An investigation of horizontal opening effect on pool fire behavior in a confined compartment: A study based on global equivalence ratio

This article involves an experimental study of horizontal opening effect on pool fire behavior in a confined compartment. Five pan diameters and six horizontal opening sizes were adopted and measurements included extinction time, mass loss, oxygen concentration, temperature in the compartment and horizontal opening and pressure difference at the top and bottom of compartment. The global equivalence ratio was theoretically simplified under the horizontal opening condition. The global equivalence ratio coupling the horizontal opening and fuel areas was proposed to deal with these measuring parameters obtained. The results show that extinction time presents different variation trends for the burning out and self-extinction modes. Then, the critical global equivalence ratio value can be used to divide the self-extinction and burning out regions based on the mass loss rate and oxygen concentration values. Moreover, the opening size affects the smoke layer interfaces in the compartment, and the maximum and average temperature rises in the vent present first increase and then decrease distribution with an increase in global equivalence ratio. Pressure difference in the compartment decays exponentially as horizontal ventilation increases.