Chinese Patent Technology: A Novel Opposite Double-Jet Air Curtain Fire Smoke-Free System (DJACS)

Background: When fire occurs, smoke spreads from the bottom of the building to the top through the stairwell, and spreads over the stairwell. This horizontal movement of high temperature smoke is dangerous because people can only reach the subway exit by stairs during the fire. Methods: To control horizontal movement of the smoke, a novel fire smoke-free double-jet air curtain system (DJACS), which has been granted the Chinese Patent (Patent Number ZL201010580513.6) is invented and studied. Performance optimization and the validation of implementation effects are carried out via numerical simulation and visual experiments Result: It is demonstrated that the smoke spread situation in stairwells is significantly different with or without using the blowing air curtain. Conclusion: Without the air curtain, the smoke is driven by the buoyancy force to form ceiling jet along the corridor ceiling, and diffuses into the stairwell, and ultimately covers and blocks the entire stairwell. With the air curtain, the piston wind is formed at the entrance of stairwell and on the stairwell to prevent fire smoke. The CO concentration in the stairwell is significantly smaller with DJACS than without DJACS.