Evaluation of a near-adiabatic compression process to increase fire safety within oxygen systems

The research presented in this thesis investigated fire safety in oxygen systems, focusing on the ignition of non-metallic materials via the adiabatic compression process. Threshold pressures at which two different types of non-metallic materials (fluorinated and non-fluorinated) would/would-not ignite were identified and parameterized. Results indicated that it takes a certain amount of energy for a material to ignite, that is, a critical enthalpy value. Once this value is known for a given non-metal, designers can determine the amount of heat required to ignite the material from a pressure surge and, by staying below this, prevent ignition from occurring. Data collected can be used in system design, maintenance, and operation processes for oxygen systems to minimize the risk and occurrence of a fire by adiabatic compression ignition