Pressure Behaviour of Hot Gases and Smoke in Fires of Large Enclosures with Different Ventilation Systems

Abstract

This study investigates numerically the pressure behavior of hot gases and smoke in fires of large enclosures. It mainly covers the effectiveness of using natural and mechanical ventilation in changing the pressure behaviour of hot gases and smoke inside different structures. Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS), provided by NIST, has been used to run the simulations for all proposed cases. For the assumed scenarios, the values of hot gas pressure and temperature are extracted at different points, especially in the hot layer close to the ceiling, for further analysis. The effect of changing the location of the fire source has been investigated, too. Final results show noticeable changes in the behavior of pressure, and temperature, in the presence of different ventilation systems, both natural and mechanical. Thus, appropriate ventilation systems can improve the pressure behaviour inside the place, which offers a better environment and higher safety level, in case of fire, in such large enclosures, open plan offices,