An Experimental Study on the Mass Flow Rate from a Line Fire Source Along a Vertical Wall

Abstract

Flame height, heat flux to the wall surface, centerline temperature rise, and mass flow rate from a line burner along a vertical wall were measured to propose an experimental correlation for mass flow rate previously not established. The heat release rates and burner heights were changed for three burners of lengths 0.2 m, 0.3 m, and 0.5 m. The intermittent flame heights and heat flux to the wall surface were consistent with experimental correlations of an earlier study by Hasemi. The centerline temperature rise in plume region was inversely proportional to the distance from the fire source, consistent with the theoretical analysis. The horizontal temperature distribution in the plume region was consistent with a Gaussian distribution. The mass flow rate was proportional to the distance from the fire source. The entrainment coefficient appears to be consistent with earlier studies for line plumes in an open space.