The Cone Calorimeter

Abstract

Chapter 27 describes the history and development of techniques for measuring heat release rate (HRR). This chapter outlines features and details of today’s preferred instrument for measuring bench-scale HRR—the cone calorimeter. Other cone calorimeter measuring functions are

Nomenclature

b

Parameter

F

View factor (-)

h _c

Convective heat transfer coefficient (W · m^–2⋅K⁻¹)

_ℓ

Thickness (mm)

${\dot{m}}^{{\prime\prime} }$

Mass loss rate (g · s⁻¹ · m⁻²)

$\dot{q}$

Total energy released per unit area (MJ · m⁻²)

q"

Total energy released per unit area (MJ m⁻²)

${\dot{q}}^{{\prime\prime} }$

Heat flux (kW⋅m⁻²)

${\dot{q}}_{180}^{{\prime\prime} }$

180 s average heat release rate (kW · m⁻²)

${\dot{q}}_{avg}^{{\prime\prime} }$

Average heat release rate (kW m⁻²)

${\dot{q}}^{{\prime\prime} }$

Irradiance (kW m⁻²)

${\dot{q}}_{\max}^{{\prime\prime} }$

Maximum heat release rate (kW m⁻²)

${\dot{q}}_{\mathrm{tot}}^{{\prime\prime} }$

Total heat released (MJ · m⁻²)

${\dot{q}}_{cr}^{{\prime\prime} }$

Critical heat flux (kW m⁻²)

r

Repeatability (units dependent on quantity investigated)

R

Reproducibility (units dependent on quantity investigated)

t _b

Duration of flaming (s)

t _ig

Ignition time (s)

Δh _c,eff

Effective heat of combustion (MJ · kg⁻¹)

ε

Emissivity (-)

λ ρ C

Thermal inertia (kJ² m⁻⁴ s⁻¹ K⁻²)

ρ

Density (kg⋅m⁻³)

σ _r

Repeatability standard deviation (units dependent on quantity investigated)

σ _R

Reproducibility standard deviation (units dependent on quantity investigated)

σ _f

Average specific extinction area (m² · kg⁻¹)