Flame spreading over liquid ethanol

Flame spreading over liquid ethanol has been experimentally characterized for ethanol for subflash temperatures, in two different channels. Three different spreading regimes have been observed. A uniform region (with flame velocities close to 10 cm/s) appears for values of the initial surface liquid temperature above a critical value . For values an oscillatory regime occurs. For very low temperatures, , a new uniform regime appears with slow propagation velocities (close to 1 cm/s). The critical point has been described as a Hopf bifurcation, while resembles a homoclinic connection. Received 16 October 1998 and Received in final form 23 June 1999