Abstract
A Program Plume has been created to compute the air entrainment for a given fire size and a specified hot layer height. The solution is based on integration of conservation law equations. The empirical assumptions are related to the flame height and to the coefficient of entrainment and are based on the experimental data of California's Institute of Technology. Calculations are compared with the experimental results obtained in the field tests. The program seems to describe the experimental data better than other known methods. A software package called “Firecalc” includes seven modules, based on the plume model, which describe hot layer properties in confined compartments relevant to practical situations. The computational results of these modules are also in good agreement with available results of field and laboratory tests.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Morgan, H.P., Hansell, G.O., “Atrium Buildings: Smoke Flows in Atria for Smoke-Control Design,”Fire Safety Journal, Vol. 12 (1987), p. 9.
Beyler, C.L., “Fire Plumes and Ceiling Jets,”Fire Safety Journal, Vol. 11 (1986), p. 53.
Thomas, P.H., Hinkley, P.L., Theobald, C.R., Simms, D.L., “Investigations into the Flow of Hot Gases in Roof Venting,”Fire Research Technical Paper No. 7, London (1963–1964).
Hinkley, P.L., “Some Notes on the Control of Smoke in Enclosed Shopping Centres,”Fire Research Note No. 875 Fire Research Station, Borehamwood, Harts, England (May 1971).
Hinkley, P.L., “Rates of ‘Production’ of Hot Gases in Roof Venting Experiments,”Fire Safety Journal, Vol. 10 (1986), p. 57.
Zukoski, E.E., Kubota, T., Cetegen, B.M., “Entrainment in the Near Field of a Fire Plume,”Report NBS-GCR-81-346, Center for Fire Research, National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD (August 1981).
Zukoski, E.E., Kubota, T., Cetegen, B.M., “Entrainment in Fire Plumes,”Fire Safety Journal, Vol. 3 (1980/81), p. 107.
Cetegen, B.M., Zukoski, E.E., Kubota, T., “Entrainment and Flame Geometry of Fire Plumes,”Report NBS-GCR-82-402, Center for Fire Research, National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD (August 1982).
Stroup, D.W., “Fireform,” a collection of fire safety computer programs, National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD (1986).
Heskestad, G., “Engineering Relations for Fire Plumes,”Fire Safety Journal, Vol. 7 (1984), p. 25.
Duong, D.Q., “The Accuracy of Computer Fire Models: Some Comparisons with Experimental Results for Australia,”Fire Safety Journal, Vol. 16 (1990), p. 415.
McCaffrey, B.J., “Purely Buoyant Diffusion Flames: Some Experimental Results,”Report NBSIR 79-1910, Center for Fire Research, National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD (October 1979).
Drysdale, D.,An Introduction to Fire Dynamics, Wiley & Sons (1985).
Yokoi, S., “The Use of Models in Fire Research,”Publication Nr. 786.186–202 National Academy of Sciences, National Research Council, Washington D.C. (1961).
Rouse, H., Yih, C.S., Humphreys, H.W., “Gravitational Convection from a Boundary Source,”Tellus, Vol. 4 (1952), p.201.
Kung, H. -C., and Stavrianidis, P., “Buoyant Plumes of Large-Scale Pool Fires,” 19th International Symposium on Combustion,”Proceedings (1982), p. 905.
Rockett, J.A., “Fire-Induced Gas Flow in an Enclosure,”Comb. Sci. & Tech., Vol. 12 (1976), p. 165.
Keough, J.J., “Venting Fires through Roofs,”Report No. UP 344, Commonwealth Experimental Building Station, Australia, 1972.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Shestopal, V.O., Grubits, S.J. Computer program for an uninhibited smoke plume and associated computer software. Fire Technol 29, 246–267 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01152109
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01152109