Estimation of rate of heat release by means of oxygen consumption measurements

Abstract Measurement of the rate of oxygen consumption provides a simple, versatile and powerful tool for estimating the rate of heat release in fire experiments and fire tests. The method is based on the generalization that the heats of combustion per unit of oxygen consumed are approximately the same for most fuels commonly encountered in fires. A measurement of the rate of oxygen consumption can then be converted to a measure of rate of heat release. Data on heats of combustion are presented to support this generalization. The applicability of the technique to combustion under fire conditions is examined, possible sources of error in the measurements are discussed, and applications of the method are reviewed. It is concluded that the accuracy of oxygen consumption based rate of heat release measurements should compare favorably with those derived from conventional calorimetric measurements.