Fire Safety Science Digital Archive

Transient characteristics of plume flows generated by 0.57 m-2.0 m diameter aviation fuel pool fires in a 5.4 m wide x 2.4 m high x 130 m long tunnel for ventilation rates in the range of 0.5-2.0 m/s have been measured and predicted using a mathematical model. The objective was to simulate and understand the transport of combustion products of a fire in a ventilated mine roadway network with a view to determine the optimum wind rate, fire alarm sitings, escape routes, etc. A stratified layer of hot combustion products was formed near the ceiling and flowed against the ventilation at sufficiently low wind speeds. The backflow was arrested as the wind speed was increased, and the critical wind speed required to stop the backflow was higher for larger fires. The measured fuel pyrolysis mass loss flux (61") was observed to increase with the pool diameter. At higher wind speeds, h" decreased as the flame tilted away from the pool surface, reducing the heat feedback. Predictions of the temperature and flow fields (including the backflow) and flame geometry made by a 3-dimensional k-E turbulence combustion model [I] in the steady state regime of the fire agree generally well with the measurements.