The role of temperature on carbon monoxide production in compartment fires

The objective of this study was to assess the effect of temperature on carbon monoxide production in compartment fires in order to resolve the difference between global equivalence ratio-yield correlations obtained in simplified upper layer environments and more realistic compartment fires. The chemical reactivity of upper layer gases was studied using a detailed chemical kinetics model. An analysis of the modeling and experimental data in the literature provided insights into the effect of temperature on carbon monoxide production.

The effect of changing temperature on compartment fire upper layer composition is twofold: (1) the generation of species in the fire plume is changed; and (2) oxidation of post-flame gases in the layer is affected. Elevated compartment temperatures correlate with increased fire plume temperatures and more complete oxidation of the fuel to CO₂ and H₂O within the plume. The layer temperature dictates post-flame oxidation in the layer. For most situations, upper layer temperatures below 800K indicate chemically unreactive layers. As such, combustion within the fire plume dictates final CO production in the compartment. Reactions in the upper layer dictate final CO levels when upper layer temperatures are about 900K and higher.     

纵向通风与竖井自然排烟下隧道火灾烟气特性实验研究

中国逐渐发展成为世界上隧道和地下工程最多的国 家,其长隧道数量和长度跻身世界前列。据统计,火灾中85%的 人员死亡是由热烟气造成的,目前隧道中采用较为广泛的排烟系 统有纵向排烟系统、集中排烟系统和横向排烟系统,而针对长隧道 来说,我国广泛采用的是竖井式纵向通风,因此,研究纵向通风与 竖井排烟综合效应下隧道火灾烟气流动特性及温度分布规律具有 重要意义。本文建立了1：10 缩尺寸竖井隧道模型,主隧道长度 16.5 m,宽度1.3 m,高度0.65 m;竖井通过排烟横通道与主隧道 连接,排烟横通道设置在主隧道侧面中部,尺寸为1.2 m 长、0.6 m 宽、0.4 m 高;竖井横截面为半径0.6 m 的1/4 圆,高4.6 m。在 竖井隧道模型中开展了一系列油池火实验,选取2 种方形燃烧池 （20 cm×20 cm、23 cm×23 cm）作为火源,设置2 个纵向火源位置 （位置A：火源中心线与排烟横通道中心线距离0.375 m;位置B： 火源中心线与排烟横通道中心线距离1.375 m）,7 种纵向通风风 速（0,0.18,0.27,0.35,0.44,0.52,0.69 m/s）,定量分析不同工 况下温度分布及烟气逆流长度。研究结果表明：当无纵向通风时, 火焰与隧道地板垂直,且呈轴对称形态;当有纵向通风时,火焰向 下游偏移,且纵向通风风速越大,火焰向下游偏移越明显;当纵向 通风风速为0 m/s 时,由于竖井的存在,火源上、下游两侧烟气温 度分布并非对称,火源下游（竖井侧）烟气温度下降速度较快,与单 洞隧道烟气温度分布明显不同;随纵向通风风速增加,烟气逆流长 度和烟气温度减小,而最大温度偏移距离整体呈增加趋势;当无量 纲纵向通风风速v′＜0.19 时,主隧道最大温升△Tmax 与Q2/3/ Hef 5/3 呈正比,而当无量纲纵向通风风速v′＞0.19 时,主隧道最大 温升△Tmax 与Q? /(vb1/3Hef 5/3)呈正比,但常数系数均小于Li 等预 测模型中的常数系数;竖井隧道内无量纲纵向烟气温度分布符合 Fan 和Ji 等建立的纵向温度衰减模型,衰减系数k′在1.36~1.63 范围内变化,但其值明显大于单洞隧道纵向温度衰减系数k′;另 外,当火源位于位置A 时,最大烟气温度低于火源位于位置B 时 的最大烟气温度,无量纲纵向烟气温度衰减速度慢于火源位于位 置B 时衰减速度。     

Experimental Study on Fire Behaviors of Kerosene/Additive Blends

The widely used fuels in practical are blended fuel whose combustion characteristics is more complex than those of the single-component fuel in real fire scenarios. The fire behaviors of aviation kerosene/diethylene glycol dimethyl ether (DGM) blends (R-D) and aviation kerosene/ethanol (R-E) blends were studied using a cone calorimeter. The parameters of pool fires, including the ignition time, burning rate, fuel temperature, heat release rate and combustion yield, were investigated. Janssens’ method was adopted to analyze the ignition times of the two blends. Two types of representative burning processes for blended fuel pool fires were identified. For R-D blends, the burning process is similar to that for typical pure fuels. The process for R-E blends, however, is novel, having two obvious burning processes due to the appearance of an intermediate decay stage. The fuel exhaust mass fraction (approximately 15%) was found to be almost constant throughout the intermediate decay stage. The fuel temperature during the experiment indicated that the liquid surface boiling temperature of R-D blends ranges from 162°C to 200°C depending upon the composition of these blends. For R-E blends, the initial boiling temperature is affected by the ethanol ratio, while the boiling temperature in the second process is equal to the boiling temperature of pure RP-3 kerosene. When the ethanol ratio is lower than 40%, the initial boiling temperature of R-E blends is approximately 120°C; when the ethanol ratio is higher than 40%, the boiling temperature is equal to the boiling point of ethanol. A method for calculating the burning rate of each component in the burning processes of the two blends is put forward, with the results agreeing well with the interpretation of the two burning processes. The ratio of the combustion yield CO₂/CO and the carbon conversion ratio increase with the oxygenated fuel ratio, indicating that the combustion is more complete when oxygenated fuel is added. These results will be useful for fire hazard assessment and firefighting in terms of fuel storage and transportation.     

Natural smoke filling in atrium with liquid pool fires up to 1.6 MW

Experimental studies on natural smoke filling in an atrium induced by a liquid pool fire up to 1.6 MW were carried out. The new full-scale burning facility, the PolyU/USTC Atrium constructed at Hefei in China, was used. Five sets of hot smoke tests with diesel pool fires of 2×2 m placed on the floor were carried out. All openings were closed, except leaving a small vertical vent of 0.2 m high for supplying fresh air. Transient variations on the mass of the burning fuel, the vertical temperature distributions and the smoke layer interface heights were measured. Results compiled from the tests were compared with those predicted by a smoke filling model developed from plume equations; the NFPA smoke filling equation; and a model developed by Tanaka and co-workers.     

高海拔隧道全尺寸火灾烟气及温度场特征试验研究

通过对海拔为4100m的高海拔隧道进行全尺寸火灾试验,揭示高海拔隧道火灾烟气下沉及温度场变化特征。试验采用三种不同尺寸火源(0.8m2、1.0m2、2.0m2),对隧道火灾烟气蔓延特征、火区最高温度、隧道拱顶纵向温度分布进行研究。试验研究结果表明：隧道火灾试验初期及燃烧稳定阶段,火源附近隧道上层烟气与下层冷空气分界明显,火灾后期烟气下沉严重;较小风速有利于高海拔隧道小规模火灾烟气逆流层纵向和垂向蔓延的控制。隧道火灾温度场研究表明：隧道火灾温升速率随火源热释放率增大而增加;火源附近20m范围内温度衰减速率较快,远火源区域隧道拱顶纵向温度衰减较慢,趋于平缓;通过对火源上方拱顶烟气温度分析,发现隧道火灾探测采用差温报警模式较定温报警模式更加有效,并得出10℃/min的温升速率可基本满足高海拔隧道小规模火灾的初期报警;隧道拱顶纵向温度分布规律导致火源远场烟气下沉严重而近火源区域烟气层化较好的特征。高海拔隧道火灾温度分布特性试验研究,可为高海拔隧道火灾动力特性研究提供依据,为高海拔隧道人员疏散逃生提供指导及建议。     

An experimental study on the effect of ventilation velocity on burning rate in tunnel fires—heptane pool fire case

The 1/20 reduced-scale experiments using Froude scaling are conducted to investigate the effect of longitudinal ventilation velocity on the burning rate in tunnel fires. The n-heptane pool fires with heat release rate ranging from 3.71 to 15.6 kW are used in this study. A load cell is used to measure the mass loss rate of burning fuel and the temperature distributions are measured by K-type thermocouples in order to investigate smoke movement. The ventilation velocity in the reduced-scale tunnel is controlled by the wind tunnel through an inverter. The increases in ventilation velocity lead to enhance burning rate of n-heptane fuel. The reason is that the oxygen supply effect prevails rather than the cooling effect as the ventilation velocity increases. As a result, the heat release rates in experiment are larger than constant heat release rates by 4.45–11.3 times in the n-heptane pool fires. Also, it is found that non-dimensional critical ventilation velocity is proportional to one-third power of non-dimensional heat release rate.     

Experimental study of natural roof ventilation in full-scale enclosure fire tests in a small compartment

An analysis of full-scale fire test experimental data is presented for a small compartment (3×3.6×2.3 m). A square steady fire source is placed in the center of the compartment. There is an open door and a horizontal opening in the roof, so that natural ventilation is established for the well-ventilated fire. A parameter study is performed, covering a range of total fire heat release rates (330, 440 and 550 kW), fire source areas (0.3×0.3 m and 0.6×0.6 m) and roof ventilation opening areas (1.45×1 m, 0.75×1 m and 0.5×1 m). The impact of the different parameters is examined on the smoke layer depth and the temperature variations in vertical direction in the compartment. Both mean temperatures and temperature fluctuations are reported. The total fire heat release rate value has the strongest influence on the hot smoke layer average temperature rise, while the influence of the fire source area and the roof opening is smaller. The hot smoke layer depth, determined from the measured temperature profiles, is primarily influenced by the fire source area, while the total fire heat release rate and the roof opening only have a small impact. Correlations are given for the hot smoke layer average temperature rise, the buoyancy reference velocity and the total smoke mass flow rate out of the compartment, as a function of the different parameters mentioned. Based on the experimental findings, it is discussed that different manual calculation methods, widely used for natural ventilation design of compartments in the case of fire, under-predict the hot layer thickness and total smoke mass flow rate, while the hot layer average temperature is over-estimated.     

Effects of nanoclay and fire retardants on fire retardancy of a polymer blend of EVA and LDPE

The effects of nanoclay (organoclay) and fire retardants (aluminium tri-hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide) on the fire retardancy of a polymer blend of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) were assessed using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and the cone calorimeter. TGA measurements were conducted in nitrogen and air atmospheres at different heating rates (1–20 °C/min), whilst in the cone calorimeter square samples were tested under various external heat fluxes (15–60 kW/m²). The TGA results indicate that the nanoclay (NC) alone has little effect on the degradation of the polymer blend, whereas aluminium tri-hydroxide (ATH) and magnesium hydroxide (MH), used as fire retardants (FRs), generally decrease the onset degradation temperature and also reduce the peak mass loss rate. However, it was found in the cone calorimeter that, though having negligible effect on ignition, the nanoclay reduces the heat release rate (HRR), and increases smoke and CO yields. In comparison, FRs (ATH or MH) were found to delay ignition owing to loss of water at lower temperatures, reduce the HRR, and have similar smoke and CO yields compared to the polymer blend. The reduced HRRs for both the nanoclay and FRs can be attributed to the formation of a surface layer (a nano layer for nanoclay and a ceramic-like layer of Al₂O₃/MgO for FRs), which acts as mass and heat barriers to the unpyrolysed material underneath. The global effect of the surface layer for the polymer blend nanocomposite was examined using a previously developed numerical model, and a methodology for predicting the mass loss rate was subsequently developed and validated.     

Characteristics of Fire Scenarios in Which Sublethal Effects of Smoke are Important

A number of simulations were performed using the CFAST zone fire model to predict the relative times at which smoke inhalation and heat exposure would result in incapacitation. Fires in three building types were modeled: a ranch house, a hotel, and an office building. Gas species yields and rates of heat release for these design fires were derived from a review of real-scale fire test data. The incapacitation equations were taken from draft 14 of ISO document 13571. Sublethal effects of smoke were deemed important when incapacitation from smoke inhalation occurred before harm from thermal effects occurred. Real-scale HCl yield data were incorporated as available; the modeling indicated that the yield would need to be 5 to 10 times higher for incapacitation from HCl to precede incapacitation from narcotic gases, including CO CO₂, HCN and reduce O₂.The results suggest that occupancies in which sublethal effects from open fires could affect escape and survival include multi-room residences, medical facilities, schools, and correctional facilities. In addition, fires originating in concealed spaces in any occupancy pose such a threat. Sublethal effects of smoke are not likely to be of prime concern for open fires in single- or two-compartment occupancies (e.g., small apartments and transportation vehicles) themselves, although sublethal effects may be important in adjacent spaces; buildings with high ceilings and large rooms (e.g., warehouses, mercantile); and occupancies in which fires will be detected promptly and from which escape or rescue will occur within a few minutes.     

Fire detection using cross-correlations of sensor signals

Experiments have been carried out to investigate the efficacy of signal cross-correlation techniques to provide early detection of fire. Cross-correlations were of the form A·B and A·B·C, where A, B and C were signals from various sensors and denotes averages of signal products over a correlation time interval, τ_c, extending from present time into the past. All signals were referenced to their baseline averages extending over a time interval, τ_B, into the past. Tests were conducted in a room, quiescent or highly ventilated, using fire sources modeled on the test fires of European Standard EN54. Various sensors responded to airborne pyrolysis and combustion products. Two complementary cross-correlations, ΔCO·ΔION and ΔCO₂·ΔT, were shown (with τ_B selected in the range 100–250 s and τ_C selected in the range 10–25 s) to be equivalent to a much more sensitive detection system than implied by the limits of the most sensitive EN54 class, where ΔCO and ΔCO₂ are referenced carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide concentrations, ΔION is the referenced output of a measuring ionization chamber, and ΔT is the referenced temperature.     

Impact of Air Velocity on the Detection of Fires in Conveyor Belt Haulageways

A series of large-scale experiments were conducted in an above-ground fire gallery using three different types of fire-resistant conveyor belts and four air velocities for each belt. The goal of the experiments was to understand and quantify the effects of air velocity on the detection of fires in underground conveyor belt haulageways and to determine the rates of generation of toxic gases and smoke as a fire progresses through the stages of smoldering coal, flaming coal, and finally a flaming conveyor belt. In the experiments, electrical strip heaters, imbedded approximately 5 cm below the top surface of a large mass of coal rubble, were used to ignite the coal, producing an open flame. The flaming coal mass subsequently ignited 1.83-m-wide conveyor belts located approximately 0.30 m above the coal surface. Gas samples were drawn through an averaging probe for continuous measurement of CO, CO₂, and O₂ as the fire progressed. Approximately 20 m from the fire origin and 0.5 m below the roof of the gallery, two commercially available smoke detectors, a light obscuration meter, and a sampling probe for measurement of total mass concentration of smoke particles were placed. Two video cameras were located upstream of the fire origin and along the gallery at about 14 m and 5 m in order to detect both smoke and flames from the fire. This paper discusses the impact of ventilation airflow on alarm times of the smoke detectors and video cameras, CO levels, smoke optical densities and smoke obscuration, total smoke mass concentrations, and fire heat release rates, examining how these various parameters depend upon air velocity and air quantity, the product of air velocity, and entry cross-section.     

Heat feedback to the fuel surface of a pool fire in an enclosure

As a part of an effort to determine the energy balance at the pool fire surface in compartments, a series of fire experiments were conducted to study heat flux of the flame in a vitiated environment formed with air and combustion products gases. This paper presents experimental results of the burning behaviour of a heptane pool fire in a reduced scale compartment equipped with a mechanical ventilation network. Measurements of heat fluxes, fuel mass loss rate, oxygen concentration and temperature are performed for heptane fires of 0.26 and 0.3 m diameter pans at different ventilation flow rates. An original method to separate effects of the radiant heat flux of the flame and of the external heat feedback to the fuel surface is developed. This was achieved by using an additional heat flux measurement located under the pool fire. A correlation was also developed to determine the temperature rise on the plume centerline in the compartment as a function of the heat release rate. The results indicate a decrease in the fuel mass loss rate, flame temperature and heat fluxes to the fuel surface as the oxygen concentration measured near the fuel decreases by varying the air refresh rate of the compartment. The flame radiation fraction shows a similar behaviour, whereas the convective fraction of the flame heat flux increases when oxygen concentration decreases. Based on these experimental findings, it was discussed that any classification of the burning regime of a pool fire should consider both the effects of pan diameter and the burning response to vitiated air.     

The influence of longitudinal ventilation systems on fires in tunnels

Many tunnels are equipped with longitudinal ventilation systems to control smoke in the event of a fire. However, the influence of such ventilation on fire development and fire spread has rarely been considered. This paper presents the results of a study investigating the influence of forced longitudinal ventilation on car fires, pool fires and heavy goods vehicle fires in tunnels. A Bayesian probabilistic approach is used to refine estimates, made by a panel of experts, with data from experimental fire tests in tunnels. Results are presented and the implications are discussed. The influence of longitudinal ventilation on heavy goods vehicle fires is predicted to be much larger than the experts’ estimates, causing a fire to grow ten times larger than if natural ventilation was used. The effect of ventilation on a pool fire in a tunnel depends on the size of the pool; the heat release rate of small pool fires may be reduced by forced ventilation, whereas it may be enlarged for large pool fires. The size of a car fire is not expected to be greatly affected by forced ventilation at low ventilation velocities.     

高高原环境下锂离子电池热失控烟气特性

为探究高高原机场低压低氧环境对锂离子电池热失控行为中喷射火焰温度、热释放速率及烟气组分等参数的影响，构建锂离子电池低压试验平台，以4节单体18650型锂离子电池构成电池组，分别模拟高高原机场（50 kPa）、平原机场环境（90 kPa）下锂离子电池热失控试验。结果表明：在50 kPa工况下，池体破损程度、热释放速率及喷射火焰温度均有所下降，喷射火焰峰值温度降低约241.3 ℃。50 kPa工况下产生的热解烟气中C_xH_y、CO等易燃气体浓度更高，最高体积分数分别可达3 134.50×10^-6和0.860%，并且随热释放速率的增加热增加；在90 kPa工况下呈现相反趋势，C_xH_y、CO气体浓度均有所下降，且随热释放速率的增加热降低。90 kPa工况下电池燃爆更为剧烈，作为物质完全燃烧的证明，CO₂气体浓度高于50 kPa工况下试验值，最高体积分数可达1.510 7%。     

浅谈大型地下商场火灾的排烟

地下建筑主要包括地下商场（商业街）、娱乐场所、旅馆等人员密集场所;地下仓库、设备机房、停车场等易燃易爆场所;海底隧道、公（铁）路隧道等交通设施。其中,大型地下商场火灾的危险性主要表现在：起火点隐蔽、烟雾浓且久聚不敢、疏散十分困难,容易造成重大人员伤亡。在大型地下商场发生火灾时,如何有效地进行火场排烟,是阻止火势蔓延、     

Experimental studies on the performance,emission and combustion characteristics of a biodiesel-fuelled (Pongamia methyl ester) diesel engine with diethyl ether as an oxygenated fuel additive

This paper investigates the combustion, performance and emission characteristics of a single-cylinder diesel engine using neat biodiesel (Pongamia methyl ester) with two different blends (10% and 15% diethyl ether [DEE]) at different load conditions. The measured values of brake thermal efficiency (BTE), brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC), exhaust gas temperature (EGT), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbon (HC), nitrogen oxide (NO) and smoke were calculated and analysed and compared with diesel fuel. The results showed that a significant reduction in NO and smoke emissions for neat biodiesel with 15% DEE blend compared with neat biodiesel at full load conditions. The peak pressure and heat release rate were decreased, and maximum rate of pressure rise and ignition delay were also decreased with DEE blends at full load. On the whole, it is concluded that the biodiesel with 15% DEE blend showed better results with respect to efficiency and emissions point of view compared with biodiesel.     

Spread and burning behavior of continuous spill fires

Spill fire experiments with continuous discharge on a fireproof glass sheet were conducted to improve the understanding of spill fire spread and burning. Ethanol was used as the fuel and the discharge rate was varied from 2.8 mL/s to 7.6 mL/s. Three ignition conditions were used in the experiments; no ignition, instantaneous ignition and delayed ignition. The spread rate, regression rate, penetrated thermal radiation and the temperature of the bottom glass were analyzed. The experiments clearly show the entire spread process for spill fires. Further, the regression rate of spill fires at the quasi-steady burning was lower than that of pool fires and the ratio of the spill fires’ regression rate to the pool fires’ regression rate was found to be approximately 0.89. With respect to the radiative penetration and the heat conduction between the fuel layer and the glass, a regression rate expression for spill fires was developed based on some modifications on existing expressions for pool fires. In addition, a complete phenomenological model for spill fires was developed by combining the characteristics of spread and burning. The model was verified by the experimental data and found to predict the spread process for spill fires with reasonable accuracy.