3D Modelling and Turbulence Analysis of Multiple Pool Fires: Capturing Synergistic Effects and Identifying Optimal Models

Multiple adjacent pool fires can lead to more severe casualties and property damage during industrial fire accidents than single pool fires due to air vortex and thermal feedback, which increase their intensity and burning rate while affecting flame geometry and thermal radiation, especially for large pool fires. This work develops a 3D simulation model of multiple pool fires (MPFs) that considers the synergistic effects of adjacent fires to accurately capture flame geometry and thermal radiation. Given the importance of proper turbulence modelling for capturing the synergies between flames and the complex interactions between fluid dynamics and chemical reactions, this work systematically compares the Standard k- epsilon , Realizable k- epsilon , RNG k- epsilon and Standard k- omega and SST k- omega models in predicting flame geometry and thermal radiation of MPFs. Flow field visualisations were used to assess the ability of each model in capture flame synergistic effects. Although previous studies indicated that the Standard k- epsilon model is best for SPF, the results of this study indicate that SST k- omega model outperforms others in capturing pool fire synergies due to its ability to transition between the k- epsilon and k- omega models and its ability to handle complex shear flows and vortex formations, especially with significant pool fire spacing. This work advances the understanding of complex fire behaviour and informs safer chemical park designs and emergency responses.