- Author
- Persson, B. | Simonson, M. | Mansson, M.
- Title
- Utslapp fran brander till atmosfaren. [Fire Emissions into the Atmosphere.]
- Coporate
- Swedish National Testing and Research Institute, Boras, Sweden
- Journal
- Fire Technology, Vol. 34, No. 3, 266-279, September/October 1998
- Report
- SP REPORT 1995:70, 1995, 38 p.
- Keywords
- emissions | smoke emissions | smoke production | air pollution | combustible materials
- Abstract
- [ABSTRACT IN ENGLISH] The amount of various pollutants emitted to the atmosphere from fires per year is estimated. The pollutants that have been studies in detail are carbon dioxide (CO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen cyanide (HCN), nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), hydrogen chloride (CHl), unburnt hydrocarbons (THC and VOC) and particles (mainly ashes and soot). The emission of nitrous oxide (N₂O), aromatic hydrocarbons, dioxins, and heavy metals is discussed qualitatively. The estimate is based on the number of fires in buildings and cars in Sweden in 1994. The number of fires per year is, however, essentially constant and this estimate is assumed to be representative for fires during a 'normal' year. The results indicate that the amount of combustible material that is burnt in fires per year is approximately 12 000 ton. The emission of particles and unburnt hydrocarbons is approximately equivalent to that expected from the combustion of 2 Mton of solid fuel in a combustion plant per year. This corresponds to an energy production of approximately 15 TWh per year. This emission is also of the same order of magnitude as that expected from trucks in Sweden each year. The emission of the other species studied in detail is negligible relative to other sources. In situ measurements under realistic conditions of those species that have not been studied in detail (such as dioxins) are necessary in order to determine the quantity of these species emitted per year. The amount of combustible material quoted in this report should be interpreted as a lower bound. Certain years very large fires may take place, most importantly industrial fires, where the amount of combustible material involved can be several times that presented here. Further the contribution of forest fires is not included in this summary. Specific forest fires could concievably contribute significantly greater amounts of combustible material than cited as 'normal'.