Multi-Layer Cylindrical Flame Model for Predicting Radiant Heat Flux from Pool Fire

Abstract

Pool fires are often reported to induce a series of domino accidents in the process of the storage and transportation of chemical fuels. The primary mechanism for this severe process is the thermal radiation from the pool fire that damages both people and facilities nearby. In this paper, a multi-layer cylindrical flame model is proposed to predict the radiant heat flux field of pool fire, in which the cylindrical flame is divided into multi small cylinders with the same height and different surface emissive powers. The surface emissive power correlation of each small cylinder is developed by considering the variation of the centerline flame temperature and flame emissivity along the axial direction. The atmospheric transmissivity to the thermal radiation is also considered for the new radiation model. Analysis shows that the centerline temperature and each layer height (defined as each small cylinder height) affects the new model prediction to significant and little extent, respectively. Compared with the experimental data, point source model and single cylindrical flame model (e.g. Shokri-Beyler model, Mudan model and classical solid flame model), the proposed new model is more competent to predict radiant heat flux from pool fires.