Experimental Study on Low-Frequency Oscillating Behavior in Mechanically-Ventilated Compartment Fires

This study focuses on fire behavior in a mechanically-ventilated compartment, with a special emphasis on the low-frequency (LF) oscillatory behavior that has been occasionally observed. LF oscillations, typically in the order of a few mHz, can lead to large thermodynamic pressure variations, which in turn can cause fire safety issues (e.g. loss of confinement, mechanical damages). To address these issues, small-scale experiments are conducted varying the air renewal rate (ARR) in the compartment from 8 to 20 h-1 and the ventilation configuration. The fire source consists of heptane fuel loaded in a pan with a diameter of 18 cm. Depending on the ARR, LF oscillations are observed on the time evolution of the burning rate, and thus of all the other variables, with a frequency in the range of 16-26 mHz. As the ARR increases, there are three distinct regimes of burning behavior observed in this study: (1) rapid extinction due to smoke filling; (2) LF oscillating burning, followed by blow-off extinction after a few oscillations; and (3) LF oscillating burning, where extinction occurs because of the burning rate “runaway” due to an intensification of the heat transfer through the rim of the container. The oscillatory behavior and fire extinction result from the competition between oxygen supply and fuel vapor supply due to the heat feedback to the fuel tray. Both regimes (2) and (3) are accompanied by displacements of the flame out of the pan towards regions where oxygen is present. The influence of ARR and ventilation configuration (i.e. air inlet location and blowing direction) on the burning rate and LF oscillation properties (frequency, amplitude) is examined and discussed.