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Definition
Combustion also called as burning is when fuel and oxidant made exothermic chemical reactions and produce heat as well as convert the chemical species present. With such produced heat, it can produce light and later results to glow or flame. Chemical reactions come into so called complete combustion reactions in which a particular compound reacts with oxidizing element like oxygen or fluorine and produce compounds with the presence of element in fuel and oxidizing element. However, this so called complete combustion reactions are impossible to have since thinking of reality there are other elements present which can affect the reaction. These present elements may include carbon monoxide, carbon, nitrogen and more.
Kinds
Combustion includes several types which greatly differ from each other. First is the complete combustion wherein the reactant burns in oxygen which later produces a number of products. For example, burning hydrocarbon will only result to the reaction between carbon dioxide and water. When burning elements it would produce oxides example burning carbon would produce carbon dioxide, sulfur produce sulfur dioxide and more.
Another type is the incomplete which happen only if there is not enough oxygen which won’t let the fuel react completely so as to produce carbon dioxide and water. In addition, such incomplete happen when the combustion is reduced by heat sink like solid surface. Incomplete combustion produce not burned pyrolysis as well as smoke with harmful matter and gases. When substances weren’t combusted completely it cause toxic to it.
Smoldering is another type of combustion which is slow and flameless. It is made due to the heat being evolved when oxygen engaged directly to the condensed-phase fuel surface. Smoldering is under the incomplete combustion which produces materials like coal, cellulose, wood, cotton, synthetic foams, charring polymers including polyurethane foam, tobacco, peat, duff, humus, and dust. Cigarette and short circuit were some of smoldering phenomena.
Other than these kinds of combustion there is also the so called rapid combustion also known as fire. Fire occurs when huge amount of heat and light energy are released causing it to react and then form a flame. Rapid combustion is engaged on large machinery like internal combustion engines and weaponry. This kind of combustion could result to explosion. There are other kind of combustions such as microgravity and turbulent.
Combustion Phases of Fuel
Liquid fuels combustion in an oxidized atmosphere occurs in gas phase hence it is the vapor the burns and not the liquid itself. On the other hand, solid fuels consist of three phases such as preheating phase, distillation or gaseous phase and charcoal or solid phase.
Combustion Reaction
In oxygen the combustion causes chain of reaction wherein several radical intermediates were involved. This intermediate is very reactive causing the energy to supply continual heat. On the other hand, combustion of hydrocarbons is initiated by hydrogen atom from fuel to oxygen. Fuel radicals and oxidizing radicals could be produced in this process. Oxidizing radical include hydroxyl, monatomic oxygen and more however these intermediates live shortly and can’t be isolated.
