Large-Scale Laboratory Fire Whirls and Their Numerical Simulations

Abstract

Fire whirls have been observed in large-scale forest and city fires, which are likely accompanied by strong winds and heavy damages such as loss of lives and physical properties. Despite the general interest in the research of fire whirls, their detailed mechanisms and physical effects still remain largely unknown. One reason is that such real fire whirls are of large size and their direct studies are obviously not feasible. On the other hand, CFD-based fire field models, despite their inherent deficiencies, do provide a rational means to scale the fire sizes. It is desirable, or even necessary, to study larger-scale fire whirls with higher whirling flames in the laboratory, along with their numerical simulations. If success in the numerical simulations for the larger fire whirls can again be demonstrated, we will then approach more closely to have a quantitative tool in the use of the fire field model to simulate and study the truly large real-life fire whirls. The purpose of the present study is to attempt to create a stable six-meter class whirling flame in the laboratory, and then compare the measured data with what can be simulated with a fire field model.