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Aim: The purpose of this study is to verify the usability of the k-ω SST turbulence model for the description of the combustion process during a vertical propane jet fire. Simulating a jet fire using computational fluid mechanics involves an appropriate selection of a mathematical model to describe the turbulent flow. It is important as the variables from this model also describe the rate of the combustion reaction. As a result, they have an impact on the size and shape of the flame. The selection of an appropriate model should be preceded by preliminary simulations. Project and methods: For this purpose, a vertical jet fire in no wind conditions was selected for simulation. Consequently, it was possible to develop a two-dimensional axisymmetric geometry. A good numerical mesh can be applied to such axisymmetric geometry. Selected process conditions allowed to create an axisymmetric numerical grid. Its values, proving the quality, are shown in a chart demonstrating the distribution of the parameter quality depending on the number of elements from which the numerical grid was built. In the work, a two-stage model of the combustion reaction was selected in order to verify whether the area in which the mole fraction of carbon monoxide will have significant values is so large that the selected kinetic reaction model will have an impact on the flame length. Results: Three simulations of jet fire taking place in the direction opposite to the force of gravity were performed. The simulations performed allowed for setting the basic L f parameter, which determines the flame length. Additionally, the length of the mixing path slift-off, needed to initiate the combustion reaction, was determined. The simulations performed allowed for comparing significant parameters characterizing the flame with the parameters calcu- lated using correlations included in the literature on the subject. Due to this comparison, it was possible to define an interesting scope of research work, because the length of the gas mixing path determined from the CFD simulation differed significantly from the values calculated from the correlation. Conclusions: Interestingly, such large differences between CFD results and correlations were not observed for the L f parameter. The correlations based on the Froude number give slightly higher values of the flame length than the results of the CFD simulation. On the other hand, the correlation based on the Reynolds number gives slightly lower values of the L f parameter than the values obtained from the CFD calculations. This may indicate that the effects related to the inertia forces (Re number) better describe the simulation process conditions than the correlations based on the influence of inertia forces and gravity forces (Fr number). Keywords: jet fire, mathematical modelling, computational fluid dynamics Type of article: short scientific report

Aim: The aim of this article is to determine the characteristics of a pool fire, including the temperatures and thermal radiation densities caused by it. Mappings of pool fires occurring in actual emergency events were conducted by performing large-scale polygon tests. Project and methods: Experimental study of pool fire of technical ethanol was carried out on a specially built test stand in the training area of the Training Centre in Pionki of the Regional Headquarters of the State Fire Service in Warsaw. The pool fire test stand consisted of a test tray, with a test chamber with the diameter of 300 cm, founded on a reinforced concrete slab. Using a developed measurement system with data acquisition that included measurement sensors mounted at defined locations relative to the fire, temperatures and thermal radiation densities were measured at various distances/locations relative to the fire. Metrological data such as air temperature, atmospheric pressure, humidity, wind direction and speed were monitored and recorded using the weather station. The height of the fire flame was measured by comparing it to racks set up nearby with marked scales of specific lengths. Results: A polygon stand that was built to study pool fires, equipped with a temperature and thermal radiation density measuring system with measuring sensors distributed in defined locations, is discussed. A study of a pool fire resulting from the combustion of dehydrated, fully contaminated ethanol was conducted. The study measured temperatures, thermal radiation densities, and flame heights. The average and maximum values of temperatures and thermal radiation densities during the steady-state combustion stage (i.e., phase II of the fire) were determined. Conclusions: Based on the presented results of temperature and thermal radiation density measurements at various distances/locations relative to the pool fire site, there was a significant effect of wind direction and speed on these values. Higher temperature and heat radiation density were recorded at the sensors on the leeward side than on the windward side. As the wind speed decreased, there was an increase in the temperature values recorded on the thermocouples located above the centre of the bottom of the tray test chamber due to the flame, which, when not blown away, was allowed to rise vertically upward and fully sweep the temperature sensors. Keywords: pool fire, field tests, technical ethanol, temperature, thermal radiation Type of article: original scientific article

In this work a summary of safety assessments based on a concept of boundary diagrams safety criterion (BDSC) is given and adapted for liquid phase homogeneous reactions carried out in batch and semibatch reactors. First, on the basis of theoretical considerations, the operating diagrams have been elaborated, which make possible a selection of safe or inherently safe operating conditions for any liquid homogeneous reaction, even with limited information on the reaction kinetics. To use the proposed method, a detailed reaction mechanism is not required; only fundamental kinetic information is necessary. Usually, the reaction kinetic constants at two chosen temperatures should be determined. Next the reaction enthalpy and a few well-known parameters used for characterization of the reacting system are utilized. The proposed approach is crucial for practical applications of this method, because in industrial practice—e.g., in the fine chemicals industry—usually there is no time and there are no funds for deta...

The boundary safety criterion, which can be applied when the reaction kinetic information is scarce, has been compared to the model-based safety criteria: the divergence criterion and the criterion of derivatives, respectively. The results obtained for a homogeneous liquid reaction carried out in a semibatch stirred tank reactor fully confirm abilities of this boundary safety criterion to predict safe operating conditions.