N.R. Keltner, B.L. Bainbridge

The estimation of transient temperature measurement errors is often required to help understand thermal experiments and improve the accuracy of estimated thermal parameters. Thermal response models used in conjunction with experimental techniques are very effective. A hybrid of finite differences and the Unsteady Surface Element method is developed and used for modeling temperature measurements made with intrinsic thermocouples and resistance temperature detectors. In the latter case, experimental data obtained with the Loop Current Step Response method is used to estimate model parameters.

T.J. O'Connor

Radial and axial variations of fluid properties.

R.C. Corlett

Sandria National Laboratories, Thermal Test and Analysis Division performs large (9 by 18 meters), open pool-fire tests to simulate severe transportation accidents for evaluating shipping containers. In an effort to characterize the fire environment, a number of measurements were made in a 46-minute test that consumed approximately 48,500 liters of JP-4 fuel. The measurements included temperatures, heat fluxes and velocities. This report addresses the fabrication and calibration of the velocity probes, their use in measurements of flame velocities in the large pool-fire test, and a comparison with a flame velocity correlation developed from measurements in smaller diffusion flames

The purpose of this test program is to heat release data obtained in an apparatus developed and used by the All Russian Institute of Aviation Materials (VIAM) with results obtained from the modified by Federal Aviation.

Andrew T. Hills, Terence Simpson, David P. Smith

Although water is known to be an effective Class A and B fire suppressant, skepticism remains over its use in Class C applications due to its conductivity. Therefore, a joint Kidde-Fenwal/GTE/FSI Research feasibility study into water mist fire protection in live telecommunication switch gear was carried out.

The switch gear bays, which were composed of vertically mounted, parallel printed circuit boards (PCBs), were found to be a considerable fire threat. A localized “in cabinet” fire suppression system comprising single fluid spray nozzles operating at high pressure was used. Test fires were extinguished in 1-2 seconds using less than 1 L (0.26 US gal) of water. In addition, the current trips contained in the switch were activated when water was incident and this result, coupled with the low volume of water used, reduces the electric shock hazard considerably.

Therefore, water was found to be an efficient and safe fire suppressant in switch gear. Since these initial experiments, further tests have been carried out on alternative equipment supplied by Mercury Communications, for which findings are briefly presented.