- Author
- Tu, K. M.
- Title
- Experimental Study of Top Vented Compartment Fires.
- Coporate
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
- Report
- NISTIR 4499, February 1991, 33 p.
- Distribution
- Available from National Technical Information Service
- Keywords
- ceiling vents | compartment fires | density differential | fire models | flow rate | pressure differential | vents
- Abstract
- In a top vented compartment fire, both density difference and pressure difference across the horizontal ceiling vent control the vent flow. This research work pursued experimental studies and investigations of exchange flows through a horizontal ceiling vent as related to solely top vented compartment fire situations. A cubic box with inside dimensions of 0.43 x 0.43 x 0.43 m high (17 x 17 x 17 in) and walls of 0.025 m (1 in) thick Kaowool was employed for the compartment fire tests. For compartment fires of various horizontal ceiling vent sizes: (1) the fuel mass burning rates were measured, and (2) the air and combustion-flue-gas exchange flow rates were estimated based on [i] available theories and [ii] gas concentrations in the fire compartment.