Browse > Article
http://dx.doi.org/10.7731/KIFSE.2012.26.3.035

Assessment of the Combustion Diffusion Pattern and Fire Risk of a Water Purifier Damaged by a General Fire  

Choi, Chung-Seog (Department of Fire Safety Engineering, Jeonju University)
Publication Information
Fire Science and Engineering / v.26, no.3, 2012 , pp. 35-39 More about this Journal
Abstract
This paper analyzes the combustion diffusion pattern when a water purifier is artificially ignited outside and inside in order to provide data to examine the cause of fire of a water purifier damaged by fire. The analysis result of the combustion diffusion pattern of a water purifier shows that the combustion diffused at a higher speed when it was ignited inside the purifier than when ignited outside. It took approximately 360 seconds for the water purifier to be half-burned when ignited on the outside, and approximately 180 seconds when ignited from inside. That is, it is thought that the internal combustion speed is higher because the internal ignition causes the generated heat to be accumulated and radiated instantly. It was observed that the water purifier damaged by fire caused by external ignition showed a uniform carbonization pattern and the carbide burned down at the bottom were gradually deposited. The water purifier damaged by internal ignition showed a relatively clear boundary of carbonized surface, which formed a V-pattern. The difference in the combustion patterns presents an objective base from which to determine where the fire started. By the time the purifier was half-burned by fire, the built-in fuse had not melted and the power supply protection device did not operate. In addition, as was found in the case of the fuse damaged by a general fire, carbonization occurred at the metal holder, and it is thought that this fact may be used as a basis from which to determine the cause of a fire.
Keywords
Combustion diffusion pattern; Fire risk; Water purifier; Carbonization pattern; V-Pattern;
Citations & Related Records
Times Cited By KSCI : 1  (Citation Analysis)
연도 인용수 순위
1 KEPCO, "2010 Statistics of Electrical Power in Korea", Vol. 80, pp.16-17 (2011).
2 National Fire Data System, www.nfds.go.kr, NEMA (2011).
3 C. S. Choi, H. W., Kim, K. S. Lee, Y. S. Lim, C. H. Lee and J. H. Chung, "Electrical Fire Engineering", Honghwa Technology Publishing Co., pp. 161, 172, 189-199 (2004).
4 S. H. Lee, "Theory and Business of Fire Investigation", Honghwa Technology Publishing Co., pp. 2-4, 91-92 (2009).
5 K. Y. Lee, C. S. Choi, D. O. Kim, H. K. Kim and D. W. Kim, "Research on Improvement of Power Control System of Cold & Hot Water Purifier", Trans. KIEE, Vol. 56P, No. 1, pp. 45-50 (2007).
6 D. O. Kim, H. J. Kil, H. W. Moon, H. K. Kim and C. S. Choi, "A Study on the Heating Factor of Thermostat due to the Using Environment", 2012 Spring Conference of the Korean Society of Safety, pp. 207-212 (2007).
7 D. O. Kim, C. S. Choi, K. Y. Lee, H. W. Moon and H. K. Kim, "The Protective Countermeasure of Water Purifier PCB according to Abnormal Voltage", Journal of KIIEE, Vol. 21, No. 8, pp. 64-70 (2007).
8 C. S. Choi, "Study of the Method to Examine the Cause of Damage to a Flat-Type Vinyl Cord (VFF) According to the Type of Energy Source", Journal of Korean Institute of Fire Science & Engineering, Vol. 25, No. 6, pp. 83-88 (2011).
9 John D. Dehaan, "Kirk's Fire Investigation", 4th Edition, Prentice Hall, pp. 21-26 (2002).
10 J. Warnatz, U. Maas and R. W. Dibble, "Combustion", Springer, pp. 157-159 (1996).