• 한국안전학회지
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• 제27권3호
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• pp.71-76
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• 2012

The coflow velocity effect on the minimum extinguishing concentration(MEC) was investigated experimentally in heptane cup-burner flames. Various inert gases($N_2$, Ar, $CO_2$, He) were added into the oxidizer to find the critical concentration and the effectiveness of the agents on flame extinction. The experimental results showed that the MECs were increased with increasing coflow velocity for most inert gases except helium, but the higher coflow velocity induced the lower burning rates of heptane. This indicated that the increase of coflow velocity resulted in the decrease of fuel velocity evaporated from fuel surface, and hence the stain rate on the reaction zone was also decreased. In the case of helium as a additive, the extinguishing concentration was independent of the coflow velocity because the heat conductivity was ten times larger than the other inert gases and flow effect by a strain rate might be compensated for heat loss to the surroundings.