BFRL ICON Characterizing Positive Pressure Ventilation Using Computational Fluid Dynamics.

pdf icon Characterizing Positive Pressure Ventilation Using Computational Fluid Dynamics. (1606 K)
Kerber, S. I.; Walton, W. D.

NISTIR 7065; 33 p. February 2003.

Sponsor:

Federal Emergency Management Agency, Washington, DC
U.S. Fire Administration, Washington, DC

Available from:

Orders Only) 800-553-6847;
Website: http://www.ntis.gov

Keywords:

computational fluid dynamics; ventilation; mapping; velocity fields; experiments; uncertainty; air flow; air velocity

Abstract:

Data from two different sets of full-scale experiments are compared with simulations completed with computational fluid dynamic model, the Fire Dynamic Simulator (FDS). The full-scale experiments characterize a Positive Pressure Ventilation (PPV) fan in an open atmosphere and in a simple room geometry. The measurements of both experiments compare favorably with the Fire Dynamic Simulator results. With the correct geometry, vent placement, and boundary location FDS predicted velocities that were within 10 percent for the open atmosphere and 20 percent for the simple room geometry. FDS's visualization of the positive pressure ventilation fan's flow pattern, and the flow out of the window also correlated well with those measured experimentally.


Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899