Experimental approach to estimate species concentrations in a compartment fire

Abstract

An approach for estimating species concentration during a fire in a well-stirred compartment is investigated. A semi-empirical model based on oxygen concentration is used. It gives an estimate of the concentrations of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen and hydrocarbons with a carbon chain length lower than five. Three intervals of oxygen concentration are noticed, they correspond to sufficiently ventilated, underventilated and very underventilated fires. In order to validate this model, fire experiments are performed in a reduced-scale compartment . Species concentrations predicted by the model are in good agreement with our experimental data and with those of literature. Coefficients used for the model are obtained for heptane and dodecane fires.