5: Solid Fuel Combustion
- Page ID
- 66686
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- Demonstrate flaming combustion.
- Demonstrate smoldering combustion.
- Discuss stages of fire development (ignition, growth, fully developed, decay).
- Identify stages of fire development through pictures, videos, and time-temperature graphs.
- Review key fire-related terms such as pyrolysis, combustion, and flameover.
This unit examines fires based on fuels in a solid state of matter. As with liquid fuels, solid fuel combustion requires a phase change. In some cases, this is from solid to liquid, then to gas, or in many cases, solids are converted directly to gases. Both processes require enough energy in the form of heat to initiate these phase changes.
- 5.1: Solid Fuels
- This page explores the properties of solids, emphasizing solid fuels and their combustion transformation.
- 5.2: Phases of Fire
- This page details the four phases of fire development: the Incipient Phase, the Growth Phase, the Fully Developed Phase, and the Decay Phase.
- 5.3: Variables That Influence Combustion
- This page discusses the impact of of various factors on combustion and fire growth.
- 5.4: Examples
- This page discusses the hazards of dust and metal fires.
- 5.5: Summary
- This page reviews concepts related to solid fuel combustion. It also reviews fire development stages and how fuel characteristics impact combustion rates.
- 5.6: Review
- This page includes review questions related to solid fuels and combustion.


