The Effects of Wind on Fire Environments Containing Large Cylinders

Abstract

An experimental investigation of the fire phenomenology associated with the presence of a large (3.66 m diameter), fuselage-sized cylindrical calorimeter engulfed in a large (18.9 m diameter) JP-8 pool fire subjected to various winds was performed. These measurements and analyses are of particular interest since few studies to date provide measured heat flux distributions under wind conditions for a case where the fire and object are of comparable size. A comparison of the fire environments resulting from the presence of the cylinder combined with the influence of different wind conditions is presented. The location of the continuous flame zone and the magnitude and distribution of the heat fluxes on the engulfed cylinder changed dramatically with the variation in wind speed. The high wind speed (10.9 m/s) conditions resulted in a twofold increase in the incident heat flux (up to 300 kW/m² on the leeward side) to the surface of the object relative to heat fluxes typical of large hydrocarbon fires without engulfed objects. These results emphasize the need to consider the interaction of wind and large objects when estimating the incident heat fluxes on an engulfed object.

Keywords:

• Heat flux
• Pool fire
• Temperature
• Thermocouple
• Wind

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Sandia National Laboratories is a multi-program laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, a Lockheed Martin Company, for the United States Department of Energy under contract DE-AC04-94AL85000. This study was sponsored by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). The authors would like to acknowledge the contributions of the following DTRA personnel; Gerald Baird, Major Joseph Crews, Major Jeff Blank, Major John Dorian, and Lt. Commander Mike McLean. Walt Gill and Carlos Lopez are also acknowledged for their review of this document. The authors would also like to acknowledge the contributions Sheldon Tieszen and Vern Nicolette.