Experimental observations of methanol droplets burning in carbon dioxide enriched environments at atmospheric pressurein a quiescent microgravity environment are reported. These experiments are motivated by the need to understandthe effectiveness of carbon dioxide as a fire suppressant in low gravity environments. Measured values of droplet burningrates, flame standoff distances, and broad-band radiant emissions are compared against droplets burning in standard air. Theresults show that radiant emissions are substantially reduced in CO2 enriched environments compared to air. The burningrate is also found to decrease with increasing CO2 concentration. In these experiments, for 21% oxygen concentrationignition and steady burning is achieved for CO2 concentrations as high as 74% (the remaining being nitrogen), whereaswith 13.4% oxygen concentration steady burning is not possible when the CO2 concentration goes above 36%. These andother experimental observations are rationalized using simplified theoretical models for droplet combustion.
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