Return to Answer

most fires do not burn steadily. the heat release rate ramps up, peaks, and then drops down. a well established experimental correlation in fire science shows that the mean flame height ($L$) divided by the effective diameter ($D$) of the fuel source is proportional to the heat release rate ($Q$) to the 0.4 power. The correlation does well for large fires but doesn't do as well for smaller fires or for mass fires (when $L/D < 1$). For typical fuels, under atmospheric conditions: $L = -1.02 D + 0.235 Q ^{0.4}$ ($D$, $L$ in $m$; with $Q$ in $kW > 0.8 kW$). So, for a $1 kW$ round pile of wood $10 cm wide, L ~ 14 cm$. Alternatively, $Q = [(L+1.02D)/0.235]^{2.5}$, so if $L$ and $D$ are known, $Q$ can be estimated.

most fires do not burn steadily. the heat release rate ramps up, peaks, and then drops down. a well established experimental correlation in fire science shows that the mean flame height ($L$) divided by the effective diameter ($D$) of the fuel source is proportional to the heat release rate ($Q$) to the 0.4 power. The correlation does well for large fires but doesn't do as well for smaller fires or for mass fires (when $L/D < 1$). For typical fuels, under atmospheric conditions: $L = -1.02 D + 0.235 Q^{0.4}$ ($D$, $L$ in $\rm m$; with $Q$ in $\rm kW > 0.8\,kW$). So, for a $1\,\rm kW$ round pile of wood $10\,\rm cm$ wide, $L\simeq14\rm\, cm$. Alternatively, $Q = [(L+1.02D)/0.235]^{2.5}$, so if $L$ and $D$ are known, $Q$ can be estimated.

most fires do not burn steadily. the heat release rate ramps up, peaks, and then drops down. a well established experimental correlation in fire science shows that the mean flame height (L) divided by the effective diameter (D) of the fuel source is proportional to the heat release rate (Q) to the 0.4 power. The correlation does well for large fires but doesn't do as well for smaller fires or for mass fires (when L/D <1). For typical fuels, under atmospheric conditions: L = -1.02 D + 0.235 Q ^0.4 (D, L in m; with Q in kW > 0.8 kW). So, for a 1 kW round pile of wood 10 cm wide, L ~ 14 cm. Alternatively, Q = [(L+1.02D)/0.235]^2.5, so if L and D are known, Q can be estimated.

most fires do not burn steadily. the heat release rate ramps up, peaks, and then drops down. a well established experimental correlation in fire science shows that the mean flame height ($L$) divided by the effective diameter ($D$) of the fuel source is proportional to the heat release rate ($Q$) to the 0.4 power. The correlation does well for large fires but doesn't do as well for smaller fires or for mass fires (when $L/D < 1$). For typical fuels, under atmospheric conditions: $L = -1.02 D + 0.235 Q ^{0.4}$ ($D$, $L$ in $m$; with $Q$ in $kW > 0.8 kW$). So, for a $1 kW$ round pile of wood $10 cm wide, L ~ 14 cm$. Alternatively, $Q = [(L+1.02D)/0.235]^{2.5}$, so if $L$ and $D$ are known, $Q$ can be estimated.

a well established experimental correlation in fire science shows that the mean flame height (L) divided by the effective diameter (D) of the fuel source is proportional to the heat release rate (Q) to the 0.4 power. The correlation does well for large fires but doesn't do as well for smaller fires or for mass fires (when L/D <1). For typical fuels, under atmospheric conditions: L = -1.02 D + 0.235 Q ^0.4 (D, L in m; with Q in kW > 0.8 kW) So, for a 1 kW round pile of wood 10 cm wide, L ~ 14 cm

most fires do not burn steadily. the heat release rate ramps up, peaks, and then drops down. a well established experimental correlation in fire science shows that the mean flame height (L) divided by the effective diameter (D) of the fuel source is proportional to the heat release rate (Q) to the 0.4 power. The correlation does well for large fires but doesn't do as well for smaller fires or for mass fires (when L/D <1). For typical fuels, under atmospheric conditions: L = -1.02 D + 0.235 Q ^0.4 (D, L in m; with Q in kW > 0.8 kW). So, for a 1 kW round pile of wood 10 cm wide, L ~ 14 cm. Alternatively, Q = [(L+1.02D)/0.235]^2.5, so if L and D are known, Q can be estimated.