Plume equations for studying smoke-filling process in atria with a zone model

Application of zone model for studying atrium smoke-filling process was evaluated. The fire zone model FIRST was selected as the fire simulator. Studies were focused on the plume model, the geometry of the atria and the heat release rate of fires. Six plume models reported in the literature were reviewed. Their expressions on the velocity, temperature and mass flow were compared. Three halls of same volume but different shapes were taken as the samples. A small volume of 2000 m3 was used because a zone model should work in halls of this size. Numerical simulations of the fire environment in the atrium buildings with those six plume models were carried out using the zone model FIRST. A total number of 108 simulations were performed with nine sets of fires. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.