rapid and spontaneous combustion

Rapid and Spontaneous Combustion

  

Rapid

Container of ethanol vapour mixed with air, undergoing rapid combustion

Rapid combustion is a form of combustion, otherwise known as a fire, in which large amounts of heat and light energy are released, which often results in a flame. This is used in a form of machinery such as internal combustion engines and inthermobaric weapons. Such a combustion is frequently called an explosion, though for an internal combustion engine this is inaccurate. An internal combustion engine nominally operates on a controlled rapid burn. When the fuel-air mixture in an internal combustion engine explodes, that is known as detonation.

Spontaneous

Spontaneous combustion is a type of combustion which occurs by self heating (increase in temperature due to exothermicinternal reactions), followed by thermal runaway (self heating which rapidly accelerates to high temperatures) and finally, ignition. For example, phosphorus self-ignites at room temperature without the application of heat.