Numerical simulations of evaporation rate and fuel temperature under the transient radiative heat flux in the case of pool fire

Computing the evaporation rate of fuel is one of the challenges and complexities of pool fire simulations. In this study, the evaporation rate of methanol in a shallow pool fire problem is computed using an algorithm that includes analytical and empirical relations. Modeled radiative heat flux and surrounding air temperature are considered transient. Heat and mass transfer phenomena are included in this algorithm, and their effects are discussed. The relative error of results to other numerical studies was below 3 percent. Also, by comparing steady results to experimental results, the relative error was 1 percent. Results show that the evaporation rate in transient radiative heat flux case is delayed 50 seconds to constant radiative flux. In addition, Nusselt number and Grashof number are independent of radiative flux, and depend on surrounding air temperature.