Mathematical modelling of the interaction between wind and aviation-fuel fire engulfing a fuselage-sized cylinder

Abstract

This numerical study focuses on the fire phenomenology associated with the presence of a cylindrical object immersed, at one particular location and orientation, within a large aviation-fuel fire in a moving fluid medium. An extension of the eddy dissipation concept is incorporated, allowing to investigate the roles of the wind speed and its direction on the fire growth, heat flux distribution and smoke products, such as carbon monoxide and soot. The predicted flame shape compares well with the measurements. Moreover, the study has shed new light on the effect of the variation, which is erratic in nature, from the average wind direction on the heat flux distribution. The outcome of the study is interesting, and the interaction model between turbulence and combustion is indeed adequate. The prediction indicates that the interaction between the large object and fire environment combined with the influence of wind conditions affects the location of the continuous flame zone dramatically. The increase in the wind speed results in an alteration of the distribution of the incident heat fluxes to the surface of the engulfed cylinder for a case where the fire and object are of comparable size. The highest heat flux occurs on the windward side of the cylinder for the low and medium winds but on the leeward side of the cylinder for the high wind. The peak heat fluxes to the medium or high wind are almost equal in magnitude but about 50% beyond the ones to the low wind.

Keywords

Pool fire fire models toxic product heat flux crosswind cylindrical object

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