Estimates of the Extent and Character of the Oxygen-Starved Interior in Large Pool Fires

Based on data from large pool fire experiments and computational fire field model simulations, the size, shape, and character of the oxygen-starved interior in large pool fires is estimated. In the interior of the fire and near the pool surface, low average and low mean deviation temperatures were noted in experimental data for low wind conditions. These trends tend to indicate the presence of a non-combusting region. Using average and mean deviation temperature distributions (supplemented by heat flux measurements) from several data sets, the spatial extent of the vapor dome is estimated for a range of wind conditions. These estimates are compared with fire field model results of temperature and fuel/air concentration distributions. Predicted and measured temperature trends, supported by heat flux data, illustrate the importance of object placement within the fire during system fire survivability testing. The presence of this region also supplements conventional pool fire representations which are based on a continuous flame zone which extends to the pool surface.