Laboratory Experiments on Heat Propagation of Peat Samples from Frequently Burnt Areas in Jambi

Abstrak

Peat fires are relatively difficult to extinguish due to the character of peat fires that smolders below soil surface. This research aims to analyze propagation of smoldering fires on frequent burnt peat with various moisture content. (dry base). Variables measured are changing of temperature to time, propagation rate, and mass loss rate. The result obtained from this research is further compared to previous research done on peat samples burnt only once on 1997/1998. Moisture contents from frequently burnt area that are dried 16 and 24 hours are 272.00% and 494.00%. Moisture contents in previous research on peat samples that are dried for 16 and 14 hours are 577.52% and 713.24%. Analysis on both sample shows that peat samples burnt in 1997/1998 holds higher temperature than frequently burnt peat samples. Propagation on peat samples burnt in 1997/1998 lasts longer (9-10 hours) than propagation on frequent burnt peat (6-7 hours). Vertical propagation rate on frequent burnt peat are slower (6-30 cm/hour) than on peat samples burnt in 1997/1998 (9-41 cm/jam) but, horizontal propagation rate on frequently burnt peat are faster (5-35 cm/hour) than peat burnt in 1997/1998 (11-21 cm/hour). Mass loss rate on frequent burnt peat are lower (9-22 gram/hour) than on peat samples burnt in 1997/1998 (25-32 gram/hour).

Keywords: peat, moisture content, combustion