Modelling plume rise and dispersion from pool fires

This paper describes an investigation into the behaviour of smoke plumes fr om pool fires, and the subsequent generation of empirical models to predict plume rise and dispersion from such a combustion source. Synchronous Video records of plumes were taken from a series of small-scale (0.06-0.25m(2)) outdoor methanol/toluene pool fire experiments, and used to produce sets of images from which plume dimensions could be derived. Three models were use d as a basis for the multiple regression analysis of the data set, in order to produce new equations for improved prediction. Actual plume observation s from a large (20.7m x 14.2m) aviation fuel pool fire were also used to te st the predictions. The two theoretically based models were found to give a better representation of plume rise and dispersion than the empirical mode l based on measurements of small-scale fires. It is concluded that theoreti cal models tested on small-scale fires (heat output approximate to 70 kW) c an be used to predict plume behaviour from much larger combustion sources ( heat output approximate to 70 MW) under near neutral atmospheric conditions . (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.