Fire Safety Science Digital Archive

The combination of a fire model and a smoke sensor model to simulate the response of the sensor to different fire situations is presented. The Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology was combined with a smoke sensor model developed at the Institute of Communication Systems of the University Duisburg- Essen. The simulation results of the smoke development during a fire were converted into input parameters suitable for the smoke sensor model. To simulate a smoke sensor several input parameters are necessary to describe the smoke, the sensor, and its housing. The size distribution of the smoke particles is one important parameter to describe the smoke. Coagulation of the smoke particles that influences the particle size distribution is implemented in the model. Simulation results of the combined model are compared to measurement results of an open flaming fire and a smoldering fire. A scattering light sensor and an ionization chamber were simulated. The results of measurements and simulations show that the quality of the sensor simulation depends on the fuel that is burned.