A model of the axial plume temperature profile of rectangular pool fires dominated by convection under different atmospheric pressures and aspect ratios

Abstract

This paper experimentally studied the axial plume temperature profile of heptane pool fires dominated by convection under different atmospheric pressures and aspect ratios. Results indicate that McCaffrey's axial temperature model in the plume region is not applicable at low-pressure conditions. The Gaussian plume model proposed by Tang et al. was verified based on the experiments of 36 cm2 pool fires, which are dominated by conduction, for different atmospheric pressures and aspect ratios. By mathematical derivation of the plume mass flow rate of pool fires, the relationship between the air entrainment coefficient and atmospheric pressure was obtained, and the experimental results of the air entrainment coefficient with different pressures can be well correlated with the analytical model. Finally, by introducing the air entrainment coefficient and temperature decay factor, a new axial plume temperature model for pool fires dominated by convection was developed, considering different atmospheric pressures and pool aspect ratios, which shows a good agreement with experimental results. This work can provide some good references for the fire safety of pool fires related to liquid fuel leakage.