SEVERAL IMPORTANT ISSUES RELATED TO THE CROSSING-POINT TEMPERATURE (CPT) METHOD FOR MEASURING SELF-IGNITION KINETICS OF COMBUSTIBLE SOLIDS

The crossing-point temperature (CPT) method for measuring ignition kin etics of particulate combustible solids was introduced in 1995 by Chen and Chong. The method has since been successfully applied to milk pow ders and wood sawdust by the same authors. There is a potential for mo re extensive application of the technique because it significantly red uces the expense in terms of time and effort in measuring the kinetics , in comparison with the traditional basket heating method. However, t here are still some fundamental issues which need to be addressed. Thi s paper discusses the following issues: The reason why only two temper atures are sufficient in determining the heat conduction term to be ne gligible; Extension of the slab analysis to other symmetrical bodies; 'Uniqueness' of the crossing-point temperature; The case in which heat capacity is temperature dependent.