Numerical Study of the Stratified Smoke Flow in a Corridor: Full~scale Calculations

Abstract The two-dimensional, steady-state, turbulent flow of hot air and smoke in a corridor with an adjacent room fire is calculated numerically. Turbulence is accounted for through the k-ϵ model. Buoyancy efects are included in both the vertical momentum and the turbulence equations. Convective and radiative heat losses are accounted for. The simple radiation model used assumes a well-mixed, spectrally gray and optically thick smoke layer. A full-sized corridor of 75 m length and 2.5 m height is considered. Parameter variations include inflow temperature, radiative heat losses and net mass flow. Special attention is given to the stratification of the hot smoke layer. Strong stratification is found for all situations considered. However, the hot layer thickness increases significantly in some cases. Our calculations do not support the use of a critical overall Richardson number as a criterion for the occurrence of stratification.