Browsing by Author "van Wyk, Ryno"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Development and automation of an electronic H-TRIS fire testing system
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2024-02) van Wyk, Ryno; Walls, Richard Shaun; Devine, Courtney; Streicher, Dirk; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Civil Engineering.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this research a fire testing method, named the Heat-Transfer Rate Inducing System (HTRIS) using electric Radiant Panel Arrays (RPAs), is developed, automated and characterised. An investigation is conducted to study the suitability and benefits of the testing method in the field of fire engineering, as it is not currently a standard testing method. An existing H-TRIS has been developed and consists of propane-fired radiant panels mounted to a frame with a linear stepper motor controlling the emitting heat of the system. In contrast, the electronic H-TRIS (eH-TRIS) developed in this study comprises electric radiant panels mounted to a frame with the temperature of the radiant panels controlling the emitting heat of the system. The system is developed by designing and building (1) the experimental setup and (2) the control box of the testing method. The experimental setup consists of the radiant panels mounted to a trolley, and the control box comprises the hardware and electrical components used to control the system. The system is automated by developing a feedback control system which controls the temperature of the radiant panels based on the power supply. A Graphical User Interface (GUI) is developed to specify the system inputs and configuration parameters. The system is characterised by measuring the heat flux received at various positions at specified separation distances from the radiant panels. Based on operational tests conducted, an empirical model is developed to predict the heat flux received on a surface at a specified distance from the radiant panels. Similar to the cone calorimeter, the system is calibrated to ensure accuracy over time. The eH-TRIS enables the simulation of the behaviour of materials or systems experiencing different heat sources - a real fire, furnace test, or specified thermal boundary conditions of a fire model. This eH-TRIS ensures reproducible results at a relatively low cost compared to furnace tests. The contribution of this study is (1) the development and automation of an H-TRIS using electric RPAs (eH-TRIS), and (2) the quantification of the spatial heat flux variation on a receiving surface tested with the eH-TRIS. The advantage of the system is that the heat fluxes emitted can be controlled more accurately, more consistent spatial variations in heat flux can be produced, laboratory safety is improved and the system is adaptable to different configurations and setups. The primary disadvantage of the system is that it reaches lower maximum heat fluxes relative to gas burner setups. The affordability, the quick setup of tests and the variety of materials that can be tested, presents the H-TRIS as one of the more successful testing methods for modelling information.