Hot Surface Ignition of Automotive and Aviation Fluids

Abstract

Although ignition of flammable liquids by hot surfaces is well known in the automotive and aviation industries, little fundamental research has been conducted to understand this ignition mechanism and only limited data is available in the literature. In this paper, we present results from over 2,500 ignition tests using a simple, highly reproducible experimental set-up involving a horizontal flat plate, a single drop of liquid and a quiescent environment. Results from the 14 automotive and aviation fluids tested showed that ignition was probabilistic, that the probabilistic behavior occurs over a relatively broad temperature range and that the data can be treated statistically using logistic regression. This statistical approach offers the advantages of inference and diagnostic techniques which parallel those of linear regression, and provides a well-defined relationship between surface temperature and ignition probability.

Hot Surface Ignition of Performance Fuels

“…Similar to other groups [2,4], the hot surface ignition test apparatus used for this study was designed to maximize the reproducibility of the experimental results and accommodate for the testing of a range of fluids. The apparatus consisted of a pressurized fuel delivery system, which sprayed fluid on to a temperature-controlled hot plate.…”

“…While hot surface ignition of flammable and combustible liquids is a well-known hazard in the chemical processing, automotive [1][2][3][4][5][6], and aviation industries [7][8][9], only limited research has been conducted to understand the ignition mechanism. Hot surface ignition of flammable and combustible liquids is a complex phenomenon and depends on many factors.…”

“…Limited studies have been conducted to understand this phenomenon in the automotive industry [1][2][3][4][5][6] as well as in the aviation industry [7][8][9]. In addition, contrary to ASTM E-659 tests that result in a single AIT, studies have shown that ignition on a hot surface is statistical in nature [1][2][3][4].…”

“…Recent studies [1][2][3][4], which have evaluated the propensity of various flammable and combustible liquids to ignite on a hot surface, have investigated the relationship between AIT and the minimum temperature required for hot surface ignition. One study determined the ignition of a variety of automotive and aviation fluids on a horizontal flat plate, using a single drop of liquid in a quiescent environment [2].…”

“…One study determined the ignition of a variety of automotive and aviation fluids on a horizontal flat plate, using a single drop of liquid in a quiescent environment [2]. Their results showed a probabilistic nature of the ignition of fluids on a hot surface and provided a well-defined relationship between surface temperature and ignition probability for their apparatus.…”