Published online by Cambridge University Press: 31 August 2011
The goal of the combustion research is to achieve optimum combustion mode. Reaction Front velocity is one of the most important parameter that is studied in this field. Most biomass consumed at the present time is burned in fixed or moving beds. Fixed-bed combustion systems are characterized by the slow combustion of large particles subjected to an oxidizing ambient. In this paper a model for propagation of a reaction front of wood particles in a fixed Bed is presented. Once the bed is ignited, an apparent flame zone is formed at the bed's top surface and the flame front moves downwards into the bed of fuel at a speed depending on fuel type and operating parameters. Effect of different parameters such as air flow rate through the bed, primary air temperature, moisture content, particle size and number density of fuel particles on the reaction front velocity has been studied. In order to compare the results of this model with the associated experimental data three species of wood fuels are studied and the agreement is found to be satisfactory.