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Characterizing Positive Pressure Ventilation Using Computational Fluid Dynamics

Published

Author(s)

Stephen Kerber, William D. Walton

Abstract

Data from two different sets of full-scale experiments are compared with simulations completed with computational fluid dynamic model, the Fire Dynamic Simulator (FDS). The full-scale experiments characterize a Positive Pressure Ventilation (PPV) fan in an open atmosphere and in a simple room geometry. The measurements of both experiments compare favorably with the Fire Dynamic Simulator results. With the correct geometry, vent placement, and boundary location FDS predicted velocities that were within 10 percent for the open atmosphere and 20 percent for the simple room geometry. FDS's visualization of the positive pressure ventilation fan's flow pattern, and the flow out of the window also correlated well with those measured experimentally.
Citation
NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR) - 7065
Report Number
7065

Keywords

computational fluid dynamics, ventilation, mapping, velocity fields, experiments, uncertainty, air flow, air velocity

Citation

Kerber, S. and Walton, W. (2003), Characterizing Positive Pressure Ventilation Using Computational Fluid Dynamics, NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.7065 (Accessed March 29, 2024)
Created February 1, 2003, Updated November 10, 2018