ISSN Online: 2688-7231
ISBN Online: 978-1-56700-478-6
STUDIES ON SMOKE FILLING IN A VENTILATED ENCLOSURE
RÉSUMÉ
This paper describes experiments on smoke filling carried
out in the Compartment Fire Test Facility (CFTF) at Safety
Research Institute, Kalpakkam. The geometrical features of this
facility are identical to an ISO 9705 room, with an exhaust hood and duct for smoke removal. Experiments have been carried
using a liquid hydrocarbon pool at the floor center as a fire
source, by varying ventilation area. Data and salient
observations from these experiments are presented in this
paper.
A mathematical model to simulate the smoke filling process
is also presented. A control volume approach is adopted,
wherein only the upper layer is modeled. The mass and energy
conservation equations are suitably non-dimensionalized to
obtain a set of coupled ODEs. The model incorporates
appropriate correlations for plume and vent flow rate. For
example, the well-known Zukoski plume model is used for
estimating plume mass flow rate as a function of fire load and
smoke layer height. Vent flow rate is calculated using the
simplified Bernoulli equation with a suitable flow coefficient.
The model is validated using experimental data. Subsequent to
the validation exercise, additional numerical studies were also
performed to bring out the effect of key variables on smoke
layer development.