Evaluating feasibility of field modeling of fire to calculate fire characteristics in buildings and premises

Introduction. The present paper describes application of a software package using a field model of fire dynamics to calculate fire characteristics in buildings and premises of nuclear power plants (NPP). The authors give necessary justifications for using the software package in performing fire calculations in multifunctional buildings and premises.

Aim. To analyze different fire modeling methods, their application and use of the software package for field modeling of fire dynamics to determine the dynamics of fire hazards in complex premises, in facilities with non-uniform fire loads or complex gas exchange processes; to contribute solving the issue of safe distances ensuring that fire cannot spread between equipment elements.

Materials and methods. The authors developed and verified a software package to perform calculations using the field model of fire dynamics. The paper presents the basics of the field method for fire modeling in multifunctional premises and the aspects of its application in fire simulation. The presented analytics is substantiated with examples of fire simulation results in real premises of NPPs.

Results. Following the analysis of different methods of modeling the dynamics of development and spread of fire hazards, the present paper introduces the possibility of using various methods of fire modeling in the evaluation of fire hazards for buildings and premises. The authors describe the advantages of field modeling method for calculating local parameters of fire. The paper provides information on the software codes to calculate the dynamics of fire and evaluate the thermal effects of fire on building structures.

Conclusion. It has been found possible to apply field model of fire dynamics for calculating fire hazards in various buildings, premises and open areas. Calculations using the presented field model enable the sufficiency of fire resistance of building structures and multifunctional premises to be substantiated due to preventing fire spread outside the fire zone during the estimated time of burnout of the total fire load.

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