Minimum ignition energy

Minimum ignition energy (MIE) is the minimum amount of energy required to ignite a combustible vapor, gas or dust cloud, for example by means of an electrostatic discharge. Ignition of a fuel/air mixture is possible only when the rate of liberation of heat near the ignition zone is greater than the heat loss by conduction. Heat loss due to radiation is not considered, as it is assumed to be negligible, and the ignition process is assumed to be steady and one-dimensional. MIE is measured in joules (J).