Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Division of Systems Safety and Analysis

Plant Systems Branch
Fire Protection Engineering and Special Projects Section

CHAPTER 9. ESTIMATING CENTERLINE TEMPERATURE OF A

BUOYANT FIRE PLUME
Version 1805.0
The following calculations estimate the centerline plume temperature in a compartment fire.
Parameters should be specified ONLY IN THE YELLOW INPUT PARAMETER BOXES.
All subsequent output values are calculated by the spreadsheet and based on values specified in the input
parameters. This spreadsheet is protected and secure to avoid errors due to a wrong entry in a cell(s).
The chapter in the NUREG should be read before an analysis is made.

INPUT PARAMETERS

Heat Release Rate of the Fire (Q)

Elevation Above the Fire Source (z)
Area of Combustible Fuel (Ac)
Ambient Air Temperature (Ta)

AMBIENT CONDITIONS
Specific Heat of Air (cp)
Ambient Air Density (ra)
Acceleration of Gravity (g)
Convective Heat Release Fraction (cc)
Note: Air density will automatically correct with Ambient Air Temperature (T
ESTIMATING PLUME CENTERLINE TEMPERATURE
Reference: SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering, 3rd Edition, 2002, Page 2-6.

Tp(centerline) - Ta = 9.1 (Ta/g cp2 ra2)1/3 Qc2/3 (z - z0)-5/3

Where Tp(centerline) = plume centerline temperature (°C)
Qc = convective portion of the heat release rate (kW)
Ta = ambient air temperature (K)
g = acceleration of gravity (m/sec2)
cp = specific heat of air (kJ/kg-K)
ra = ambient air density (kg/m3)
z = distance from the top of the fuel package to the ceiling (m)
z0 = hypothetical virtual origin of the fire (m)

Convective Heat Release Rate Calculation

Q c = cc Q
Where Qc = convective portion of the heat release rate (kW)
Q = heat release rate of the fire (kW)
cc = convective heat release fraction
Qc = 3500 kW

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Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Division of Systems Safety and Analysis
Plant Systems Branch
Fire Protection Engineering and Special Projects Section

Fire Diameter Calculation

Ac = pD2/4
Where Ac = area of combustible fuel (m2)
D = fire diameter (m)
D = √(4 Ac/p)
D= 2.02 m

Hypothetical Virtual Origin Calculation

z0/D = -1.02 + 0.083 (Q2/5)/D
Where z0 = virtual origin of the fire (m)
Q = heat release rate of fire (kW)
D = fire diameter (m)
z0/D = 0.22
z0 = 0.44 m

Centerline Plume Temperature Calculation

Tp(centerline) - Ta = 9.1 (Ta/g cp2 ra2)1/3 Qc2/3 (z - z0)-5/3
Tp(centerline) - Ta = 218.97
Tp(centerline) = 516.97 K
0
Tp(centerline) = 243.97 °C 471.15

NOTE
The above calculations are based on principles developed in the SFPE Handbook of Fire
Protection Engineering, 3rd Edition, 2002.
Calculations are based on certain assumptions and have inherent limitations. The results of such
calculations may or may not have reasonable predictive capabilities for a given situation, and
should only be interpreted by an informed user.
Although each calculation in the spreadsheet has been verified with the results of hand calculation,
there is no absolute guarantee of the accuracy of these calculations.
Any questions, comments, concerns, and suggestions, or to report an error(s) in the spreadsheet,
please send an email to nxi@nrc.gov or mxs3@nrc.gov.

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Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Division of Systems Safety and Analysis
Plant Systems Branch
Fire Protection Engineering and Special Projects Section

Prepared by: Date Organization

Checked by: Date Organization

Additional Information

Revision Log Description of Revision

1805.0 Original issue with final text.

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 Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Division of Systems Safety and Analysis
Plant Systems Branch
Fire Protection Engineering and Special Projects Section

ERATURE OF A

a compartment fire.
AMETER BOXES.
ed on values specified in the input
ue to a wrong entry in a cell(s).

5000.00 kW
25.00 ft 7.62 m
34.50 ft2 3.21 m2
77.00 °F 25.00 °C

Calculate 298.00 K

1.00 kJ/kg-K
1.18 kg/m3
9.81 m/sec2
0.70
Air Temperature (T a) Input

ge to the ceiling (m)

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 Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Division of Systems Safety and Analysis
Plant Systems Branch
Fire Protection Engineering and Special Projects Section

°F Answer

ed in the SFPE Handbook of Fire

e inherent limitations. The results of such

capabilities for a given situation, and

verified with the results of hand calculation,

r to report an error(s) in the spreadsheet,

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Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Division of Systems Safety and Analysis
Plant Systems Branch
Fire Protection Engineering and Special Projects Section

Date
January 2005