Monte Carlo simulation of fingering instabilities in smoldering combustion

Abstract

A two dimensional lattice microscopic model on role of diffusion of heat and oxygen in slow combustion of solid fuel is reported here. We developed a microscopic model using Monte Carlo technique to understand fingering, tip splitting and side-branching phenomena occurring in slow combustion. Single step Arrhenius reaction rate is used for analysis of diffusive-thermal instability. Depending on the probability of availability of local burnt sites and diffusion rate of oxygen field, fingering instability pattern is emerged. We report here how non adiabatic heat transfer plays a key role in fingering pattern. We observed here by increasing ignition width of solid fuel causes increase in side-branching of burnt sites.