Structure and Radiation Properties of Pool Fires. Final Report.
Structure and Radiation Properties of Pool Fires. Final
Report.
(5225 K)
Klassen, M. E.; Gore, J. P.
NIST GCR 94-651; 153 p. June 1994.
Sponsor:
National Institute of Standards and Technology,
Gaithersburg, MD
Available from:
National Technical Information Service
(NTIS), Technology Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce, Springfield, VA 22161.
Telephone:
1-800-553-6847 or 703-605-6000;
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Order number: PB94-193802
Keywords:
pool fires; burning rate; flame height; heat loss; heat
transfer; measurement; radiation; soot; temperature
distribution
Abstract:
An experimental and theoretical study of radiative
feedback, burning rates, radiative heat loss fractions,
and flame heights for pool fires with diameters ranging
from 4.6 cm to 100 cm was completed. Transient
measurements of soot and temperature distributions were
obtained in 7.1 cm and 30 cm heptane and toluene fires
using a three-wavelength emission/absorption probe. The
heat release rates of the fires varied from 0.6 kW to
2166 kW allowing a study over a wide range. A variety
of fuels were tried but most of the measurements were
restricted to methanol, heptane, and toluene as
representatives of the alcohols, paraffins and
aromatics. Radiative feedback was measured using a new
in situ purged optical probe inserted at the level of
the fuel surface. Measurements of reflection of energy
from the fuel surface were also obtained. A multi-ray
radiation calculation procedure utilizing simultaneous
single-point measurements of soot volume fractions and
temperatures was used to estimate the heat transfer to
the surroundings and that to the fuel surface.
Importance of turbulent fluctuations of different
frequencies on the radiation heat flux was studied using
filtered simulations.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899