- Author
- Walton, W. D. | McGrattan, K. B.
- Title
- ALOFT-FT(trademark) <b>A</b> <b>L</b>arge <b>O</b>utdoor <b>F</b>ire plume <b>T</b>rajectory model - <b>F</b>lat <b>T</b>errain Version 3.04.
- Coporate
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
- Report
- NIST SP 924, 1998,
- Distribution
- For more information contact: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899. WEB: http://fire.nist.gov
- Keywords
- computer models | crude oil | heat release rate | oil spills | plumes | pool fires
- Identifiers
- ALOFT-FT™ - A Large Outdoor Fire plume Trajectory model - Flat Terrain)
- Abstract
- A computer based model has been developed to predict the downwind distribution of smoke particulate and combustion products from large outdoor fires. Measurements and observations at experimental burns have shown that the downwind distribution of smoke is not Gaussian and simple smoke plume models do not capture the observed plume features which are a complex function of the fire parameters, meteorological conditions and topographic features. To incorporate these features, NIST has developed a smoke plume trajectory model that solves the fundamental Navier-Stokes equations using an eddy viscosity over a uniform grid which spans the smoke plume and its surroundings. The model results have compared favorably with the limited data available from experimental burns. ALOFT-FT (A Large Outdoor Fire plume Trajectory model-Flat Terrain) is the public domain version of the model for flat terrain using windows based personal computers. The model inputs include wind speed and variability, atmospheric temperature profile, number of fires, fuel parameters and emission factors. The output is the average concentration of combustion products in each of the computational cells from ground level to the top of the plume. The program contains a graphical user interface for input and output and a user modifiable database of fuel and emission parameters. The output can be displayed as downwind, crosswind and vertical concentration contours. Informtion on using the program is accessed via help commands in the program. ALOFT-FT was developed to aid in the planning process for the international burning of crude oils spills on water. The program may also be useful in predicting the smoke plume trajectory from other large outdoor fires.