An experimental investigation of convective flows associated with room fires

Citation

Tangren, Ernst N. (1978) An experimental investigation of convective flows associated with room fires. Engineer's thesis, California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/2d9y-x090. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-10302006-095405

Abstract

This thesis presents an experimental investigation of the fluid dynamic aspects of a room fire and the applicability of a theoretical model. The model, developed by Zukoski, considers a single room containing a point heat source with or without an opening to the outside. For the case of an opening the interest is in the height and density of the ceiling layer of hot air and combustion products. The case without an opening concerns itself with the time required to fill a room with smoke.

Water was used as the fluid medium and a flow of salt brine represented the heat source. The experiments investigated the effects of fire strength, opening geometry, fire location and fire geometry for the open room case. For the closed room the movement of the ceiling layer interface and the general flow field were investigated.

Thesis Files