Large Eddy Simulation of Buoyant Turbulent Pool Fires

Published

July 25, 2002

Author(s)

J Gore, Kevin B. McGrattan, Ronald G. Rehm, Howard R. Baum

Abstract

Three dimensional large eddy simulations (LES) of two buoyant flows were performed n conjunction with a Smagorinsky turbulence model. The flows included a non-reacting helium plume previously simulated with two-dimensional simulations and a methane/air turbulent diffusion flame. In comparison with the previous two-dimensional simulation results, the three dimensional LES results for the helium plume show much better agreement with the available experimental data. A relatively simple combustion model involving Lagrangian thermal elements with a single empirical constant involving the time to burn out notional fuel parcels was adequate for obtaining reasonable predictions of the mean velocity and vorticity fields. The model also captured the temperature distribution patterns in the methane/air-diffusion flames reasonably well. The agreement between the measurements and predictions for these two flows establishes the basic capabilities of LES for buoyant fire applications.

Citation

U. S. Combustion Institute Meeting

Volume

29

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

fire research, fires, large eddy simulation, large eddy simulation, mathematical modeling, pool fire

Citation

Gore, J. , McGrattan, K. , Rehm, R. and Baum, H. (2002), Large Eddy Simulation of Buoyant Turbulent Pool Fires, U. S. Combustion Institute Meeting (Accessed February 12, 2026)