What determines the rate of combustion?

The rate of combustion is determined primarily by the rate at which heat is released from a fuel. Combustion is a chemical reaction between a fuel and an oxidizer (usually oxygen) that produces heat and light. The more heat that is generated during this reaction, the faster the combustion process occurs. This is because the heat released increases the temperature of the surrounding fuel and air mixture, which can lead to a greater rate of combustion as more fuel is vaporized and mixed with oxygen, allowing for a more efficient and rapid reaction.

In real-world applications, while other factors, such as the amount of fuel and pressure in the furnace, do influence how quickly combustion occurs, they are not the fundamental rate determinants. The amount of fuel available will affect how long a combustion process can continue, while pressure can impact the characteristics of the combustion behavior, but they do not directly govern the speed of the reaction in the same way that the heat release rate does. The temperature of the outside environment can influence combustion, primarily during its initiation or startup, but it doesn't fundamentally determine how fast combustion happens once the reaction is underway. Thus, understanding the relationship between heat release and combustion rate is crucial for managing combustion processes effectively.