Numerical investigation of heating of an object in a pool fire using different liquid fuels

Numerical investigation of heating of a mild steel slab in a pool fire using different liquid fuels is reported in the present study. The liquid fuels used are diesel, jatropha, methanol and n-heptane. A pool of 0.5 m × 0.5 m × 0.2 m is considered. A mild steel slab of 0.16 m × 0.16 m × 0.4 m is used to study the heat transfer characteristics of the pool fire. Fire Dynamic Simulator (FDS) is used for solving mass, momentum, energy and species conservation equations. Infinite rate chemistry model is used for modelling the reaction. One quarter of the 3D domain is simulated by assuming two symmetry planes along the length and width. Igniter particles with a temperature of 1600oC are used to onset ignition, except in methanol. The igniter particles are removed at 25 s. Simulation is carried out for 180 seconds after the removal of ignition source to investigate the heating of the object during that period. It is observed that the object is heated uniformly in the pool fires fueled by diesel, jatropha and n-heptane. The mass loss rate of n-heptane and diesel is higher than other fuels. The flame from n-heptane and diesel engulfs the object completely.