Effects of cross air flow on mass loss rates of circular aviation fuel pool fires in large open space

Abstract

Mass loss rates of circular aviation fuel pool fires are investigated in a cross air flow field supplied by a wind wall system. The diameters of the fuel pans used are 0.3 m, 0.4 m, 0.5 m and 0.6 m. it is found that the mass loss rates of a circular aviation fuel pool fire do not vary linearly or monotonically with the increase of cross air flow velocity in an large open space and the mass loss rates variation process of a certain diameter pool fire at different cross air flow velocities can be divided into four stages as the first beginning increase stage, the decrease stage, the constant stage and the last increase stage. It is concluded that the first and the second stage are thermal radiation control stages, the third stage is a radiation-convection combined control stage and the last stage is mainly dominated by heat convection. © 2013 International Association for Fire Safety Science.