- Author
- Ziesler, P. S.
- Title
- Laboratory Simulation of Positive Pressure Ventilation.
- Coporate
- University of Central Florida, Orlando
- Report
- Thesis, Summer Term 1993, 75 p.
- Keywords
- ventilation | pressure | fire tests | simulation | temperature measurements | air quality | visibility | residential buildings | fluid mechanics | fire measurements
- Identifiers
- Positive Pressure Ventilation (PPV)
- Abstract
- Since Fall 1992, the University of Central Florida (UCF) and the Orange County Fire Rescue Division (OCFRD) have been conducting a joint research program to evaluate the effectiveness of Positive Pressure Ventilation (PPV) as a fire fighting technique. The objectives of the research program are to quantitatively measure temperatures, air quality and visibility during actual live fire exercises. Using the data from three residential fires, a novel technique was developed to conduct underwater, scale model PPV simulation. PPV is a technique where fans with high volumetric flow rates are used to create a slight positive gage pressure within a structure to force heat and combustion products from strategically selected exhaust openings. This rapidly reduces temperatures and retards the combustion process by hindering pyrolysis (conversion of solid fuel to gaseous, combustible fuel). Visibility is improved inside the structure by the removal of smoke and the survivability potential for victims is increased by removing toxic gases, lowering temperatures and introducing fresh air. Full scale PPV research and training can be expensive. During the course of this project, a laboratory technique was developed to conduct scale model PPV simulation. The simulations were conducted underwater using a water table and transparent scale models of the residences. The thermodynamics of the fire and the fluid mechanics of PPV were simulated by injecting colored water dyes at rates determined from actual fire measurements. Results from the residential fires colorfully illustrate that the spread of heat and the effects of PPV can be accurately and safely simulated within the laboratory.