Numerical modeling of unsteady bouyant flows generated by fire in a corridor

Abstract

A numerical model for the prediction of unsteady, two dimensional buoyant flows is presented. The model makes use of the full elliptic balance equations for heat, mass, and momentum and allows for full coupling between density and temperature. The model is highly flexible in that it can accomodate variable transport properties and complex boundary conditions. Of particular importance, it is capable of treating surfaces such as a doorway or window across which there can be a free inflow or outflow of fluid to the computational region. The model has been used to predict the time dependent velocity and temperature fields generated by fire in an enclosure or corridor. It has proven successful in predicting the gas velocities and temperatures generated by the fire in the enclosure corridor geometries, the ventilation of the fire through windows or doorways, and the heat transfer rates to the various surfaces involved. In these cases combustion is modeled by volumetric heat sources. The results for two particular cases are presented and comparisons are made with experiment.