Firing Techniques

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Fred X. Turck
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CHEMISTRY 101
Heat/Chemical Energy
CELLULOSE O
CO H O ENERGY
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Sun/Thermal Energy
CELLULOSE O
CO H O ENERGY
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2
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The energy flow for combustion is reverse to that
for photosynthesis.
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Fire Triangle
Heat
Oxygen
Fuel
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Smoke Production
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Smoke Management

• A plan of action where prescribed burning is
  conducted in such a way that smoke produced is
  minimized or directed in a direction that keeps
  any impacts within acceptable limits.

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Smoke Management Costs

• Reduce number of burning days
• Constraints on acreage burned
• False starts
• Delays until later in the day, year or next year
• Extra cost of mop-up
• Monitoring costs

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Smoke Management Benefits

• The continued use of prescribed fire as a
  management tool
• Improved air quality through fewer smoke
  intrusions
• Fewer public complaints
• Reduction of litigation and liability costs

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Pollutants

• The most important pollutants given off during a
  wildland fire are particulate matter and carbon
  monoxide.

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Stages of Combustion
CO2
Water Vapor
H2O Evaporating
Organic Gases
CO2
CO
PRE-IGNITION
FLAMING
SMOLDERING
GLOWING
ASH
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Soot/tar
CO
2
CO
Hot air/gases
2.5
PM 10
PM
Glowing
Smoldering
Flaming
Ash
Pre-ignition
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Stages of Combustion - Pre-ignition

• Pre-ignition - As fuel is heated, combustible
  gases and vapors are released.

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Stages of Combustion - Flaming

• Flaming phase major products CO2 H20.
• Organic compounds released
• More inefficient the burning, the more soot and
  tar produced.

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Stages of Combustion - Smoldering

• Most Critical Stage
• More smoldering with head fires
• Smoldering fire emissions 2 X that of Flaming
  fires
• Residual Smoke - smoke produced by smoldering
  combustion not contained in convective column

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Stages of Combustion - Glowing

• No smoke problems

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Crashes 1993 - 1997 Smoke and Fog
Smoke ( Accidents)
Fog ( of Accidents)
14
600
12
500
10
400
8
300
6
200
4
100
2
0
0
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Smoke
Fog
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Accidents by Hour of the Day
16
14
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12
10
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8
6
!
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4
!
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2
!
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0
100 am
200 am
300 am
400 am
500 am
600 am
700 am
800 am
900 am
1200 am
1000 am
1100 am
100 pm
200 pm
300 pm
400 pm
500 pm
600 pm
700 pm
800 pm
900 pm
1200 pm
1000 pm
1100 pm
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Fuel Characteristics Affecting the Volume of
Smoke Produced

• Type of fuel
• Fuel moisture and size
• Fuel arrangement
• Amount of fuel (loading)

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Conditions that Produce More Smoke

• Fuels that are more compact
• Fuels with high moisture content
• Larger fuels
• Higher fuel loading

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Basic Objectives of Smoke Management

• Identify and avoid smoke sensitive areas
• Disperse and dilute smoke
• Reduce emissions

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Questions?