Experimental study of the effectiveness of air curtains of variable width and injection angle to block fire-induced smoke in a tunnel configuration

Small-scale experiments have been conducted to study the sealing effect of an air curtain for fire-induced smoke confinement in a tunnel configuration. The processed data confirmed the results obtained earlier from blind Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations [1] using the Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) 6.5.3 [2,3]. Furthermore, the CFD simulations provided complementary information on the detailed flow and temperature fields which are difficult to obtain in experiments with the available techniques. A parametric study is performed, covering a range of air curtain velocities, slot widths, injection angles and total fire heat release rates (HRRs). The momentum ratio R, defined as the ratio of the vertically downward air curtain momentum to the horizontal smoke layer momentum at the position of the air curtain, is confirmed to be a key parameter for the air curtain performance. A ratio R ≈ 10 is recommended for the optimum sealing effect in terms of smoke confinement. In addition, two other important parameters that determine the performance of air curtains for smoke confinement are presented. The first parameter is the dimensionless shape factor AR (AR = Width/Length) that characterizes the dilution effect of the air curtain jet. The second parameter is the injection angle θ that characterizes the horizontal force of the air curtain. The air curtain sealing effectiveness increases with both the increase of slot width (shape factor AR) and injection angle (θ). The air curtain width has a limited influence on the performance of the air curtain whilst the injection angle has a more significant influence on the sealing effectiveness of the air curtain for the scenarios considered in this study. An optimal injection angle of 30° inclined to the fire source is recommended in the engineering design of the air curtain for smoke confinement for situations where the fire location can be pre-determined to be only at one side of an air curtain

Experimental Design of a Prescribed Burn Instrumentation

Observational data collected during experiments, such as the planned Fire and Smoke Model Evaluation Experiment (FASMEE), are critical for progressing and transitioning coupled fire-atmosphere models like WRF-SFIRE and WRF-SFIRE-CHEM into operational use. Historical meteorological data, representing typical weather conditions for the anticipated burn locations and times, have been processed to initialize and run a set of simulations representing the planned experimental burns. Based on an analysis of these numerical simulations, this paper provides recommendations on the experimental setup that include the ignition procedures, size and duration of the burns, and optimal sensor placement. New techniques are developed to initialize coupled fire-atmosphere simulations with weather conditions typical of the planned burn locations and time of the year. Analysis of variation and sensitivity analysis of simulation design to model parameters by repeated Latin Hypercube Sampling are used to assess the locations of the sensors. The simulations provide the locations of the measurements that maximize the expected variation of the sensor outputs with the model parameters.Comment: 35 pages, 4 tables, 28 figure

Main specifications of CFD codes for WUIVIEW activities

CFD simulations will be the core activity of the WUVIEW performance based fire safety analysis. The purpose of this document is to provide WUIVIEW partners with a general overview of the CFD codes to be used in the Action. The general simulation framework is described, particularly highlighting data inputs and scenario description requirements, to be developed in subsequent WUIVIEW WPs. This TN provides the technical foundations and main specifications of the databases to be designed within the WUIVIEW working program (ongoing action by UPC).Postprint (updated version

Evaluation of WRF-Sfire Performance with Field Observations from the FireFlux experiment

This study uses in-situ measurements collected during the FireFlux field experiment to evaluate and improve the performance of coupled atmosphere-fire model WRF-Sfire. The simulation by WRF-Sfire of the experimental burn shows that WRF-Sfire is capable of providing realistic head fire rate-of-spread and the vertical temperature structure of the fire plume, and, up to 10 m above ground level, fire-induced surface flow and vertical velocities within the plume. The model captured the changes in wind speed and direction before, during, and after fire front passage, along with arrival times of wind speed, temperature, and updraft maximae, at the two instrumented flux towers used in FireFlux. The model overestimated vertical velocities and underestimated horizontal wind speeds measured at tower heights above the 10 m, and it is hypothesized that the limited model resolution over estimated the fire front depth, leading to too high a heat release and, subsequently, too strong an updraft. However, on the whole, WRF-Sfire fire plume behavior is consistent with the interpretation of FireFlux observations. The study suggests optimal experimental pre-planning, design, and execution of future field campaigns that are needed for further coupled atmosphere-fire model development and evaluation

Parametric CFD study of an air curtain for smoke confinement

The CFD simulation of an air curtain for smoke confinement in case of fire is conducted by using Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS 6.0.1). It is a working progress of preliminary simulation for preparation of small scale experiment. The set-up is a wind tunnel configuration. Special focus is given to the smoke flow field, jet velocity and temperature distribution in the protected area. Predicted ceiling jet properties are compared with analytical equations. Investigation of different jet velocities reveals that the smoke flow field in the wind tunnel is strongly influenced by the operation of air curtain. Jet velocity between 0.75m-1m/s is recommended for the study at hand

Behavior in normal and reduced gravity of an enclosed liquid/gas system with nonuniform heating from above

The temperature and velocity fields have been investigated for a single-phase gas system and a two-layer gas-and-liquid system enclosed in a circular cylinder being heated suddenly and nonuniformly from above. The transient response of the gas, liquid, and container walls was modelled numerically in normal and reduced gravity (10 to the -5 g). Verification of the model was accomplished via flow visualization experiments in 10 cm high by 10 cm diameter plexiglass cylinders

Aeronautical Engineering: A continuing bibliography, supplement 120

This bibliography contains abstracts for 297 reports, articles, and other documents introduced into the NASA scientific and technical information system in February 1980