Simulation of smoke plumes from large pool fires

• Published in: Symposium, International, on Combustion Vol. 25; no. 1; pp. 1463 - 1469
• Main Authors: Baum, H.r., McGrattan, K.B., Rehm, R.G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 1994
• ISSN: 0082-0784
• DOI: 10.1016/S0082-0784(06)80790-3

A large eddy simulation model of smoke plumes generated by large outdoor pool fires is presented. Theplume is described in terms of steady-state convective transport by a uniform ambient wind of heated gases and particulate matter introduced into a stably stratified atmosphere by a continuously burning fire. The Navier-Stokes equations in the Boussinesq approximation are solved numerically with a constant eddy viscosity representing dissipation on length scales below the resolution limits of the calculation. The effective Reynolds number is high enough to permit direct simulation of the large scale mixing over two to three orders of magnitude in length scale. Particulate matter, or any nonreacting combustion product, is represented by Lagrangian particles that are advected by the fire-induced flow field. Background atmospheric motion is described in terms of the angular fluctuation of the prevailing wind and represented by random perturbations to the mean particle paths. Sample computations are presented and compared with plumes generated by large crude oil pool fires. Also presented is an assessment of the potential environmental hazard posed by burning marine oil spills.