- Author
- Pitts, W. M.
- Title
- Improvement and Development of Fire Diagnostics: A Progress Report. BFRL Fire Research Seminar. VHS Video.
- Coporate
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
- Report
- Video,
- Keywords
- fire research | fire behavior | aspirated thermocouples | fiber optics
- Abstract
- This talk will discuss progress during FY97 on the Fire Program's new focus project on fire diagnostics. The overall goal of the project is to improve the capabilities of BFRL and the general fire community for quantitatively characterizing fire behavior using experimental measurement techniques having reliable estimates of accuracy and precision. Four aspects of the project will be discussed: 1) thermocuple measurements in fires, 2) quantitative measurements of smoke production in fires, 3) qcquisition of a particle imaging velocimetry system, and 4) development of a fiber-optic-based near-infrared tunable diodie laser system for temperature and composition measurements. Findings from the thermocouple effort will be emphasized, while only brief summaries will be provided for the remaining components. The focus of the thermocouple discussion will be emphasized, while only brief summaries will be provided for the remaining components. the focus of the thermocouple discussion will be the characteristics which make these devices susceptible to systematic uncertainties due to radiation losses or gains and their time response. Two possible approaches for reducing uncertainties associated with the use of single bare thermocouples - aspirated thermocouples and simultaneous use of variable diameter thermocouples - have been tested. The results will be summarized and the implications for fire testing emphasized. The talk will conclude with a brief discussion of the FY98 project plan.