Capturing the Pulsation Frequency of a Buoyant Pool Fire using the Large Eddy Simulation Approach

Abstract

A numerical model using the large eddy simulation (LES) approach with considerations of turbulence, combustion, soot chemistry and radiation effects is presented and employed to capture the pulsation frequency of a turbulent buoyant pool fire. Numerical results from the present model are validated and compared against the experimental data and predictions from another LES field model–fire dynamic simulator (FDS). Quantitative comparisons were performed between the experimental data and time-averaged results of the two LES models. The centreline temperature and velocity from the present model were found to be in good agreement with the experimental data and those of FDS results. The puffing effect of the buoyant plume was appropriately captured by the present model while the predicted pulsation frequency agreed well with the experimentally measured frequency. FDS appeared, however, to yield higher pulsation frequency, which exceeded the range of experimental observations.

Acknowledgments

The work described in this article was substantially supported by a grant from the Research Grant Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People's Republic of China (Project No. CityU 115205).