Thermo-Fluid Dynamics Analysis of Fire Smoke Dispersion and Control Strategy in Buildings

Ricardo S. Gomez, Túlio R. N. Porto, Hortência L. F. Magalhães, Antonio C. Q. Santos, Victor H. V. Viana, Kelly C. Gomes and Antonio G. B. Lima
Additional contact information
Ricardo S. Gomez: Postgraduate Program in Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa 58051-900, PB, Brazil
Túlio R. N. Porto: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Campina Grande, Campina Grande 58429-900, PB, Brazil
Hortência L. F. Magalhães: Department of Chemical Engineering, Federal University of Campina Grande, Campina Grande 58429-900, PB, Brazil
Antonio C. Q. Santos: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Campina Grande, Campina Grande 58429-900, PB, Brazil
Victor H. V. Viana: Postgraduate Program in Security Engineering, University Center of Patos (UNIFIP), Campina Grande 58416-440, PB, Brazil
Kelly C. Gomes: Postgraduate Program in Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa 58051-900, PB, Brazil
Antonio G. B. Lima: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Campina Grande, Campina Grande 58429-900, PB, Brazil

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 22, 1-27

Abstract: Smoke is the main threat of death in fires. For this reason, it becomes extremely important to understand the dispersion of this pollutant and to verify the influence of different control systems on its spread through buildings, in order to avoid or minimize its effects on living beings. Thus, this work aims to perform thermo-fluid dynamic study of smoke dispersion in a closed environment. All numerical analysis was performed using the Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) software. Different simulations were carried out to evaluate the influence of the exhaust system (natural or mechanical), the heat release rate (HRR), ventilation and the smoke curtain in the pollutant dispersion. Results of the smoke layer interface height, temperature profile, average exhaust volumetric flow rate, pressure and velocity distribution are presented and discussed. The results indicate that an increase in the natural exhaust area increases the smoke layer interface height, only for the well-ventilated compartment (open windows); an increase in the HRR accelerates the downward vertical displacement of the smoke layer and that the 3 m smoke curtain is efficient in exhausting smoke, only in the case of poorly ventilated compartments (i.e., with closed windows).

Keywords: smoke; natural exhaust; mechanical exhaust; smoke curtain; fire dynamics simulator (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/22/6000/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/22/6000/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:22:p:6000-:d:446498

Access Statistics for this article

Energies is currently edited by Ms. Agatha Cao

More articles in Energies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().