Experimental Study of the Effects of Forced and Natural Ventilation on Wood Fire Behavior with Limited Fuel Load

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

• seyed ahmad kebriyaee ¹
• Mohammad Moghiman ¹
• Hamid Niazmand ¹
• Seyedeh Mohadeseh Miri ²

¹ Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

² Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran

10.22067/jacsm.2025.90429.1292

Abstract

Positive pressure ventilation (PPV) is used to improve smoke extraction and reduce temperatures in fire suppression, but its effectiveness depends on the space's ventilation conditions. This laboratory study examined the impact of natural and forced ventilation (using a blower with a flow rate of 18,500 m³/h) in a compartment with a 10 kg wooden pallet fire and varying opening configurations. Results showed that no flashover occurred due to fuel limitations. Under forced ventilation with two openings, the maximum temperature above the fire source decreased by 9% (from 280°C to 255°C). However, with a single opening, forced ventilation increased this temperature by 30% (from 141.9°C to 185.6°C) compared to natural ventilation. Additionally, the time to peak temperature was delayed by 48 seconds in the two-opening scenario but accelerated by 61 seconds in the single-opening case. These findings indicate that PPV raises temperatures in spaces with only one opening, making it optimal for use only in compartments with at least two openings.

Keywords

• wood fire behavior
• forced ventilation
• natural ventilation
• maximum temperature

Main Subjects

• Combustion

---