Introduction:

Cone calorimeter is a fire test tool that is based on the amount of heat released during the combustion process directly related to the oxygen consumption in the combustion process. The amount of heat generated is directly proportional to the severity of the fire, such as the rate of fire growth. In order to obtain the flammability of the material, this is exposed to an external radiation heat source. Therefore, since this is a forced combustion test, the cone value is generally considered to reflect the second ignitability of the ignition.

Standards:

ISO5660,    ASTM E 1354,    ASTM E 1474,    ASTM E 1740,   

ASTM F 1550,    ASTM D 6113,    

NFPA 264,      CAN ULC 135,      BS 476

Application scope includes:

The Cone Calorimeter is the most significant bench scale instrument in the field of fire testing.

Test procedure:

A sample is placed in a "cone" shaped radiant heater. Normally, the sample is exposed to 35 kW / m2 of external flux-forming heaters. However, for more refractories the heater is often increased to 50 kW / m2. once sufficient pyrolysis products are produced, ignition occurs. Combustion products pass through a conical heater and through an instrument discharge tube. The measured / calculated values are usually important including, but not limited to, the maximum ignition time, the mass loss rate during combustion, the maximum amount of time and heat released during combustion, the total amount released during the test.

A full system includes:

1. Conical heater - in a truncated cone, 230V, 5000W, with a heat output of 100 kW / m2

2. Test the sample device in horizontal or vertical.

3. 3 K-type thermocouple and 3 PID temperature controllers for temperature regulation

4. Opening and closing mechanism - to protect the sample area before testing to ensure that the initial quality measurement is stable, the operator can have additional time to test the system before testing. For flammable samples, if there is no opening and closing mechanism, it is easy to burn prematurely. This extra time is very important to the operator

5. Sample holder - sample size 100mm x 100mm, thickness of not more than 50mm, placed horizontally or vertically

6. Load cell - quality measurement by strain gage component test, the accuracy of up to 0.01g. Equipped with quick electronic weighing components, mechanical stop device can avoid damage caused by movement, given the stable results, to ensure that equipment longevity

7. Spark ignition - 10kV spark igniter, equipped with a safety cease-fire device. The igniter is automatically positioned by means of a lever connected to the closing mechanism

8. Exhaust system - made of stainless steel to extend life. (Flow rate adjustable from 0 g / s to 50 g / s with an accuracy of at least 0.1 g / s), and orifice flow testers (thermocouples and differential pressure transducers), including hoods, gas sample sockets and exhaust fans. Common tests are typically 24 l / s

9. Gas sampling - including particulate filter, freezing cold trap, pump, drying cylinder, flow controller

10. Oxygen analysis - paramagnetic oxygen analyzer, 0-25%, standard performance

11. Smoke fog - measured with a laser system using a photodiode, 0.5 mW helium-neon laser, primary and standby photodetectors. With positioning bracket and 0.3,0.8 neutral density filter for calibration

12. Heat flow meter - used to set the level of radiation on the sample surface

13. The burner calibration-calibration apparatus tested the heat release rate by using 99.5% pure methane