Ignition of combustible/air mixtures by small radiatively heated surfaces

Optical radiation as an ignition source in potentially explosive atmosphere s was investigated for a number of explosive mixtures with respect to the m ost important case occurring in practice, i.e., absorption of the radiation by a solid target. Iron oxide was used as the target material. The combust ibles were selected in compliance with the well-known temperature classes a nd apparatus groups to allow a useful graduation of the power limits to be applied. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.