Experimental study of the effect of internal pressure on oscillating behavior of pool fires.

ABSTRACT

A series of experiments have been conducted to study the flame behavior of ethanol pool fires in a closed chamber. The effect of internal pressure and the size of the pool burner is considered. Tests include pressure conditions ranging from 50 kPa to 350 kPa and 5 circular pool burners with different diameters (2 cm, 4 cm, 6 cm, 8 cm, and 10 cm). Measurements such as gas temperature, internal pressure, oxygen concentration, and video record for all tests are obtained. Steady-state burning period is identified to facilitate a quantitative analysis of flame behavior. Image processing is carried out to obtain time average appearance of pool fires. The concept of oscillation intensity is introduced. Oscillation behaviors of pool fires in a closed system as a function of internal pressure and pan diameter are correlated with oscillation intensity. Four flame structures are observed laminar, tip flicking, sinuous meandering, and turbulent flame. Relationships between oscillation intensity to flame structure and Grashof number to flame structure are established. Effect of internal pressure and gravitational force to oscillation frequency is also accessed. Simple theoretical model is developed. An empirical expression using the relationship of Strouhal number and Grashof number is established. Two distinct behaviors on oscillation frequency as a function of pressure are observed. Results obtained from this work will facilitate the understanding of oscillation behavior of ethanol pool fires in different sizes with various internal pressure conditions in a closed chamber.