Fire Dynamics and Thermal Management in Combustion Systems

Fire dynamics examines the processes governing ignition, flame propagation and heat release in combustible mixtures, encompassing phenomena from buoyancy-driven flows to turbulence-flame interactions. Thermal management in combustion systems seeks to control and distribute heat generated during burning to optimise performance, limit pollutant formation and ensure structural integrity. Key challenges include accurate prediction of heat release rates, characterisation of convective and radiative heat transfer, and mitigation of hotspot formation through design of cooling passages, insulating materials and active control schemes. Advances in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) coupled with detailed chemical kinetics have deepened understanding of flame instability, jet-fire dispersion and spill-fire behaviour, informing safer hydrogen and hydrocarbon applications. Experimental methods, such as optical diagnostics and pool-fire calorimetry, validate models and guide development of fire-resistant coatings, ventilation strategies and emergency response protocols. The integration of multi-scale simulation, real-time sensing and adaptive thermal control underpins next-generation combustion devices with enhanced efficiency, reduced emissions and improved safety in energy production, transportation and built environments.

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Fire Dynamics and Thermal Management in Combustion Systems publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in fire dynamics and thermal management in combustion systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Heat release rate: The energy released per unit time by a chemical reaction in a fire, key to assessing fire growth and intensity.

Jet fire: A flame resulting from the turbulent discharge of pressurised fuel gas or vapour through an orifice, characterised by high velocity and convective heat transfer.

Spill fire: A surface fire formed when liquid fuel spreads over an open area, with burning controlled by fuel depth and feedback mechanisms.

Convective heat transfer: The transport of thermal energy by fluid motion, influencing flame–structure interactions and cooling design.

Radiative heat transfer: The emission and absorption of electromagnetic energy by hot gases, soot and surfaces, critical for remote ignition and fire spread.

Buoyancy-driven flow: Fluid motion induced by density differences from temperature gradients, governing smoke movement and flame morphology.

References

1. Experimental study on the burning rate of continuously released spill fire on open surface with measurement of burning fuel thickness. Case Studies in Thermal Engineering (2022).
2. Effect of heat transfer through the release pipe on simulations of cryogenic hydrogen jet fires and hazard distances. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy (2022).
3. Review of Convective Heat Transfer Modelling in CFD Simulations of Fire-Driven Flows. Applied Sciences (2021).