ENFP 425 - Fire Modeling (3 credits)

Computer model of a fire courtesy of Prof. Trouve

Prerequisites:

• Permission from the Department.

Textbooks:

• Karlsson, B., and J.G. Quintiere, Enclosure Fire Dynamics, CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton, 2000.
• Extensive course notes are also distributed to students.

Course Description:

• An introduction to the elements of enclosure fires through the development of fire modeling algorithms and the application of computer-based fire modeling techniques. Numerical techniques, including curve-fitting, root-finding, integration and the solution of ordinary differential equations, are developed in the context of enclosure fire modeling applications. Math software packages, including primarily spreadsheet programs, are used to address and solve a variety of enclosure fire problems.

Course Objectives:

• Development of a fundamental understanding of the technical bases for enclosure fire model elements through the development, implementation and application of computational algorithms.
• Development of the ability to apply current computer-based fire models to practical problems relevant to the modern practice of fire protection engineering.

Topics Covered:

• Introduction: Stages of enclosure fires; elements of enclosure fires; types of enclosure fire models; history of fire modeling.
• Governing equations: Control volume relationships for zone and field fire models.
• The fire source: Fire fundamentals; stoichiometry; thermochemistry; products of combustion; fire growth representations; sources for fire heat release rate data.
• The fire plume and ceiling jet: Types of fire plumes and ceiling jets; the ideal point source plume; temperature and velocity correlations for axisymmetric plumes; temperature and velocity correlations for unconfined and confined ceiling jets.
• Enclosure smoke filling: Rate of smoke layer descent in closed room fires; the ASET model; fire conditions in the descending smoke layer.
• Vent flows and mechanical ventilation: Pressure distributions in room fires; floor, wall and ceiling vent flow relationships; effects of mechanical ventilation on fire conditions.
• Pre- and post-flashover ventilated enclosure fires: Temperature and smoke conditions associated with ventilated enclosure fires.
• Heat transfer in enclosure fires: Modes of heat transfer; boundary heating and heat losses; target heating; ignition and flame spread on solid materials.
• Fire detection and suppression: Response of fire detectors to fire conditions; activation of fire detectors; modeling of fire suppression.
• Model validation, verification, applications and case studies.

Computer model of a fire courtesy of Prof. Trouve

 

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