Impact of Drag Force between Droplet and Gas on Suppression of a Buoyancy-Controlled Fire via Water Mist

Authors

  • Hui-Ying Wang Prime Institute (CNRS-UPR 3346, ENSMA, University of Poitiers) Fluid-Thermal-Combustion Department ENSMA - BP 40109 Téléport 2, 1 Avenue Clément Ader 86961 Futuroscope Chasseneuil Cedex, France Author
  • Marianne Houndekon Prime Institute (CNRS-UPR 3346, ENSMA, University of Poitiers) Fluid-Thermal-Combustion Department ENSMA - BP 40109 Téléport 2, 1 Avenue Clément Ader 86961 Futuroscope Chasseneuil Cedex, France Author
  • Bruno Coudour Prime Institute (CNRS-UPR 3346, ENSMA, University of Poitiers) Fluid-Thermal-Combustion Department ENSMA - BP 40109 Téléport 2, 1 Avenue Clément Ader 86961 Futuroscope Chasseneuil Cedex, France Author
  • Jean Pierre Garo Prime Institute (CNRS-UPR 3346, ENSMA, University of Poitiers) Fluid-Thermal-Combustion Department ENSMA - BP 40109 Téléport 2, 1 Avenue Clément Ader 86961 Futuroscope Chasseneuil Cedex, France Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47363/JEAST/2026(8)381

Keywords:

Modeling, Fire Chemistry, Suppression, Heat Transfer, Toxicity, Water Mist

Abstract

The present work provides a detailed experimental and numerical study on suppression of a heptane medium-scale pool fire by applying water mist. The customarily described well defined structure of the flame does not exist any longer by application of water mist. It is observed that the size and shape of the flame vary randomly and continuously due to sudden and short mist vaporization periods. An injection of the finely divided water mist (50μm) into a buoyancy-induced fire has a combustion-supporting effect of a heptane pool fire. In no mist case, contribution of the radiation heat flux to the pyrolysis rate of liquid fuel seems predominant. However, with addition of water mist, an increasing trend in burning rate is related mainly to the significance of convective heat flux due to moving of the flame region towards the liquid surface. This behavior suggests that extinguishment is achieved by total clearance of the liquid surface rather than from reduction in flame-to-liquid surface heat feedback. The numerical work provides the detailed temperature and species
fields in addition to radiation/convection heat fluxes over the liquid surface during the addition of a water mist by using various drag force models. 

Author Biographies

  • Hui-Ying Wang, Prime Institute (CNRS-UPR 3346, ENSMA, University of Poitiers) Fluid-Thermal-Combustion Department ENSMA - BP 40109 Téléport 2, 1 Avenue Clément Ader 86961 Futuroscope Chasseneuil Cedex, France

    Hui-Ying Wang, Prime Institute (CNRS-UPR 3346, ENSMA, University of Poitiers) Fluid-Thermal-Combustion Department ENSMA - BP 40109 Téléport 2, 1 Avenue Clément Ader 86961 Futuroscope Chasseneuil Cedex, France.

  • Marianne Houndekon, Prime Institute (CNRS-UPR 3346, ENSMA, University of Poitiers) Fluid-Thermal-Combustion Department ENSMA - BP 40109 Téléport 2, 1 Avenue Clément Ader 86961 Futuroscope Chasseneuil Cedex, France

    Marianne Houndekon, Prime Institute (CNRS-UPR 3346, ENSMA, University of Poitiers) Fluid-Thermal-Combustion Department ENSMA - BP 40109 Téléport 2, 1 Avenue Clément Ader 86961 Futuroscope Chasseneuil Cedex, France.

  • Bruno Coudour, Prime Institute (CNRS-UPR 3346, ENSMA, University of Poitiers) Fluid-Thermal-Combustion Department ENSMA - BP 40109 Téléport 2, 1 Avenue Clément Ader 86961 Futuroscope Chasseneuil Cedex, France

    Bruno Coudour, Prime Institute (CNRS-UPR 3346, ENSMA, University of Poitiers) Fluid-Thermal-Combustion Department ENSMA - BP 40109 Téléport 2, 1 Avenue Clément Ader 86961 Futuroscope Chasseneuil Cedex, France

  • Jean Pierre Garo, Prime Institute (CNRS-UPR 3346, ENSMA, University of Poitiers) Fluid-Thermal-Combustion Department ENSMA - BP 40109 Téléport 2, 1 Avenue Clément Ader 86961 Futuroscope Chasseneuil Cedex, France

    Jean Pierre Garo, Prime Institute (CNRS-UPR 3346, ENSMA, University of Poitiers) Fluid-Thermal-Combustion Department ENSMA - BP 40109 Téléport 2, 1 Avenue Clément Ader 86961 Futuroscope Chasseneuil Cedex, France.

Downloads

Published

2026-10-06

Issue

Vol. 8 No. 10 (2026): Volume 8 Issue 10

Section

Articles