Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Algorithm for Estimating Carbon Monoxide Formation in Enclosure Fires

Published

Author(s)

William M. Pitts

Abstract

This paper introduces an engineering approach for estimating the generation rate of carbon monoxide (CO) within a room containing a fire. Four CO formation mechanisms: 1) quenching of a turbulent fire plume upon entering a rich upper layer, 2) mixing of oxygen directly into a rich, high-temperature upper layer with subsequent reaction, 3) pyrolysis of wood in a high-temperature, vitiated environment, and 4) approach to full-equilibrium combustion product concentrations in a rich, high-temperature upper layer - identified in recent experimental and modeling investigtions are incorporated into a step-by-step algorithm. The understanding required to implement the algorithm in fire models is briefly discussed.
Proceedings Title
International Association for Fire Safety Science. Fire Safety Science. Proceedings of the Fifth (5th) International Symposium
Conference Dates
March 3-7, 1997
Conference Location
Melbourne,

Keywords

fire research, fire safety, fire science, carbon monoxide, enclosures, algorithms, compartment fires, fire models, global equivalence ratio, room fires

Citation

Pitts, W. (1997), Algorithm for Estimating Carbon Monoxide Formation in Enclosure Fires, International Association for Fire Safety Science. Fire Safety Science. Proceedings of the Fifth (5th) International Symposium, Melbourne, , [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=911619 (Accessed October 31, 2024)

Issues

If you have any questions about this publication or are having problems accessing it, please contact reflib@nist.gov.

Created March 3, 1997, Updated February 19, 2017