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Schima superba as a fuelbreak: Litter combustibility of three tree species with five water content levels using a cone calorimeter

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Frontiers of Forestry in China

Abstract

To determine the suitability of Schima superba Gardn. et Champ as a fuelbreak, we compared and analyzed the flammability characteristics of tree litter from three trees commonly grown in south China, i.e., Pinus massoniana Lamb., Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook., and S. superba, using a cone calorimeter at five different water content levels. Water content levels of 10%, 15%, 20%, 25% and 30% for the litter were manually produced with a new technique of adding water to dry litter. The cone calorimeter utilized a radiant heat intensity for leaf litter of 20 kW/m2 (510°C) and for twig litter of 30 kW/m2 (608°C). Results show that fixing the water content level by adding water with a pipette was an acceptable technique. For S. superba, compared to P. massoniana and C. lanceolata, 1) the heat release rate (HRR) was slower and lower; 2) the total heat released (THR) from the material was lower and started later in the burning process; and 3) except for the 10% water content, pkHRR/TTI was less. These results show that overall, S. superba was the best of the three species to be used as a fuelbreak in south China.

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Correspondence to Guomo Zhou.

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__________

Translated from Scientia Silvae Sinicae, 2008, 44(5): 96–101 [译自: 林 业科学]

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Zhou, G., Zhou, Y., Yu, S. et al. Schima superba as a fuelbreak: Litter combustibility of three tree species with five water content levels using a cone calorimeter. Front. For. China 4, 178–184 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11461-009-0022-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11461-009-0022-6

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