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NBSIR 78-1512

NATL INST Of stand 4 TeCn » I

A111Q^ EbD3flS

Some Theoretical Aspects of

Fire Induced Flows Through

Doorways in a Room-Corridor

Scale Model

James G. Quintiere and Karen DenBraven

Center for Fire Research

National Engineering Laboratory

National Bureau of Standards

Washington, D.C. 20234

October 1978

Final Report

i 100

U56

78-1512

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

NBSIR 78-1512

A i

SOME THEORETICAL ASPECTS OF

FIRE INDUCED FLOWS THROUGH

DOORWAYS IN A ROOM-CORRIDOR

SCALE MODEL

;iational Barean o1 Slandarrfs APR W9

James G. Quintiere and Karen DenBraven

Center for Fire Research

National Engineering Laboratory

National Bureau of Standards

Washington, D C. 20234

October 1 978

Final Report

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, Juanita M. Kreps, Secretary

Dr. Sidney Harman, Under Secretary

Jordan J. Baruch, Assistant Secretary for Science and Technology

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS, Ernest Ambler, Director

CONTENTS

Page

LIST OF FIGURES iv

Abstract 1

1. INTRODUCTION 1

2. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN AND ANALYSIS 2 2.1. Doorway Flow into a Compartment ^ 2.2. Doorway Flow from a Compartment 7

3. RESULTS 9

4. CONCLUSIONS H

5. REFERENCES . 12

iii
LIST OF FIGURES

Figure I.

Figure 2.

Figure 3a.

Figure 3b.

Figure 4.

Figure 5.

Figure 6.

Figure 7.

Figure 8.

Figure 9.

Figure 10.

Figure 11.

Figure 12.

Figure 13.

Figure 14.

Figure 15a.

Page

Pictorial of scale model facility 13

Schematic of one-seventh scale corridor burn-room

facility (probes to measure inflow centerline

velocities shown only) 14

Temperature data for the flow out of the corridor . . 15

Pressure data for the flow out of the corridor ... 16

Calculation of inflow velocities 17

Diagram of vena contracta for inflow (horizontal

section) 18

Calculation of outflow velocities 19

Mass flow rates for flow out the exit doorway .... 20

Experimental mass flow vs corridor exit door width

(Wg/Wj^) 21

Orifice flow coefficient vs Reynolds number 22

Orifice flow coefficient for exit doorway vs corridor

exit door width (W„/W^) for inflow and outflow ... 23

t, D

Experimental temperature and velocity results and

calculated velocities for =3.1

• measured velocity calculated velocity 24

Experimental temperature and velocity results and

calculated velocities for W^/W^ = 1.9

Ej JJ • measured velocity calculated velocity 25

Experimental temperature and velocity results and

calculated velocities for = 1*0

• measured velocity calculated velocity 26

Experimental temperature and velocity results and

calculated velocities for = 0*6

• measured velocity calculated velocity 27

Neutral plane height and effective height of hot

layer based on room doorway temperature vs W /W . . 28

Ej U

IV
LIST OF FIGURES (cont'd)

Page

Figure 15b. Neutral plane height and effective height of hot

layer based on corridor temperature adjacent to

exit doorway vs W^/W^ ED 29

Figure 16. Example of determination of z^, z , T, and T from

n i n X o ^ ^ temperature data 30

Figure 17. Calculated mass flow rate vs experimental mass

flow rate 31

V

SOME THEORETICAL ASPECTS OF FIRE INDUCED FLOWS THROUGH DOORWAYS

IN A ROOM-CORRIDOR SCALE MODEL

James G. Quintiere and Karen DenBraven

Abstract

Fire induced flows were measured in a 1/7 th

scale model room-corridor by measuring velocity

and temperature profiles in the room and corridor

exit doorways. The corridor exit door width was varied by a factor of 10 as an experimental parameter while the average fire room temperature

was held constant. The applicability of an orifice flow model to predict the doorway flows was

examined. The ratio of measured to theoretical mass flow rate, defined as the flow coefficient, was found to vary with door width and flow direction. The coefficient ranged from 0.4 to slightly

greater than 1. No explanation has been developed

to account for this variation.

Key words: Corridor; experiment; room; scale-model;

theory; compartment fires; buoyancy flows; flow

coefficients.

1. INTRODUCTION

It has been found fruitful to study fire induced flows in a scale

model facility. The model consisted of two compartments separated from

each other and the surroundings by two doorways - representing a room

and an adjoining corridor (figure 1). The first study with this facility

indicated the occurrence of four alternating horlzontol flow layers in

the corridor [1]. A subsequent study by McCaffrey and Quintiere [2]

illustrated complex three dimensional flows in the corridor, and

demonstrated that the multi-layer corridor flow pattern also occurs in

1
a full-scale counterpart similar to the model. A more recent study [3]

further illustrated these corridor flow patterns through visualization

techniques, and demonstrated some limitations of theoretical flow models

in coping with the prediction of these flows.

Several theoretical approaches have been made to predict fire

induced flows between compartments. One approach relies on solution of

the field equations and a suitable turbulent model [4]. Another approach

relies on a model that depicts the flow into an upper hot layer of

uniform temperature with a lower cold layer [5]. The doorway flows are treated as orifice-like flows as described by Prahl and Emmons [6].

The latter approach of reference [5] requires a knowledge of doorway

flow coefficients, and a quantitative prediction of flow rates entrained

into the jets of flow issuing through the doorways. Neither approach

has been sufficiently developed to permit appropriate comparison with

experimental measurements.

This paper examines the applicability of the orifice-flow two-layer

fluid concept for doorway flows measured in the room-corridor scale

model. The independent variable in this study was the width of the

corridor exit doorway. Consequently, the flow characteristics will be

expressed as a function of the exit doorway width. The theoretical

model for the doorway flow rates is developed as a function of the

temperature distributions, from which the flow coefficients are determined.

2. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN AND ANALYSIS

Experiments were done in a small (1/7) scale model corridor. The

model was 0.35 m wide by 0.35 m high by 1.3 m long, with a variable

width (corridor exit) door opening at one end (figure 2). Within the

model, a 0.35 m long burn room was set up at the end opposite the exit

doorway. A 0.076 m by 0.140 m porous plate diffusion flame gas burner

was placed on the centerline along the wall opposite the room entrance

to simulate a room fire. A small pitot-static tube was placed in each

of the doorways for velocity measurement along a vertical traverse.

2
0.14 m from the side wall, with thermocouples attached to record

temperatures. All thermocouples were made from fine 5 mil (0.127 mm

diameter) chromel-alumel wire, and were aligned horizontally facing into

the flow. Thermocouples were also placed within the room and the corridor,

0.04 m from the sides.

The corridor model was supported above the laboratory floor so that

the exit doorway did not have a floor that extended beyond the corridor.

However, a floor was added for some cases with no significant change in

the results. The most significant effect of the surroundings on the

results was caused by the laboratory ventilation conditions. At times

"windy" room conditions prevailed which necessitated terminating the

run. On those occasions, the laboratory ventilation system was shut

down resulting in relatively "still" room conditions, and a new run was initiated

During an experiment, the burner was lit, and the room and corridor

were allowed to heat until the ceiling layer in the room reached a stable temperature of 330 +30 °C. (Maintaining a constant room temperature tends to minimize the effect of temperature on flow.) Vertical

traverses were then made in the doorways, room, and corridor with the

pitot tubes and thermocouples.

Data were recorded for the inflow in Increments of 0.013 m from the

corridor floor up to the neutral plane as indicated by a zero reading by

the pitot tube, i.e. zero velocity. These measurements were only taken

on or near the doorway centerline. Data for the outflow were recorded

in a similar manner using a pitot tube and thermocouples. Centerline

measurements were taken in increments of 0.013 m, and in addition

measurements off the centerline were taken every 0.025 m (figures 3 and

6). Exit doorway opening width was varied from 0.034-0.35 m for both

inflow and outflow, while the room doorway height and width remained

constant

3
To obtain estimates of the orifice coefficient C, the ratio of

experimental to theoretical mass flow rates were calculated. Experimental

velocities and mass flow rates were obtained from the doorway temperature

and pitot tube data. Theoretical velocities and mass flow rates were calculated from measured temperatures as indicated in the following

analysis

2.1. Doorway Flow into a Compartment

Bernoulli's equation was applied to a streamline starting from rest

outside the dooi-way to a position downstream of the doorway where the

streamlines are parallel (this can be considered a vena contracta)

This is illustrated in figures 4 and 5, where the velocity at the vena contracta of the jet is given by

Vj (y) =

P^(y)

( 1 )

here is the density of the incoming fluid. The pressure in the jet

is equal to the pressure p^ in the stagnant fluid surrounding the jet.

C^, the viscous coefficient, is close to 1 for pipe flows.

Then taking the pressure distribution to be hydrostatic, p^, the

corresponding pressure outside the doorway at y for fluid with no motion or, alternately, the stagnation pressure in the doorway at

position y, can be expressed as

y

Pq(y) = + g J

pQ(y)dy (2) o and p^, the static pressure just inside the doorway at y associated

with the static fluid surrounding the vena contracta of the incoming

jet, is given as

y

Pi(y) = Pj^ + g f

P^(y)dy

o

(3)

4
where y increases from the neutral plane down, and is the pressure

at the neutral plane, (the height at which p^ = p^)

is the density of the stagnant fluid surrounding the jet.

Analogous to the development of orifice flow theory, the jet cross sectional area A, at the vena contracts is related to the doorway inflow

area A by a contraction coefficient C , i.e.

c

A. = C A (4)

J c

The assumption was made that the contraction coefficient is constant and

uniform over the flow field for each streamtube between the door and

the jet. By conservation of mass for each horizontal layer of streamtubes, this leads to

v(y) = v^(y) (5)

The accuracy of this assumption will be examined by comparing the theoretical results for v with measured values.

Combining equations (1) and (5) yields

v(y) (Pq(y) - P^(y))dy

PoW

( 6 )

where C = C C . V c

Assuming a perfect gas for air.

PT = P T

00 00 ( 7 )

where p and T are reference state values.

00 oo

5
Substitution in equation (6) yields

or

( 8 )

v(y) cJ 2g T^(y) J T. (y)^

(9)

Since the measurements were in the form of T as a function of the

distance z from the floor a change of variables was made such that

dz ( 10 )

where z is measured from the floor and z is the height of the neutral

n plane.

For this experiment, was the temperature in the doorway entrance

to the room or corridor, and was the temperature in the corner of the

appropriate compartment. Therefore, to calculate flows into the corridor

exit, and were used. Simpson's 1/3 rule was applied to carry out

the required numerical integration. This method requires an odd number

of data points. For locations along the vertical traverse where only an even number of data points were available, the last two values at the

upper limit of the integral were averaged to create another data point

between the two which was then used to complete the calculation. The mass flow rate was determined by integrating the mass centerline velocity

pv over the height of the inflow. The experimental mass flow is

m

exp p (z) V (z) dz

o exp ( 11 )

o where W is the doorway width. Likewise the theoretical mass flow is

6
From these mass

was calculated.

o flow calculations,

p (z) v(z) dz

° “C~

the flow coefficient for

( 12 )

the inflow

C m

in exp

th

2.2. Doorway Flow from a Compartment

(13)

The theoretical velocities in the outflow were calculated by assuming

that the flow just outside of the opening is of a uniform pressure over

a horizontal slice and equal to the surrounding pressure p^ at the same height (figure 6). From Bernoulli's equation

where Pi is the stagnation or upstream pressure at height y inside

the compartment

( )j

denotes the position in the jet emerging from the opening

where p . = p . J o

Again, if the neutral plane has pressure p^, and assuming horizontal

velocity only so that the vertical pressure variation is hydrostatic, then

dy (15)

o where y is the distance increasing upward from the neutral plane, and

so that

( 16 )

7
(17) Pi - Po = 8 /

^1=0 "

Since p. = (the density in the compartment just upstream of the

doorway) the combination of equations (14) and (17) gives

(18)

Also, if there is a contraction in the jet, as in orifice pipe flow, then

A. = C A. (19)

J c

If this contraction coefficient is uniform over the exit jet then

V = C V . , c 3 and if C = , then equations (18) and (20) give

(20)

( 21 )

Or since p . = p T /T

1 o o 1

v(y) = C

^

2g T,<y) jf

^

which can be compared to equation (9) for inflow.

dy ( 22 )

As in the case of inflow, experimental velocities were obtained

from pitot tube measurements. To calculate the doorway flow coefficient

C, experimental and theoretical mass flows were again obtained.

H-z

1 v(y) dy (23) *th ” / -

or

8
and

W H-z

I f

P^(y) v(y) dy dx (25)

o o

Here, the integration was carried out over the entire region of outflow,

since data were available and a uniform mass velocity profile across the

doorway width does not appear to be an acceptable assumption. An example

of experimental results for the exit outflow, p ^v , is shown in figure 7.

These results correspond to the data given earlier in figure *2. Hence,

from the above, the flow coefficient is defined as m

C = ^

(26)

"'th

3. RESULTS

Figure 8 shows the results for doorway mass flow rates taken in

these experiments and in previous experiments with the corridor model

[1,2]. The results indicate that as the exit width is increased the

exit flow increases almost directly, yet the room flow increases only

slightly. The difference between the doorway flows represents the net

entrainment or recirculation that occurs in the corridor. No adequate

theory has been developed tp predict this mixing rate.

Figure 9 shows the results of calculations for the flow coefficient

C vs Reynolds number. This is compared with the experimental results

from Prahl and Emmons for kerosene/water doorway flows [6]. Results

appear to agree qualitatively but not quantitatively. The Reynolds

number is defined as m

Re = (27)

9
where y is the viscosity at the average temperature of the fluid. In

this form the characteristic length dimension is the flow height.

Figure 10 shows the exit doorway coefficients as a function of the

exit doorway width ratio (W^/W^) . These results show the reproducibility

of the data for different experiments, and the variation of the flow co- efficient with the exit doorway width. No explanation has been developed

to account for this variation, nor to explain the higher flow coefficient

for the outflow than for the inflow. Also, although not shown in figure

10, the room doorway at a fixed width had a flow coefficient for the flow

into the room of about 0.77 for all values of W /W . h u

In figures 11-14, measured centerline temperature and velocity

profiles, and the results of the calculation of theoretical velocities

are presented for four typical experiments, where the corridor exit door

opening width (W ) ranged from 0.071 Am to 0.35 Am. The data were

Cj taken up to the height of the neutral plane z^. From the temperature

data, it can be seen that, as the exit doorway is narrowed, more hot

fluid enters the room doorway. This is equivalent to imagining that the

height of the hot upper layer of fluid in the corridor falls below the

neutral plane height in the room doorway. The neutral plan-e is lower

for the room doorway than it is for the exit doorway in all cases.

These features are illustrated in figures 15 and 16. The height of an effective hot layer was determined by a fixed temperature (50 °C for

the corridor near the exit doorway, and 60 °C for the flow entering the

room) or by a tangent-intercept method illustrated in figure 16 for the

exit doorway. In general, both methods appear to give the same results.

However, the results for the thermal layer given in figure 15b are probably more Indicative of the entire corridor. In fact, these results

are in agreement with corridor smoke layer heights determined in an earlier study [3]. The thermal heights indicated for the room doorway,

except for small W /W cases, are probably not indicative of the corridor.

A thermal layer in the corridor lower than the room doorway neutral

plane could result for large W /W from conduction between the slowly

£j D ^ ^
moving hot and cold flows. However, it is more likely to be an incorrect result due to radiant heating of the thermocouple from the hot room and fire.

Since fire induced doorway flow models incorporated in global room

fire models have been based on a conception that the fluid is stratified

into two zones of uniform temperature, it was of interest to examine our data from this point of view. The corridor doorway inflow was determined

using this two-layer temperature model. The equation follows from equations (10) and (12) provided T^ is taken as being equal to T^ up to an effective corridor thermal height z^. The result is

zero velocity position. The value for C was equal to the corresponding

value determined from the velocity and temperature data, i.e., equation

(13). The results of this calculation were compared to the measured

values of flow rate (figure 17). In general, the results are in good

agreement, but the value calculated from equation (28) tends to underestimate the experimental flow rate in a few cases by up to 30%.

It is difficult to generalize from the results of this study since

the effect of scale may limit its application. However, the following

specific conclusions can be made.

1. The doorway flow coefficient appears to vary systematically with

doorway width, but no explanation has been developed for this

effect. Also, the coefficient appears to be consistently greater

for the outgoing flow than the inflow.

The value for T^ was determined as indicated in figure 16 as the maximum

temperature of the fluid inside the doorway. The height z^ was determined by the tangent-intercept method, and z^ was determined from the

4. CONCLUSIONS

11
2. The theoretical results for velocity are in good agreement with

the experimental measurements. This may suggest that a constant

flow coefficient can be applied to calculate the velocity distribution.

3. Although a thermal layer does not exist as a discontinuous interface as idealized in a two-layer model, it can be defined from the

data. Calculations of mass flow rate based on experimentally determined layer heights did yield results within 30 percent of the

measured flows for the exit doorway inflow in this experiment.

5 . REFERENCES

[1] McCaffrey, B.J. and Quintiere, J.G. "Fire Induced Corridor Flow

in a Scale Model", in CIB Symposium on the Control of Smoke Movement in Building Fires, Vol. 1, pp 33-47. Borehamwood , UK, 1975.

[2] McCaffrey, B.J. and Quintiere, J.G., "Buoyancy Driven Countercurrent

Flows Generated by a Fire Source," in Turbulent Buoyant Convection , pp 457-472. Hemisphere Publishing Corp. 1976.

[3] Quintiere, J.G., McCaffrey, B.J., and Rinkinen, W. , Fire and

Materials, Vol. 2., No. 1, 1978, pp 18-24.

[4] Yang, K.T. and Chang, L.C. "UNDSAFE-1 A Computer Code for Buoyant

Flow in an Enclosure," University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Ind.,

TR-79002-77-1, March 1977.

[5] Zukoski, E.E. and Kubota, T. , "A Computer Model for Fluid Dynamic

Aspects of a Transient Fire in a Two Room Structure", California

Inst, of Tech., Pasadena, Cal. NBS Grant No. 5-9004, Jan. 1978.

[6] Prahl, J. and Emmons, H.W. , Combustion and Flame, Vol. 25, No. 3,

Dec. 1975, pp 369-385.

12
13

Figure

].

Pictorial

of

scale

model

facility
POROUS

PLATE

BURNER

UJ• O UlJ caoo Eo01ddd

rOdo

XI

•Hoo

(Uc

}-( c

(Uo

13o

M-lC

cd0 0) m }-i d ^ w

4-1 cd d 0) /-V d e > '—I d

cn1ddo

LHOu

•H

cdEdo

CNId

5-1 d

ftO •H

pt(

14

facility

(probes

to
TEMPERATURE

DISTRIBUTION

TCj

Wt/Wo

=1

(u)3) UOOTJ NOUJ 33NV1SIQ

15

Figure

3a.

Temperature

data

for

the

flow

out

of

the

corridor
PRESSURE

DISTRIBUTION

[10^

torr]

We

/W

o

=1

O

•H

!-i O

a

QJ

m

0)

CM

rO

C~)

OJMl3

bO

'H

Pm

(UI3) UOOTd WOUd 33NV1SIQ

16

5.0

2.5 0

2.5

5.0

DISTANCE

FROM

CENTERLINE

|cm|
oo

17

Figure

4.

Calculation

of

Inflow

velocities
18

Figure

5.

Diagram

of

vena

contracta

for

inflow

(horizontal

section)
19

Figure

6.

Calculation

of

outflow

velocities
Pi''.,nll'g/'n^-s)

0.8 -

6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5

HEIGHT (cm]

O 16.5 • 17.8

O 19.1

20.3

21.6

22.9

A 24.1

25.4

0 26.7

27.9

DISTANCE OFF CENTERLINE (cm)

Figure 7. Mass flow rates for flow out the exit doorway

20
11.1+0.3

cm

CO oj o cn GO CO uo CO CNI

(s/3| 31V» M01J SSVN

21

Figure

8.

Experimental

mass

flow

vs

corridor

exit

door

width

(W

/W,
CO

CD Csl C3

O C3 C=>

1N3I3IJJ303 MOIJ

22

Figure

9.

Orifice

flow

coefficient

vs

Reynolds

number
< <<

23

Figure

iO.

Orifice

flow

coefficient

for

exit

doorway

vs

corridor

exit

door

width

(W

/W

)

for

inflow

and

outflow
HEIGHT

(CM)

.....

HEJGHT

(CM)

Figure 11. Experimental temperature anci velocity results

and calculated velocities for W^/W^ = 3.1 • measured velocity calculated velocity

24
HEIGHT

(CM)

^

_

HEIGHT

(CM)

Figure 12. Experimental temperature and velocity results

and calculated velocities for = 1.9

E D

• measured velocity calculated velocity

25
HEIGHT

(CM)

.....

HEIGHT

(CM)

Figure 13. Experimental temperature and velocity results

and calculated velocities for W„/W^ = 1.0

E D

• measured velocity calculated velocity

i
HEIGHT

(CM)

_

.....

HE.IGHT

(CM)

Figure 14. Experimental temperature and velocity results

and calculated velocities for W„/W^ =0.6 ED, • measured velocity calculated velocity

27
20

15

10

5

0

A

1 2 3

We/Wd

gure 15a. Neutral plane height and effective height of hot

layer based on room doorway temperature vs

28
We/Wd

Figure 15b. Neutral plane height and effective height of hot

layer based on corridor temperature adjacent to

exit doorway vs W /W

^

29
Figure 16. Example of determination of z^, z , T, and T from

temperature data ^ °

30
Figure 17. Calculated mass flow rate vs experimental mass flow rate

31
NBS-114A (REV. 7-73)

U.S. DEPT. OF COMM. BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA

SHEET

1. PUBLICATION OR REPORT NO. NBSIR 78-15122. Gov’t Accession

No.

3. Recipient’s Accession No.

4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5. Publication Date October 1978

Some Theoretical Aspects of Fire Induced Flows Through

Doorways in a Room-Corridor Scale Model

6. Performing Organization Code

7. AUTHOR(S)

James G. Quintiere and Karen DenBraven

8. Performing Organ. Report No.

9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

10. Project/Task/Wotk Unit No. 7515676

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20234

11. Contract/Grant No.

12. Sponsoring Organization Name and Complete Address (Street, City, State, ZIP)

Same as number 9

13. Type of Report & Period Covered

Final Report

14. Sponsoring Agency Code

15. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES

16. ABSTRACT (A 200-word or less factual summary of most significant information. If document includes a significant

bibliography or literature survey, mention it here.)

Fire induced flows were measured in a l/7th scale model room-corridor by

measuring velocity and temperature profiles in the room and corridor exit

doorways. The corridor exit door width was varied by a factor of 10 as an experimental parameter while the average fire room temperature was held

constant. The applicability of an orifice flow model to predict the doorway

flows was examined. The ratio of measured to theoretical mass flow rate,

defined as the flow coefficient, was found to vary with door width and flow

direction. The coefficient ranged from 0.4 to slightly greater than 1. No

explanation has been developed to account for this variation.

17. KEY WORDS (six to twelve entries; alphabetical order; capitalize only the first letter of the first key word unless a proper name; separated by semicolons

)

Corridor; experiment; room; scale-model; theory; compartment fires; buoyancy

flows; flow coefficients

18. AVAILABILITY Unlimited 19. SECURITY CLASS 21. NO. OF PAGES

• (THIS REPORT)

1 For Official Distribution. Do Not Release to NTIS

* UNCL ASSIFIED 36

1

^ Order From Sup. of Doc., U.S. Government Printing Office 20. SECURITY CLASS 22. Price Washington. D.C. 20402. SD Cat. No. C13 (THIS PAGE)

ly ! Order From National Technical Information Service (NTIS) $4.50

Springfield, Virginia 22151 UNCLASSIFIED

USCOMM-DC 29042-P7
Figure 17. Calculated mass flow rate vs experimental mass flow rate

31
NBS-114A (REV. 7-73)

U.S. DEPT. OF COMM. BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA

SHEET

1. PUBLICATION OR REPORT NO. NBSTR 78-1512

2. Gov't Accession

No.

3. Recipient’s Accession No.

4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5. Publication Date October 1978

Some Theoretical Aspects of Fire Induced Flows Through

Doorways in a Room-Corridor Scale Model

6. Performing Organization Code

7. AUTHOR(S)^ , James G. Quint lere and Karen DenBraven

8. Performing Organ. Report No.

9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

10. Project/Task/Work Unit No. 7515676

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20234

11. Contract/Grant No.

12. Sponsoring Organization Name and Complete Address (Street, City, State, ZIP)

Same as number 9

13. Type of Report & Period Covered

Final Report

14. Sponsoring Agency Code

15. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES

16. ABSTRACT (A 200-word or less factual summary of most significant information. If document includes a significant

bibliography or literature survey, mention it here.)

Fire induced flows were measured in a l/7th scale model room-corridor by

measuring velocity and temperature profiles in the room and corridor exit

doorways. The corridor exit door width was varied by a factor of 10 as an experimental parameter while the average fire room temperature was held

constant. The applicability of an orifice flow model to predict the doorway

flows was examined. The ratio of measured to theoretical mass flow rate,

defined as the flow coefficient, was found to vary with door width and flow

direction. The coefficient ranged from 0.4 to slightly greater than 1. No

explanation has been developed to account for this variation.

17. KEY WORDS (six to twelve entries; alphabetical order; capitalize only the first letter of the first key word unless a proper name; separated by semicolons

)

Corridor; experiment; room; scale-model; theory; compartment fires; buoyancy

flows; flow coefficients

18. AVAILABILITY Uni imited

For Official Distribution. Do Not Release to NTIS

I

I Order From Sup. of Doc., U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402, SD Cat. No. Cl 3 Order From National Technical Information Service (NTIS)

Springfield, Virginia 22151 USCOMM-DC 29042-P"

19. SECURITY CLASS 21. NO. OF PAGES

(THIS REPORT)

UNCL ASSIFIED 36

20. SECURITY CLASS 22. Price (THIS PAGE)

$4.50

UNCLASSIFIED
w
A

“

< ‘ i

i

K *».

( \