Experimental Study of the Effects of Fuel Type, Fuel Distribribution, and Vent Size on Full-Scale Underventilated Compartment Fires in an ISO 9705 Room (NIST TN 1603)

Published

October 1, 2008

Author(s)

Andrew J. Lock, Matthew F. Bundy, Erik L. Johnsson, Anthony P. Hamins, Gwon Ko, Cheolhong Hwang, Stephen P. Fuss, Richard H. Harris Jr.

Abstract

This report describes new full-scale ISO9705 compartment fire experiments, which include local measurements of temperature and species composition. The objective of this study was to generate a database of comprehensive and accurate measurements which can be utilized both for a better understanding of and improved modeling for compartment fires, especially in the ventilation-limited regime. The experiments were conducted in a Reduced-Scale Enclosure with dimensions 2.4 m wide x 2.4 m tall x 3.6 m deep and a doorway 200 cm tall with varying widths. Single, centered and distributed burners were used, and the fuels investigated were: natural gas, heptanes, toluene, iso-propanol, polypropylene, Nylon, and polystyrene. The liquid fuels were delivered in both pool burner and spray burner configurations. The heat release rate was measured through oxygen-depletion in the exhaust hood, and the fuel flows were also metered. Measurements of soot and gas species were made at two interior locations near the ceiling and in the exhaust hood. The gas species measured were CO, CO2, O2, and total hydrocarbons. Other hydrocarbon species were also measured using gas chromatography. Gas temperatures were measured in several interior and doorway locations with both bare-bead and aspirated thermocouples. The total heat flux to the floor and ceiling was measured at three locations in each.

Citation

Technical Note (NIST TN) - 1603

Report Number

1603

NIST Pub Series

Technical Note (NIST TN)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Download Paper

Local Download

Keywords

compartment, enclosure, fire, hrr, measurements, soot, species, temperature, ISO9705, heat flux

Citation

Lock, A. , Bundy, M. , Johnsson, E. , Hamins, A. , Ko, G. , Hwang, C. , Fuss, S. and Harris, R. (2008), Experimental Study of the Effects of Fuel Type, Fuel Distribribution, and Vent Size on Full-Scale Underventilated Compartment Fires in an ISO 9705 Room (NIST TN 1603), Technical Note (NIST TN), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=861620 (Accessed September 20, 2024)