Determination of the Ignition Temperature of Hay for the Purposes of Fire Risk Assessment on Farms - Slovak Case Study

Abstract

Hot surfaces are an integral part of the technological processes of agricultural crop processing. Their surface temperature at critical points can exceed the minimum ignition temperature. This paper aims to experimentally observe the behaviour of hay when exposed to radiant heat. The model presented here is implemented using a hot plate device. The hot plate has a defined temperature-time curve. Based on the above, the hot plate temperature is determined as the minimum ignition temperature of the investigated hay specimen. At the same time, the temperature inside the tested material was monitored. The heterogeneity of the above specimens significantly influenced the nature of the biomass thermal degradation. The ignition temperature of the hay (406 °C) can serve as a tool for fire risk assessment.