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Implementation and validation of an environmental feedback pool fire model based on oxygen depletion and radiative feedback in FDS

Wahlqvist, Jonathan LU and van Hees, Patrick LU (2016) In Fire Safety Journal 85. p.35-49
Abstract

This paper has been aimed at implementing and validating a simplified environmental feedback fire model in FDS as a complement to more advanced pyrolysis models. The two main means of environmental feedback have been identified as the oxygen concentration close to the fuel base and the radiative feedback from the surrounding obstructions and smoke layer. The oxygen concentration at the fuel base has previously been identified to linearly influence the normalized burning rate compared to the free burning behavior; this correlation has been implemented in FDS as a simple way to compensate for the reduced radiative feedback the fuel surface receives when the oxygen concentration is lowered and the flame is cooled down, prolonged or... (More)

This paper has been aimed at implementing and validating a simplified environmental feedback fire model in FDS as a complement to more advanced pyrolysis models. The two main means of environmental feedback have been identified as the oxygen concentration close to the fuel base and the radiative feedback from the surrounding obstructions and smoke layer. The oxygen concentration at the fuel base has previously been identified to linearly influence the normalized burning rate compared to the free burning behavior; this correlation has been implemented in FDS as a simple way to compensate for the reduced radiative feedback the fuel surface receives when the oxygen concentration is lowered and the flame is cooled down, prolonged or detached from the fuel base. In large pool fires it is often considered that the net radiative heat flux to the fuel surface is the dominant factor compared to convection when determining the total mass loss rate, and in enclosed spaces the additional radiative heat flux feedback from other sources than the flame itself might be significant. To predict these environmental effects another simplified model has been implemented; the external radiative heat flux (radiative heat flux not sourced from the flames) divided by the fuel heat of vaporization is assumed to be directly proportional to the additional mass loss rate. This model is mostly needed in very hot enclosures and its effect has been limited in the cases used for validation in this paper. Overall the model produces accurate predictions of the mass loss rate as long as the overall flow is reasonably resolved by the model. The grid dependency has been observed to be relatively small even at coarse meshes which can be a benefit compared to more detailed models.

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author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
CFD, FDS, Fire, HVAC, Mechanical ventilation, Oxygen depletion, Pool fire, Radiation feedback, Validation
in
Fire Safety Journal
volume
85
pages
15 pages
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • wos:000384855700004
  • scopus:84983431255
ISSN
0379-7112
DOI
10.1016/j.firesaf.2016.08.003
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
c6928faf-e7ff-49c9-be60-72ab7c7f648b
date added to LUP
2016-10-17 08:49:16
date last changed
2024-01-04 14:28:51
@article{c6928faf-e7ff-49c9-be60-72ab7c7f648b,
  abstract     = {{<p>This paper has been aimed at implementing and validating a simplified environmental feedback fire model in FDS as a complement to more advanced pyrolysis models. The two main means of environmental feedback have been identified as the oxygen concentration close to the fuel base and the radiative feedback from the surrounding obstructions and smoke layer. The oxygen concentration at the fuel base has previously been identified to linearly influence the normalized burning rate compared to the free burning behavior; this correlation has been implemented in FDS as a simple way to compensate for the reduced radiative feedback the fuel surface receives when the oxygen concentration is lowered and the flame is cooled down, prolonged or detached from the fuel base. In large pool fires it is often considered that the net radiative heat flux to the fuel surface is the dominant factor compared to convection when determining the total mass loss rate, and in enclosed spaces the additional radiative heat flux feedback from other sources than the flame itself might be significant. To predict these environmental effects another simplified model has been implemented; the external radiative heat flux (radiative heat flux not sourced from the flames) divided by the fuel heat of vaporization is assumed to be directly proportional to the additional mass loss rate. This model is mostly needed in very hot enclosures and its effect has been limited in the cases used for validation in this paper. Overall the model produces accurate predictions of the mass loss rate as long as the overall flow is reasonably resolved by the model. The grid dependency has been observed to be relatively small even at coarse meshes which can be a benefit compared to more detailed models.</p>}},
  author       = {{Wahlqvist, Jonathan and van Hees, Patrick}},
  issn         = {{0379-7112}},
  keywords     = {{CFD; FDS; Fire; HVAC; Mechanical ventilation; Oxygen depletion; Pool fire; Radiation feedback; Validation}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{10}},
  pages        = {{35--49}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Fire Safety Journal}},
  title        = {{Implementation and validation of an environmental feedback pool fire model based on oxygen depletion and radiative feedback in FDS}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.firesaf.2016.08.003}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.firesaf.2016.08.003}},
  volume       = {{85}},
  year         = {{2016}},
}