4647 -- Large Eddy Simulation of Combustion in Compartment Fires PDF

Compartment fires are a common fire scenario, which exhibit most of the major physical phenomena of fires in enclosed spaces. In recent years, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has become very popular as a tool to model compartment fires. However, the complicated physical and chemical processes of the compartment fire phenomena have prompted concern about the accuracy of such detailed numerical simulations. This study is a benchmark test for the modeling of a compartment fire using the large eddy simulation (LES) approach with a simplified combustion model. Detailed experimental data from a series of compartment fires (Steckler et al. 1982) is used for comparison. Three fire scenarios with different door opening widths are examined. The results indicate that the LES approach can predict compartment fire phenomena reasonably well, though the complexity of the combustion model is significant for accurate LES calculations.

Units: SI