Experimental study on flame pulsation behavior of external venting facade fire ejected from opening of a compartment

The present study investigated experimentally the flame pulsation magnitude (ratio of maximum flame height to mean flame height; ratio of mean flame height to continuous flame height) and flame pulsation frequency of the external venting facade fire (EVF) ejected from opening of a compartment. Experiments were conducted by employing three model-scale fire compartments with an opening and a vertical facade wall. Fifteen different opening geometries were considered. For the flame pulsation magnitude of EVF, results showed that the ratio of maximum flame height to the mean flame height was about 1.30, while the ratio of mean flame height to continuous flame height was about 1.60; both of them were independent of opening geometries and heat release rates. The flame pulsation frequency of EVF increased with increasing of heat release rate, meanwhile decreased with increasing of opening size (or namely opening characteristic lengths: l(1)= (AH(1/2))(2/5); l(2) = (AH(2))(1/4)). The measured flame pulsation frequency of EVF showed to be much lower than the predicted values by previous classic models developed for free buoyant diffusion flames, which is due to physically the inherent special exit condition (with initial horizontal convection flow of heat) at the opening for EVF. A new formula was proposed for the flame pulsation frequency of EVF in terms of a non-dimensional function between Strouhal number (St) and Froude number (Fr), using V-f proportional to root gZ(f) as the characteristic flame uprising velocity and l(1)= (AH(1/2))(2/5) as the characteristic length of the source exit convection flow condition at the opening. The flame pulsation frequency showed to be well represented by the proposed formula. These new observations and the proposed formula provide essential knowledge for the characterization of flame pulsation behavior of external venting facade fire (EVF) ejected through the opening of a compartment. (C) 2020 The Combustion Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study experimentally investigated the flame pulsation of external venting facade fires ejected from openings of compartments, finding that the flame pulsation magnitude and frequency were related to heat release rates and opening sizes. A new formula was proposed to characterize the flame pulsation frequency, showing that it is well represented by a non-dimensional function between Strouhal and Froude numbers. This research provides essential knowledge for understanding the behavior of flame pulsation in external venting facade fires.