Rate of combustion from free surfaces of liquid hydrocarbons

Abstract The burning velocity of n-hexane and cyclohexane as related to the area of the burning fuel surface was studied using 10 open pans ranging from 0·22 to 11·94 in. in diameter. On the four larger pans fuel temperatures were also measured during the burning period at two depths below the surface. For small pans less than 5 in. in diameter burning velocity decreased with increasing pan size. For pans greater than 5 in. in diameter burning velocity increased with increasing pan size. Thus, there appear to be two burning regimes in the range of pan diameters tested, a laminar flow regime on small pans, and a transition flow regime on larger pans. This observation is in agreement with the experimental results reported by others for equivalent pan sizes burning less volatile hydrocarbon fuels.