{"id":2715,"date":"2025-06-02T16:04:24","date_gmt":"2025-06-02T14:04:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eng-sc.com\/?p=2715"},"modified":"2025-06-02T16:07:23","modified_gmt":"2025-06-02T14:07:23","slug":"fire-dynamics-simulator-sprinklers-effectiveness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eng-sc.com\/en\/fire-dynamics-simulator-sprinklers-effectiveness\/","title":{"rendered":"Simulation with Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS): Analysis of the Effectiveness of Sprinkler Systems in Pool Fire Scenarios"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

<\/p>\n

ABSTRACT<\/strong><\/h3>\n

<\/p>\n

This project evaluates the effectiveness of sprinkler systems installed on hydrocarbon storage spheres under “Pool Fire” scenarios with wind conditions. Numerical simulations based on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) were carried out using Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS)<\/strong> software to quantify the capacity of two designs, referred to as S1 and S2<\/strong>, in reducing the incident thermal load on surrounding spheres.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The configurations analyzed include:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

  1. Fire without wind.<\/strong><\/li>\n

    <\/p>\n

  2. Fire with wind at 7 m\/s (East\u2013West direction).<\/strong><\/li>\n

    <\/p><\/ol>\n

    <\/p>\n

    For each case, thermal radiation and direct flame contact impact were calculated. Results show that, although wind presence decreases the cooling efficiency of sprinklers, the implementation of passive measures (such as thermal insulation on structural supports) and proper hydraulic sizing (minimum pressure of 2.1 bar, appropriate K-factors, optimized spray angles) ensure the protection of the spheres within the limits established by API Standard 2510A.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    INTRODUCTION<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    <\/p>\n

    Sprinkler systems are a fundamental active protection measure to mitigate the spread and thermal effects of fires in industrial facilities storing hydrocarbons. API Standard 2510A<\/strong> requires that, in the event of a pool fire originating at the base of a sphere, the incident thermal radiation on adjacent spheres must not exceed 12 kW\/m\u00b2<\/strong>, beyond which the risk of internal overpressure and material integrity loss significantly increases.<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    In windy environments, the dispersion of water droplets emitted by sprinklers may be altered, compromising coverage and cooling flow. Therefore, this study focuses on characterizing the response of two sprinkler configurations (designs S1 and S2) for storage spheres in pool fire scenarios with and without wind. The simulation tool used is Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS)<\/strong>, which models the interaction between fire, hot gas flow, and sprinkler hydraulic systems by solving the Navier\u2013Stokes equations for compressible flow and combustion reactions.<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    CASE STUDY<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    <\/p>\n

    2.1 Sphere Farm<\/strong><\/h5>\n

    <\/p>\n

    The study area comprises 13 hydrocarbon storage spheres<\/strong>, with nominal capacities between 2,500 and 7,000 barrels<\/strong>. All spheres are mounted on cylindrical supports (pillars) and connected to a piping system supplying water to the sprinklers from a high-pressure pump-fed hydraulic network.<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n