Influence of different make-up air configurations on the fire-induced conditions in an atrium

• Published in: Building and environment Vol. 45; no. 11; pp. 2458 - 2472
• Main Authors: Gutiérrez-Montes, Cándido, Sanmiguel-Rojas, Enrique, Viedma, Antonio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Atrium; Building technical equipments; Buildings; Buildings. Public works; CFD simulations; Computational fluid dynamics; Computer simulation; Exact sciences and technology; Fire behavior of materials and structures; Fire protection; Fires; Full-scale fire tests; Inlets; Make-up air; Mathematical models; Mechanical exhaust; Plumes; Pressure drop; Topology; Vents; Atrium; Mechanical exhaust; CFD simulations; Make-up air; Full-scale fire tests; Computational fluid dynamics; Measurement result; Full scale mockup test; Experimental study; Forecast model; Modeling; Atrium (building); Heat liberation; Exhaust; Fire test; Fires; Mechanical system; Simulation model; Mathematical model; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0360-1323; 1873-684X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2010.05.006

In this paper, the influence of the make-up air velocity as well as the position and area of the vents in an atrium is assessed both experimentally and numerically. In the experiments, the effect of different make-up air supply positions and inlet area on the fire-induced inner conditions and smoke-layer descent was studied by means of three full-scale fire tests conducted in a 20 m cubic atrium. Detailed transient measurements of gas and wall temperatures, as well as pressure drop through the exhaust fans and airflow at the inlets were recorded. These data could be used as benchmark for future numerical validation studies. Later computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of these tests were performed with the code Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDSv4). In the experiments, the lack of symmetry in make-up air vents and the large inlet area turn the flame and plume more sensitive to outer effects. However, no significant difference has been observed between the make-up air topologies assessed. Even make-up velocities higher than 1 m/s, with symmetric venting topology, have not induced important flame or plume perturbations. In the numerical simulations, the predictions agree well with the experiments for the cases with larger make-up air openings. Poor agreement has been found for the case with the smallest inlet openings.