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Measuring Radiation Heat Fluxes from a Jet Fire Using a Lumped Capacitance Model

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Abstract

This paper presents an experimental methodology for measuring the incident radiation heat flux distribution surrounding a jet fire. The methodology uses a line of surface thermocouples attached to a steel bar. The thermocouples measure the temperature time history of the steel bar in response to an imposed incident radiation heat flux. The theoretical basis of the methodology is an energy balance for any point on the steel bar. The energy balance is formulated as a lumped capacitance model. All of the assumptions in the theory are shown to be valid and the accuracy of the experimental methodology demonstrated.

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Abbreviations

Bi :

Biot number

c steel :

Specific heat capacity of steel

C1, C2:

Turbulence model constants

D :

Burner diameter

E n :

Root mean squared difference between measured and predicted temperature

Fr :

Froude number

g :

Gravitational acceleration

h :

Convective heat transfer coefficient

I inc :

Incident intensity

k steel :

Thermal conductivity of steel

N :

Number of entries in a time series

Nu :

Nusselt number

q conv :

Convective heat flux

q emit :

Emitted radiation heat flux

q inc :

Incident radiation heat flux

q refl :

Reflected radiation heat flux

r :

Radial coordinate

Ra :

Rayleigh number

Re :

Reynolds number

T :

Temperature

T amb :

Bulk air temperature

T i :

Initial temperature

T m :

Measured temperature

T n :

Predicted temperature at n∆t time

T rise :

Dimensionless temperature rise

T steady :

Steady state temperature

t max :

Maximum time in temperature–time series

U 0 :

Source velocity

z :

Axial coordinate

∆ :

Thickness of steel bar

∆t :

Time step

∆Ω :

Field of view

∆q inc :

Uncertainty in the incident radiation heat flux

∆T :

Uncertainty in the temperature

∆ε :

Uncertainty in the surface emissivity

ρ steel :

Density of steel

θ :

Angle of incidence

σ :

Stefan Boltzmann constant

Ω :

Ray orientation

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Riccarton Campus, Edinburgh, UK

    Peter S. Cumber

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  1. Peter S. Cumber
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Correspondence to Peter S. Cumber.

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Cumber, P.S. Measuring Radiation Heat Fluxes from a Jet Fire Using a Lumped Capacitance Model. Fire Technol 47, 665–685 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10694-010-0182-9

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