon monoxide
toxic and flammable product of the incomplete combustion of organic materials
colorless and odorless gas
acts as a chemical asphyxiant (frequent cause of death in civilians)
hydrogen Cyanide (HCN)
toxic flammable substance produced int he combustion of materials containing nitrogen
is a significant byproduct of the combustion of polyurethane foam used in many household furnishing
is 35x more toxic than CO
HCN prevents the body from using oxygen at the cellular level