Browse > Article

Assessment of Grid Sensitivity in the FDS Field Model to Simulate the Flame Propagation of an Electric Cable Fire  

Kim, Sung-Chan (School of Fire and Disaster Prevention, Kyungil University)
Lee, Seong-Hyuk (School of Mechanical Engineering, Chung Ang University)
Publication Information
Journal of the Korean Society of Safety / v.23, no.4, 2008 , pp. 30-35 More about this Journal
Abstract
The present study has been conducted to examine the effect of grid resolution on the predicted results for electric cable fire using pyrolysis model in FDS(Fire Dynamics Simulator, version 5). The grid independent test for different grid resolutions has been performed for a PE coating cable and the grid resolution is defined by the non-dimensional characteristic length of fire and mean grid size. The calculated maximum heat release rate and mean flame spread rate were almost constant for higher grid resolution of 20${\sim}$25 and the computing time for the grid resolution takes approximately 20hours to solve flame propagation with pyrolysis model. The geometrical simplification of a electric cable dose not greatly affect on the maximum heat release rate and flame spread rate and the rectangular approximation of cable shape gives acceptable result comparing with the round cable with stepwise grid.
Keywords
cable fire; pyrolysis; fire simulation; fire propagation; grid sensitivity;
Citations & Related Records
연도 인용수 순위
  • Reference
1 J. Hietaniemi, S. Hostikka and J. Vaari, "FDS simulation of fire spread comparison of model results with experimental data", VTT working papers, 1459-7683, pp. 33-38, 2004
2 K. McGrattan, S. Hostikka, J. Floyd, H. Baum, R. Rehm and R. McDermott, "Fire Dynamics Simulator (Version 5) - Technical Reference Guide", NIST SP- 1018-5, 2008
3 N. Alvares and A. C. Fernandez-Pello, "Fire initiation and spread in overloaded communication system cable trays", Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science, Vol. 21, pp. 51-57, 2000   DOI   ScienceOn
4 J. G. Quintiere, "Principles of Fire Behavior", Delmar Publishers, 1997
5 C. A. Harper, "Handbook of Building Materials for Fire Protection", McGraw-Hill, ISBN 0071388915, 2004
6 A. Tewarson, "Generation of Heat and Chemical Compounds in Fires", SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering, 3-4, 2002
7 J. Axelsson, P. V. Hees, P. Blomqvist, "Cable Fires in Difficultly Accessible Areas", SP Report 2002:12, 2002
8 USNRC, "Verification and Validation of Selected Fire Models for Numlear Power Plant Application", NUREG 1824, United States Nuclear Regulatory Comission, Washington, DC, 2007
9 Hinsdale Central Office Fire, Joint report of Office of State Fire Marshall and Illinois Commerce Commission Staff, March 1989
10 K. McGrattan, B. Klein, S. Hostikka and J. Floyd, "Fire Dynamics Simulator (Version 5) - User's Guide", NIST SP-1019-5, 2008