KIMIA API

(CHEMISTRY OF FIRE)
 1. PENGERTIAN

Api / kebakaran adalah

suatu reaksi kimia yang
berjalan secara berantai
yang diikuti oleh evolusi/
pengeluaran berupa panas
dan cahya.

Fire dtector
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 PERBEDAAN ANTARA API DAN
KEBAKARAN
API KEBAKARAN

BERMANFAAT TIDAK BERMANFAAT

TERKENDALI TIDAK TERKENDALI
TIDAK MERUGIKAN MERUGIKAN

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 2. SEGI TIGA API

Segitiga Api, (Fire Threeangle)

teori ini dikemukakan sekitar
tahun 1955, yaitu
menggambarkan bahwa api
terdiri dari tiga elemen, yakni

• Fuel (bahan bakar), yakni

bersifat mereduksi.
• Oxygen (bahan yang
sifatnya mengoksidasi).
• Temperature/ heat,
(igniotion source).
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 3. Tetrahedron
(Bidang Empat ) API
Bidang Empat Api, teori ini
dikemukakan sekitar tahun
1970, yaitu menggambarkan
bahwa api terdiri dari empat
(4) elemen, yakni

• 1.Oxygen (oxidizing agent)

• 2.Fuel (reducing agent)
• 3.Heat
• 4.Self-sustained chemical
reaction
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 2.1.Bahan bakar (Fuel)

a. Jenis bahan bakar (Type of Fuels) :

 Jenis padat (Solid material / Ordinary
combustion)
 Jenis cair (Flammable/ combustible liquid).
 Jenis gas (Material gasses).

b. Persyaratan untuk bisa terbakar.

 Bahan bakar padat / cair untuk bisa terbakar
harus berubah menjadi uap (vapor).
 Untuk bahan bakar gas, langsung bisa terbakar
(no input energy required).
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c. Bahan bakar padat :
 Bahan bakar untuk bisa terbakar harus berubah menjadi
uap (vapor). Perubahan dari padat ke bentuk uap
dinamakan “PIROLISA / PHYROLITIC DISTILATION”

d. Bahan bakar cair :

 Bahan bakar cair untuk bisa terbakar juga harus dalam
bentuk uap (vapor). Proses ini disebut Penguapan
(Vaporization).
 Kemudahan bahan bakar cair dipengaruhi oleh tiga
faktor :
- Flash point (titik nyala).
- Auto ignition temperature (suhu penyalaan sendiri).
- Flammable range (daerah bisa terbakar).

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 d.1. Flash point (titik nyala).
 Pengertian : ”Temperatur terendah dimana suatu
zat cukup mengeluarkan uap dan terbakar
sekejap bila dinyalakan (Piloted ignition)”.

 Semakin rendah flash point suatu zat berarti zat

tersebut mudah menguap dan mudah menyala.
 Apabila suatu zat belum mencapai flash point
tetapi bila dikabutkan bisa juga terbakar.
Sehingga dapat dikatakan untuk mempercepat
proses pembakaran dapat dilakukan dengan cara
pengkabutan bahan bakar.
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 Tabel Titik Nyala
(Quest 1988 : “Process Plant Safety Tecnology”, Norman, USA : Quest Consultants Inc.).

Bahan Titik Nyala (Flash Point)

o
C o
F
Iso-Butan - 12 - 10
n-Butan -1 - 31
Etana - 89 - 128
Etilen - 104 - 155
Hydrogen - 253 - 424
Metana - 162 - 259
Propan - 43 - 44
Gasoline (Bensin) - 44 - 47,2
Hexana - 22 -7
Minyak mentah - 7 s/d 32 20 s/d 90
Kerosine 43 s/d 72 110 s/d 162
Diesel Fuel # 1 37,8 100
Fuel oil # 6 66 s/d 132 150 s/d 270

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 d.2. Titik Bakar (Fire point).

Adalah temperatur
terendah dimana
suatu zat cukup
mengeluarkan uap dan
terbakar secara terus
menerus bila diberi
panas dari luar.

Fire Point beberapa derajat

diatas Flash Point

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 d.3. Auto Ignition Temperature
 Auto Ignition Temperature (AIT) sering juga
disebut temperatur bisa menyala sendirinya, yaitu
temperature terendah dimana suatu zat bisa
menyala dengan sendirinya, tanpa adanya sumber
penyalaan dari luar.

 Semakin rendah AIT suatu zat berarti zat tersebut

semakin mudah terbakar.

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 Table Auto Ignition Temperature (AIT)
(Nelson, W. L, Oil Gas J, Apr.2, 1956, p.140. Also see Dougherty, R. P, Oil Gas J, Sept. 1, 1952, p. 94).

Substance AutoIgnition Temperature ( o F )

Hydrogen 1076
Acetylene 635
Methane 999
Ethylene 1000
Ethana 950
Propylene 927
Propane 871
Natural gas -
i-Butane -
n-Butane 806
n-Pentane 588
n-Hexane 477
Toulene 1036
n-Heptane 452
n-Octane 450
n-Nonane -
n-Decane >500
Gasoline 495
Kerosine 490

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 d.4. Flammable Range (Daerah Bisa Terbakar)

 Campuran antara uap bahan

bakar dengan oksigen yang bisa
terbakar, yang dibatasi oleh
batas bisa terbakar bawah
UFL UFL
(Lower flammable limit) dan
batas bisa terbakar atas (Upper

DAERAH KURANG OKSIGEN

flammable limit).
 Setiap campuran gas/ uap yang
FLAMMABLE RANGE

mudah terbakar dengan udara

akan menyala jika terkena
sumber nyala (misalnya : benda LFL LFL

pijar, percikan bunga api dan

sebagainya). 21 % + 16 %

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 Tabel Flammable Range dari berbagai uap Hidrokarbon
% Volume
Jenis zat LFL UFL
Crude oil 1,0 10,0
Gasoline 1,4 7,6
Kerosine 0,5 5,6
Diesel fuel 1,3 6,0
Acetylene 2,5 82,0
Hydrogen 4,1 74,2
Aceton 2,15 13,0
Methana 5,6 15,0
Propana 2,2 9,15
Butana 1,9 8,5
Pentana 1,5 7,8
Hexane 1,1 7,5
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 UDARA DAN OXYGEN

Udara (atmosphere), secara umum praktis

mengandung 21 % Oxygen dan 79 % Nitrogen.
Walaupun secara teoritis udara juga
mengandung sekitar 1 % Argon dan 1 % gas-gas
lain.
Dengan kata lain, didalam udara mengandung
kira-kira 1/5 bagian O2 dan 4/5 bagian N2.

Panas pembakaran sangat dipengaruhi oleh

jumlah/ konsentrasi Oksigen
 HEAT / TEMPERATURE
Sumber Penyalaan (Ignition Sources)

Temperatur Reaksi kimia Listrik Mekanik

• Permukaan • Rekasi oksida • Beban lebih • Benturan/

benda panas besi • Konsleting pemukulan
• Sinar matahari • Bubuk gliserin • Listrik statis antara besi
• Bara api dengan Kalium • Busur listrik dan besi
• Openflame  permanganat • Dsb, • Gesekan ben
flare da keras
• Dsb. • Kompresi/
pemadatan
Bounding udara
• Dsb.
Grounding

?
Hubungan antara bahan bakar, temperatur
dan oksigen

HEAT /
TEMPERATURE FLASH POINT/
TITIK NYALA
FUEL / BAHAN BAKAR FIRE/
FLAMMABLE API
RANGE
OKSIGEN

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 Poly Tetrahedron of Fire (Bidang Empat Api)

Perkembangan selanjutnya tentang terjadinya api

adalah Bidang Empat Api (Poly Tetrahedron of Fire).
Dimana disamping Bahan bakar, oksigen dan
temperatur masih diperlukan satu syarat lagi untuk
terjadinya api, yaitu Rantai Reaksi Pembakaran
(Chemical Chain Reaction).
Yang dimaksud dengan Rantai Reaksi Pembakaran
(Chemical Chain Reaction) adalah bertemunya
gugus Hydroksil (OH) hasil pembakaran menjadi
H2O dan On, Reaksinya dapat ditulis :
OH + OH  H2O + On.
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Gambar : Bidang Empat Api (Poly Tetrahedron of Fire).

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RESUME-KDT
 PELEDAKAN

PELEDAKAN PEMBAKARAN
B L E V E /VCE
DETONASI

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 PELEDAKAN PEMBAKARAN

Kombinasi yang cepat Volume effect

antara uap dan udara
dalam daerah eksplosif,
kemudian dinyalakan
atau terbakar
Initial temp. effect

Hasilnya adalah nyala dan

bertambahnya tekanan
Initial Press. effect
Propagation rate sekitar 7
ft/s

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 \

B L E V E/VCE

BOILING LIQUID EXPANSION OF

VAPOR EXPLOSION/VAPOR CLOUD EXPLOSION

RESUME-KDT

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fire

Definition
It is a chemical chain
reaction which takes place with
the evolution of heat and light.
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Fire triangle/Tetrahedron

24
 Essentials of Fire

Fuel FIRE
Oxygen

Heat 25
OXYGEN SOURCE HEAT
Approx. 16% Required To ReachSOURCES
Ignition Temp.
Normal air contains 21% of oxygen Open Flame, the Sun,Hot Surface,
Some Fuels contains its own Sparks & Arcs, Friction, Chemical
oxygen supply Action, Elec. Energy & Gas
Compression

Oxygen Heat
Fuel CHAIN REACTION

GASES LIQUIDS SOLIDS

Natural Gas, Gasoline, Kerosene, Coal, Wood, Paper,
Propane, CO, Turpentine, Alcohol, Cloth, Wax, Grease,
Butane, Hydrogen, Paint, Varnish, Olive Leather, Plastic,
Acetylene, oil, Lacquer Sugar, Grain, Hay,

FIRE
TRIANGLE/TETRAHEDRON 26
Fire Tetrahedron

27
FIRE FIGHTING
CONCEPT

28
 Principles of Fire Extinction
1. Starvation
Removal of un-burnt material from fire area

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 Principles of Fire Extinction
2. Smothering
Cutting off the supply of oxygen from fire area

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 Principles of Fire Extinction
3. Cooling
Removal of heat from the burning material/fire area

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 Principles of Fire Extinction
4. Breaking of chain reaction
It is a chemical process
Mono-ammonium phosphate

NH3
&
H2O

Ortho-Phosphoric Acid

Meta-Phosphoric Acid

Flame
Steam

Fig: Extinguishing mechanism of multipurpose mono-ammonium phosphate dry chemical

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 Phases of Burning
It depends on the following factors

i. The amount of time the fire has burnt.

ii. The ventilation characteristics of the
confining structure
iii. The amount and type of combustibles

present.
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Phases of Fire Burning

34
Three progressives stages of burning

•Incipient or beginning phase

•Free burning phase
•Smoldering phase

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Oxygen Rich Oxygen
Atmosphere Deficient
Atmosphere

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Incipient or beginning phase

•Oxygen plentiful
•Temperature has not built up
to high peak
•Thermal updraft rises,
accumulates at highest point
•Breathing not difficult
•Fire extinguishments :
–Direct application of water
at base of fire.
•Ventilation :not a problem
•Little steam production
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Free burning phase
•Fire has involved more fuel
•Oxygen supply is being depleted
• Heat accumulated at upper
areas
•Breathing difficult : Masks
recommended
•Fire extinguishments is reaching
the area of major involvement
•Ventilation : Not a definite need
•Good steam production

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Smoldering phase
•Oxygen supply not equal to
demands of fire
•Temperature throughout
building is very high
• Normal breathing is not
possible
•Oxygen deficiency may cause
back-draft
•Fire extinguishments indirect
method
•Ventilation : A must
•Maximum steam production
from water fog
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Smoldering phase

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 Modes of spread of fire
Conduction
It occurs only in solids i.e.
metallic objects.
Convection
It occurs both in liquids &
gases
Radiation
It is neither conduction nor
convection. These are heated
rays emanating from the hot
object. 41
 Conduction •Heat energy is passed on

Highly Excited Less Agitated

from one molecule to the

next
•The molecule vibrates
above its mean position
•Pass on heat energy by
colliding with their
neighbors
•The ability to conduct
heat varies between 42
Conduction

43
conduction 44
Convection • When a liquid or gas heated,
it expands
• It becomes less dense
• The lighter fluid arises being
displaced by colder and
therefore denser fluid
• In turn becomes heated and
so a circulation is set up
• Heat energy is carried
throughout the fluid by
actual movements of
molecules. 45
Fig: Fire Plume 46
Radiation • It does not involved
any contact between
bodies
• It is independent of
any material in the
intervening space
• These are the heated
rays, travels in
straight line in all
directions with same
intensity
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 Other chemical reactions which produce

1. Combustion (heat & light)

2. Combustion (without heat & light)

3. Combustion ( without heat)

48
Rusting of iron
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 Types of combustion
i. Slow or incipient combustion- in which the
amount of heat & light emitted is feeble.
ii. Rapid or active combustion- in which a
considerable amount of heat & light is
emitted within a short time

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51
 Types of combustion…
iii. Deflagration - which
takes place with a
considerable rapidity,
evolving heat & light
iv. Explosion - is a very
rapid combustion with a
loud noise within an
extremely short time with
generation of very high
pressure & temperature.

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 Rate of Combustion
A rate of combustion or the spread of fire would
depends on :
•The area of solid/liquid in contact with air.
•The amount of heat generated to raise the
temperature of un-burnt portion.
•The ability of materials to conduct heat away.
•Atmospheric humidity.
•Wind velocity.
•Temperature.
•Atmospheric pressure.

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 CHEMICAL REACTIONS
EXOTHERMIC REACTION
When heat is liberated in chemical reaction is known as
Exothermic Reaction.
Ex :
N2+3H2=2NH3+ H(-24Kcal)
C+O2=CO2+ H (-94.5 K cal)

Bond
Heat Liberated Being Broken

54
 CHEMICAL REACTIONS…
ENDOTHERMIC REACTION
When heat is absorbed from the reacting
substances is known as Endothermic Reaction.
Ex:
2C + H2 = C2H2 + H (54 Kcal)
3O2 2O3 + H (69 Kcal)

Bond
Heat Absorbed Being Formed

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 SPECIFIC SURFACE
It is the surface area in square centimeter per gram of
that solid substance.
Liquids & gases have no specific surface, these two
take the shape of container.
On the basis of specific surface and fire susceptibility,
all combustible solids classified into three :
»Tinder
»Kindling
»Bulk fuel

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 SPECIFIC SURFACE
Ex: Paper

TINDER :
Solids with specific surface of more
than 20 Sq. cm/gm.
Tinder can be ignited by match stick.
Ex: Card Board
KINDLING :
Solids with specific surface of 2 to
20 Sq.cm/gm.
Kindling requires a burning tinder for
ignition.
Ex: Wood Block BULK FUEL :
Solids with specific surface of 0.04 to 2
Sq. cm/gm.
Bulk Fuel requires burning Kindling for
ignition. 57
 IMPORTANT DEFINITIONS

•Flash Point : It is the lowest temperature at

which an inflammable substance gives off
sufficient vapours, so as to form a momentary
flash on application of a pilot flame.
•Fire Point : It is the lowest temperature at
which the heat from the combustion of burning
vapours is capable of producing sufficient
vapours to enable combustion to continue.

The Fire Point is generally above the Flash

Point.
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 IMPORTANT DEFINITIONS
•Ignition Temperature : It is the lowest
temperature at which spontaneous combustion
can takes place without application of an
external heat.
•Auto Ignition Point : Refers to the temperature
to which a substance must reach, before it
ignite, in the absence of flame, but in presence
of air.
•Spontaneous Combustion : It occurs as a result
of heat generated by the reacting substances
without any external heat.
e.g. Hot glycerine + Potassium Permagnate 59
 IMPORTANT DEFINITIONS

Density :
The Density of substance is its mass per
unit volume. Unit of Density(D) is Kg/m3
or gms/cm3

Ex:
Water - 1000 Kg/m3 or 1 gm/cm3
Mercury - 13.6 gm/cm3

60
 IMPORTANT DEFINITIONS

Relative Density or Specific Gravity :

It is a ratio of the mass of any volume
of a substance to the mass of an equal
volume of water.

Specific gravity, or relative density

Material density to the density of water
S.G. < 1 floats on water
S.G. > 1 sinks in water

61
 IMPORTANT DEFINITIONS

Vapour Density : It is the ratio of the mass of a

given volume of the vapour to the mass of an equal
volume of air under the same temperature &
pressure.
Dense Vapor (V.D. >1) Hazards
• Choking, suffocation, death
• Distant ignition possible

62
 IMPORTANT DEFINITIONS

Vapour Pressure : It is the pressure exerted by

the vapour of the liquid at any given temperature.

Vapor Pressure Hazards 

 Pressure + weakened container  container breaks




 Breakup can be very explosive

63
 IMPORTANT DEFINITIONS
Latent Heat : It is the amount of heat energy required
to change the state of a matter without raising the
temperature.

Latent Heat of Vapourization : It is the heat energy

which is absorbed by the liquid at its boiling point, to
convert from its liquid state to gaseous state, without
raising the temperature.
Ex: Water - 2260000 Joules/Kg

Latent Heat of Fusion : It is the heat energy which is

required to change the state from solid to liquid at
melting point of substance without raising the
temperature.
Ex: Water - 336000 Joules/Kg 64
 IMPORTANT DEFINITIONS

Thermal Capacity : The thermal capacity or heat capacity

of a body is the heat required to raise its temperature by
1 degree Centigrade.
Ex: Water - 4.2 KJ/Kg/degree Centrigrade
Heat Energy can be transferred from a place of higher
temperature to one at lower temperature. When heat is
added to a body the temperature rises.
Specific Heat : It is the ratio of thermal capacity of a
substance to that of water.
Material with low specific heat will heat up more
rapidly in fire conditions.

65
 IMPORTANT DEFINITIONS

Thermal Expansion of Solids :

When a solid is heated, it expands in length, breadth &
thickness.
Solids which are homogeneous expand uniformly.
Co-efficient of Linear Expansion :
The amount with which unit length of substance
expands when its temperature is raised by 1 degree
Centigrade is called the Co-efficient of Linear
Expansion of the substance.
Ex: Steel - 0.000012 per degree Centigrade.

66
 IMPORTANT DEFINITIONS

Co-efficient of Cubical Expansion :

Solid - it is 3 times the co-efficient of linear expansion.

Liquid - only the co-efficient of volume expansion is

applicable.

Gases - can be measured either as an increase in volume

at constant pressure or as the increase in pressure at
constant volume. Gas or
Vapor

67
 LATIHAN
Kebakaran adalah
Api yang terjadi akibat proses pembakaran tidak sempurna
Api yang terjadi akibat adanya akumulasi gas yang mudah terbakar
Api yang terjadi atas ketidaksengajaan dan diluar kendali
Api yang terjadi atas kesalahan sambungan listrik
Unsur dari segitiga api adalah:
Api, bensin, dan bahan bakar c. Oksigen, panas, dan bahan bakar
Bensin, kertas, dan bara api d. Oksigen, bara, dan kertas
Apa yang dimaksud dengan pyrolisa:
Perubahan dari gas ke gas c. Perubahan dari padat ke uap
Perubahan dari padat ke gas d. Perubahan dari uap ke padat
Apa yang dimaksud dengan piroforik:
Benda padat yang mencair di udara
Unsur logam yang bisa menyala sendiri di udara
Unsur padata yang memuai di suhu kamar
Benda cair yang menggumpal di suhu kamar
Berapa jumlah oksigen minimal yang diperlukan untuk terjadinya proses pembakaran:
13% b. 16% c. 21% d. 25%
APAR artinya...
Alat Pemadam Api Ringan
Alat Pemadam yang digunakan dalam saat kebakaran awal yang dioperasikan oleh 1 orang
Alat pemadam api ringan yang bisa dipakai siapa saja
Benar semua
Flame detector adalah
LATIHAN
Alat yang berfungsi untuk mendeteksi bahan-bahan yang flamable
Alat yang berfungsi untuk mendeteksi panas dari kebakaran
Alat yang berfungsi untuk mendeteksi kebakaran dengan cara menangkap gelombang infra
red atau ultra violet
Alat yang berfungsi untuk menangkap panas yang ditimbulkan dari bahan-bahan flamable
yang bereaksi sehingga menimbulkan panas
APAR hanya efektif digunakan untuk kebakaran awal, hal ini disebabkan:
Mudah dibawa c. Ringan
Mudah dioperasikan d. Jumlahnya terbatas
APAR jenis dry chemical dibedakan menjadi 2, yaitu....
Cara mengoprasikan APAR dry chemical
Jelaskan APAR jenis busa kimia dan busa mekanik...
Rating APAR...
Kebakaran kelas D merupakan kebakaran bahan
Logam b. Bahan bakar cair c. Padat bukan logam d. Listrik
Fire detector berfungsi untuk
Mendeteksi api b. Memadamkan api c. Mengurangi api d. Mendinginkan api
Smoke detectorberfungsi untuk
Sistem yang berfungsi untuk menghisap asap ke local exhaust ventilation
Sistem yang berfungsi untuk mengurangi asap pembakaran
Sistem yang berfungsi untuk mendeteksi asap dan api
Sistem yang berfungsi untuk mendeteksi asap dari proses pembakaran