Algorithm for Estimating Carbon Monoxide Formation in Enclosure Fires.
Algorithm for Estimating Carbon Monoxide Formation in
Enclosure Fires.
(876 K)
Pitts, W. M.
International Association for Fire Safety Science. Fire
Safety Science. Proceedings. Fifth (5th) International
Symposium. March 3-7, 1997, Melbourne, Australia, Intl.
Assoc. for Fire Safety Science, Boston, MA, Hasemi, Y.,
Editor(s), 535-546 pp, 1997.
Keywords:
fire research; fire safety; fire science; carbon
monoxide; enclosures; algorithms; compartment fires;
fire models; global equivalence ratio; room fires
Abstract:
This paper introduces an engineering approach for
estimating the generation rate of carbon monoxide (CO)
within a room containing a fire. Four CO formation
mechanisms: 1) quenching of a turbulent fire plume upon
entering a rich upper layer, 2) mixing of oxygen
directly into a rich, high-temperature upper layer with
subsequent reaction, 3) pyrolysis of wood in a
high-temperature, vitiated environment, and 4) approach
to full-equilibrium combustion product concentrations in
a rich, high-temperature upper layer - identified in
recent experimental and modeling investigtions are
incorporated into a step-by-step algorithm. The
understanding required to implement the algorithm in
fire models is briefly discussed.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899