Liekkipalamista

Liekkipalamista, commonly translated as flameless combustion or smoldering, refers to a low-temperature oxidation process that occurs without the presence of visible flames. This type of combustion releases heat and produces smoke, but the reaction zone is typically confined to the surface of the burning material. Unlike flaming combustion, which requires a sufficient concentration of fuel vapor and oxygen to sustain a flame, liekkipalamista operates at lower temperatures where volatile gases are released more slowly and combust incompletely.

This phenomenon is often observed in materials like charcoal, wood embers, tobacco, and certain types of synthetic materials. The slow, incomplete oxidation results in the production of carbon monoxide and other particulate matter, contributing to smoke formation. The heat generated by liekkipalamista can be sufficient to maintain the reaction, even without an open flame, and can lead to the ignition of nearby flammable materials. Understanding liekkipalamista is important in fire safety, as smoldering fires can be difficult to detect and can spread insidiously. Fire suppression techniques may need to be adapted to address the specific conditions of flameless combustion, often involving water or smothering agents to deprive the reaction of oxygen.