Abstract
An approach for predicting various aspects of fire phenomena in compartments has been called zone modeling. Based on a conceptual representation for the compartment fire process, it is an approximation to reality. Any radical departure by the fire system from the basic concept of the zone model can seriously affect the accuracy and validity of the approach. The zone model represents the system simply as two distinct compartment gas zones: an upper volume and a lower volume resulting from thermal stratification due to buoyancy. Conservation equations are applied to each zone and serve to embrace the various transport and combustion processes that apply. The fire is represented as a source of energy and mass manifested as a plume, which acts as a pump for the mass from the lower zone to the upper zone through a process called entrainment.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
N.D. Fowkes, “A Mechanistic Model of the 1973 and 1974 Bedroom Test Fires,” in A Study of Room Fire Development: The Second Full-Scale Bedroom Fire Test of the Home Fire Project (P.A. Croce, ed.), (July 24, 1974), Vol. II, FMRC Technical Report No. 21011.4, pp. 8–50 (1975).
J. Quintiere, “Growth of Fire in Building Compartments,” in Fire Standards and Safety (A.F Robertson, ed.), ASTM STP614, American Society for Testing and Materials, pp. 131–167 (1977).
R. Pape and T. Waterman, “Modification to the FIRES Pre-Flashover Room Fire Computer Model,” IITRI Project J6400, IIT Research Institute, Chicago (1977).
H.E. Mitler, “The Physical Basis for the Harvard Computer Fire Code,” Home Fire Project Technical Report No. 34, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (1978).
R.W. Bukowski, R.D. Peacock, W.W. Jones, and G.P. Forney, “HAZARD I: Technical Reference Guide,” NIST Handbook 146, Vol. II, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD (1989).
R. Friedman, “An International Survey of Computer Models for Fire and Smoke,: Journal of Fire Protection Engineering, Vol. 4., No. 3., 1992, pp. 81–92.
S.M. Olenik and D.J. Carpenter, “Updated International Survey of Computer Models for Fire and Smoke,” Journal of Fire Protection Engineering, 13, 2, pp. 87–110 (2003).
J.G. Quintiere, “Fundamentals of Enclosure Fire Zone Models,” Journal of Fire Protection Engineering, 1, 3 (1989).
J.G. Quintiere and A.S. Rangwala, “A Theory of Flame Extinction Based on Flame Temperature.” Fire and Materials, 28, pp. 387–402 (2004).
Y.P. Utiskul, and J.G. Quintiere, “An Application of Mass Loss Rate Model with Fuel Response Effects in Fully-Developed Compartment Fires” Proceedings of the 9th International Symposium on Fire Safety Science, pp. 827–838 (2008).
E.E. Zukoski, S.J. Toner, J.H. Morehant, and T. Kubota, “Combustion Processes in Two-Layered Configurations,” Proceedings of the 2nd International Symposium on Fire Safety Science, Hemisphere Publishing Corporation, New York, pp. 255–304 (1989).
J.A. Rockett, “Using the Harvard/NIST Mark VI Fire Simulation,” NISTIR 4464, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD (1990).
J. Quintiere, W.J. Rinkinen and W.W. Jones, “The Effect of Room Openings on Fire Plume Entrainment.” Combustion Science and Technology, 26, pp. 193–201 (1981).
B.M. Cetegen, E.E. Zukoski, and T. Kubota, “Entrainment in the Near and Far Field of Fire Plumes,” Combustion Science and Technology, 39, pp. 305–331 (1984).
B.J. McCaffrey and J.A. Rockett, “Static Pressure Measurements of Enclosure Fires,” Journal of Research of the National Bureau of Standards, 82, 2, pp. 107–117 (1977).
M. Epstein, “Buoyant-Driven Exchange Flow Through Small Openings in Horizontal Partitions,” Journal of Heat Transfer, 110 (1988).
L.Y. Cooper, “An Algorithm and Associated Computer Subordinate for Calculating Flow Through a Horizontal Ceiling Flow Vent in a Zone-Type Compartment Fire Model,” NISTIR 4402, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD (1990).
R.L. Alpert, “Convective Heat Transfer in the Impingement Region of a Buoyant Plume,” Journal of Heat Transfer, 109 (1987).
H.Z. You and G.M. Faeth, “Ceiling Heat Transfer During Fire Plume and Fire Impingement,” Fire and Materials, 3, 3 (1979).
M.A. Kokkala, “Experimental Study of Heat Transfer to Ceiling from an Impinging Diffusion Flame,” Proceedings of the 2nd International Symposium on Fire Safety Science, G. Cox and B. Langford, eds., Elsevier Applied Science, London (1991).
G.P. Forney, “Computing Radiative Heat Transfer Occurring in a Zone Model,” Fire Science & Technology, 14, pp. 31–47 (1994).
B.J. McCaffrey and J.G. Quintiere, “Buoyancy-Driven Countercurrent Flows Generated by a Fire Source,” Heat Transfer and Turbulent Buoyant Convection, Vol. II (D.B. Spalding and N. Afgan, eds.), Hemisphere Publishing, pp. 457–472 (1977).
C.S. Lim, E.E. Zukoski, and T. Kubota, “Mixing in Doorway Flows and Entrainment in Fire Flames,” California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA (1984).
Y. Utiskul, “Theoretical and Experimental Study on Fully-Developed Compartment Fires” NIST GCR 07-907, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD (2007).
Y. Jaluria, “National Convection Wall Flows,” in SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering (P.J. DiNenno et al., eds.), National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA, pp. 2-50–2-63 (1995).
J.H. Klote and L.Y. Cooper, “Model of a Simple Fan-Resistance Ventilation System and Its Application to Fire Modeling,” NISTIR 89-4141, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD (1989).
B. McCaffrey, “Flame Height,” in SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering (P.J. DiNenno et al., eds.), National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA, pp. 2-1–2-8 (1995).
H.W. Emmons, H.E. Mitler, and L.N. Trefethen, “Computer Fire Code III,” Home Fire Project Technical Report No. 25, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (1978).
T. Tanaka, “A Model of Multicompartment Fire Spread,” NBSIR 83-2718, National Bureau of Standards, Washington, DC (1983).
R.D. Peacock, W.W. Jones, R.W. Bukowski, and G.P. Forney, “CFAST- Consolidated Model of Fire Growth and Smoke Transport. (Version 6): Technical Reference Guide,” SP-1026, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD (2005).
C. Wade, G. Baker, K. Frank, A. Robbins, R Harrison, M. Spearpoint, and C. Fleischmann, “B-RISK User Guide and Technical Manual”. BRANZ Study Report No 282. BRANZ Ltd, New Zealand (2013).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Nomenclature
- A
-
area compartment floor
- C
-
flow coefficient
- c p
-
specific heat at constant pressure
- c v
-
specific heat at constant volume
- g
-
acceleration due to gravity
- H
-
compartment height
- J
-
number of flow streams in control volume
- m
-
mass
- p
-
pressure
- Q
-
heat transfer
- r
-
stoichiometric fuel-to-oxygen mass ratio
- R
-
ideal gas constant
- t
-
time
- T
-
temperature
- v
-
fluid velocity
- V
-
volume
- w
-
control volume velocity
- Y
-
mass fraction
- z l
-
height of control volume or zone
- ΔH
-
heat of combustion
- γ i
-
yield of species i
- ρ
-
density
- Φ
-
equivalence ratio
- \( {\dot{\boldsymbol{\upomega}}}_{\boldsymbol{F}} \)
-
consumption rate of fuel
- \( {\dot{\boldsymbol{\upomega}}}_{\boldsymbol{i}} \)
-
production rate of species
Subscripts
- e
-
entrained
- f
-
flame
- F
-
fuel
- i
-
species
- j
-
flow stream
- o
-
oxygen
- s
-
supplied
Superscripts
- (.)
-
per unit time
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2016 Society of Fire Protection Engineers
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Quintiere, J.G., Wade, C.A. (2016). Compartment Fire Modeling. In: Hurley, M.J., et al. SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2565-0_29
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2565-0_29
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-2564-3
Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-2565-0
eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)