User's Guide for the Fire Demand Model: A Physically Based Computer Simulation of the Suppression of Post-Flashover Compartment Fires.
User's Guide for the Fire Demand Model: A Physically
Based Computer Simulation of the Suppression of
Post-Flashover Compartment Fires.
(1253 K)
Pietrzak, L. M.; Dale, J. J.
NIST GCR 92-612; MRC-R-1364; 79 p.
Sponsor:
National Institute of Standards and Technology,
Gaithersburg, MD
Available from:
National Technical Information Service
(NTIS), Technology Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce, Springfield, VA 22161.
Telephone:
1-800-553-6847 or 703-605-6000;
Fax: 703-605-6900.
Website: http://www.ntis.gov
Order number: PB92-222736
Keywords:
compartment fires; computer models; char; charring; drop
sizes; droplets; extinguishment; flow rate; fire
suppression; water sprays; smothering
Abstract:
The Swedish Fire Research Board and the U. S. Federal
Emergency Management Agency, with the cooperation of the
U. S. National Institute of Science and Technology,
supported the development of a computerized Fire Demand
Model (FDM). The FDM simulates the suppression of
post-flashover charring and non-charring solid fuel
fires in compartments using water sprays from portable
hose-nozzle equipment used by fire departments. The
output of the FDM shows the extinguishing effects of
water sprays at various flow rates and droplet sizes.
The calculations are based on a heat and mass balance
accounting for gas and surface cooling, steam-induced
smothering, direct extinguishment of the fuel and water
spray induced air inflow and venting of heat and
products of combustion. This document provides
instruction on how to execute the FDM on a Personal
Computer (PC). This includes a description of the
required input parameters and instructions for producing
three different types of graphical plots: (1)
time-temperature histories, (2) volume-median-drop-size
verses water application rate defining combinations
where fire control is and is not possible, and (3) cross
plots to facilitate comparison between different cases.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899