A numerical investigation of mechanical smoke exhaust in the powerhouse of an underground hydropower station

Abstract

A fire dynamics simulator (FDS) was used to investigate mechanical smoke exhaust in the powerhouse of an underground hydropower station. Initially, the simulation results were validated through comparison with experimental data from a powerhouse fire. Then, the influence of the smoke exhaust vent locations on the mechanical smoke exhaust efficiency was studied. Simulated results showed that the location of the exhaust ports had little effect on the smoke exhaust. In addition, the effects of the exhaust rates and heat release rates were discussed. Results showed that both the soot density and the temperature of the smoke layer decreased with larger smoke exhaust rates. The smoke temperature and density both increased rapidly with increasing heat release rates, for the same exhaust rates. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2014.