Wind-induced interaction of a large cylindrical calorimeter and an engulfing JP-8 pool fire
As part of a research program in fire science and technology at Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), an experimental and computational investigation of the fire phenomenology associated with the presence of a large (3.66 m diameter), fuselage-sized cylindrical calorimeter engulfed in a large (18.9 m diameter) JP-8 pool fire subjected to high (10.2 m/s) winds were performed. The conditions investigated here resulted in a twofold increase in the incident heat flux to the surface of the object relative to heat fluxes typical of large hydrocarbon fires without engulfed objects. Due to the enhanced fuel/air mixing, enhanced turbulence, and larger flame volume, the highest heat fluxes are observed on the leeward side of the calorimeter. Radiative heat fluxes of 150--250 kW/m{sup 2} on this side, with the maximum heat flux occurring near the top of the calorimeter, were measured. Radiative heat fluxes of 60--200 kW/m{sup 2} were measured on the windward side, with the highest heat flux near the bottom of the calorimeter. Measured and predicted heat fluxes to the pool surface of 25--90 kW/m{sup 2} were observed. The presence of the calorimeter tends to decrease the overall fuel consumption rate primarily due to redirection of the flame zone away from the pool surface. Overall, the numerical models does a reasonable job of representing the essential features of the fire environment but under predicts the heat flux to the calorimeter. These results emphasize the importance of considering the wind-induced interaction of fires and large objects when estimating the incident heat fluxes on a engulfed object. The measurements and analyses are of particular interest since few studies to date have addressed cases where the fire and object are of comparable size.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000
- OSTI ID:
- 106488
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-95-1635C; CONF-951135-13; ON: DE95015851
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 1995 International mechanical engineering congress and exhibition, San Francisco, CA (United States), 12-17 Nov 1995; Other Information: PBD: [1995]
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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