SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 November 2012
STP20120016

Flow Friction or Spontaneous Ignition?

Source

“Flow friction,” a proposed ignition mechanism in oxygen systems, has proved elusive in attempts at experimental verification. In this paper, the literature regarding flow friction is reviewed and the experimental verification attempts are briefly discussed. Another ignition mechanism, a form of spontaneous combustion, is proposed as an explanation for at least some of the fire events that have been attributed to flow friction in the literature. In addition, the results of a failure analysis performed at NASA Johnson Space Center White Sands Test Facility are presented, and the observations indicate that spontaneous combustion was the most likely cause of the fire in this 2000 psig (14 MPa) oxygen-enriched system.

Author Information

Stoltzfus, Joel, M.
Materials and Components Laboratories Office, NASA Johnson Space Center White Sands Test Facility, Las Cruces, NM, US
Gallus, Timothy, D.
NASA Test and Evaluation Contract, NASA Johnson Space Center White Sands Test Facility, Las Cruces, NM, US
Sparks, Kyle
NASA Test and Evaluation Contract, NASA Johnson Space Center White Sands Test Facility, Las Cruces, NM, US
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Details
Developed by Committee: G04
Pages: 62–80
DOI: 10.1520/STP20120016
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-7570-9
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-7547-1