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Using FDS to Simulate Smoke Layer Interface Height in a Simple Atrium

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Abstract

This study examines the possible effects of various make-up air supply arrangements and velocities in an atrium smoke management system. Variations include velocities ranging from 0.5 to 3.0 m/s. The arrangement of make-up air supply injection points include symmetrically located vents placed low in the spaced, an array of vents distributed from the floor to the ceiling, and asymmetrically located vents. Fire Dynamic Simulator version 4.06 is applied to simulate ten scenarios in a 30.5 m cubical domain with a fire source simulating a stack of pallets with an approximate peak heat release rate of 5 MW. Results show that make-up air supply velocities should be diffused such that little to no velocity effects reach the fire. Make-up air should be supplied to the fire symmetrically for the best chance of not disturbing the fire plume. Disturbing the fire and smoke plume results in a significant increase in the smoke production rate, as evidenced by a deeper smoke layer.

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References

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Fire Protection Engineering, University of Maryland, Maryland, USA

    Steve Kerber & James A. Milke

Authors
  1. Steve Kerber
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  2. James A. Milke
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to James A. Milke.

Additional information

1. Growth time refers to the time required for the heat release rate of the fire to increase to 1055 kW. The 150 s growth time is in the middle of the range of growth times noted in NFPA 92B for 1.5 m high stacks of pallets [2].

2. For the purpose of this paper, a ‘peak’ heat release rate is determined based on the maximum sustained heat release rate, neglecting the instantaneous spikes of the heat release rate.

Appendix A: Detailed Calculations

Appendix A: Detailed Calculations

Figure 33.
figure 33

Asymmetric vs. corner vent heat release rate at 2.0 m/s.

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$$ \displaylines{ \dot m = C_1 Q_c^{1/3} z^{5/3} + C_2 Q_C \cr \dot m = 0.071(3500)^{1/3} (22.6)^{5/3} + 0.0018(3500) \cr \dot m = 201.0\,{\rm kg}/{\rm s} \cr T_p = T_a + \frac{{Q_c }}{{\dot mc_p }} \cr T_P = 20 + \frac{{3500}}{{201.0(1.0)}} \cr T_P = 37.4^\circ {\rm C} = 310.6\,{\rm K} \cr \rho _p = \frac{{352.8}}{{T_p }} \cr \rho _P = \frac{{352.8}}{{310.6}} \cr \rho _P = 1.14\,{\rm kg}/{\rm m}^3 \cr \dot V = \frac{{\dot m}}{{\rho _p }} \cr \dot V = \frac{{201.0}}{{1.14}} \cr \dot V = 176.3\,{\rm m}^3/{\rm s} \cr \dot V_i = \frac{{\dot m}}{{\rho _{amb} }} \cr \dot V_i = \frac{{201.0}}{{1.1}} \cr \dot V_i = 182.7\,{\rm m}^3/{\rm s} \cr v = \dot V_i /A_v \cr A_v = \frac{{182.7}}{{1.0}} \cr A_v = 182.7\,{\rm m}^2} $$

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Kerber, S., Milke, J.A. Using FDS to Simulate Smoke Layer Interface Height in a Simple Atrium. Fire Technol 43, 45–75 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10694-007-0007-7

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