Development and automation of an electronic H-TRIS fire testing system

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dc.contributor.advisorWalls, Richard Shaunen_ZA
dc.contributor.advisorDevine, Courtneyen_ZA
dc.contributor.advisorStreicher, Dirken_ZA
dc.contributor.authorvan Wyk, Rynoen_ZA
dc.contributor.otherStellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Civil Engineering.en_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2024-02-26T09:24:11Zen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2024-04-26T11:08:07Zen_ZA
dc.date.available2024-02-26T09:24:11Zen_ZA
dc.date.available2024-04-26T11:08:07Zen_ZA
dc.date.issued2024-02en_ZA
dc.descriptionThesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2024.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractENGLISH 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.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractAFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie navorsing is ’n brandtoetsmetode, genaamd die “Heat-Transfer Rate Inducing System” (H-TRIS) met elektriese “Radiant Panel Arrays” (RPA’s), ontwikkel, ge-outomatiseer en gekalibreer. ’n Ondersoek is gedoen om die geskiktheid en voordele van die toetsmetode in die veld van brandingenieurswese te bestudeer aangesien dit nie tans ’n standaardtoetsmetode is nie. Die bestaande H-TRIS wat ontwikkel is, bestaan uit propaan-aangedrewe stralingspanele wat aan ’n raam gemonteer is met ’n liniˆere stapmotor wat die uitstraalwarmte van die stelsel beheer. Daarteenoor bestaan die elektroniese H-TRIS (eH-TRIS), wat in hierdie studie ontwikkel is, uit elektriese stralingspanele wat aan ’n raam gemonteer is en waarvan die temperatuur van die stralingspanele deur middel van uitstraalwarmte beheer word. Die stelsel is ontwikkel deur (1) die eksperimentele opstelling en (2) die kontrole van die toetsmetode te ontwerp en te bou. Die eksperimentele opstelling bestaan uit die stralende panele wat op ’n trollie gemonteer is. Die beheerstelsel bestaan uit die hardeware en elektriese komponente. Die stelsel is ge-outomatiseer deur ’n terugvoerbeheerstelsel te ontwikkel wat die temperatuur van die stralingspanele beheer op grond van die elektriese toevoer na die panele toe. ’n “Graphical User Interface” (GUI) is ontwikkel om die stelselinsette en konfigurasie parameters te spesifiseer. Die stelsel word gekalibreer deur die hittevloed wat op verskillende posisies ontvang word op gespesifiseerde skeidingsafstande van die stralingspanele te meet. ’n Empiriese model is ontwikkel, gebaseer op operasionele toetse wat uitgevoer is, om die hittevloed wat op ’n oppervlak op ’n bepaalde afstand vanaf die stralingspanele ontvang word, te voorspel. Soortgelyk aan die kegelkalorimeter, is die stelsel gekalibreer om akkuraatheid oor tyd te verseker. Die eH-TRIS maak die simulasie moontlik van die gedrag van materiale of stelsels wat verskillende hittevloede ervaar, ’n werklike vuur, oondtoets, of gespesifiseerde termiese grenstoestande van ’n brandmodel. Hierdie eH-TRIS verseker herhaalbare resultate teen lae koste in vergelyking met oondtoetse. Die bydrae van hierdie studie is (1) die ontwikkeling en outomatisering van ’n H-TRIS deur gebruik te maak van elektriese RPA’s (eH-TRIS), en (2) die kwantifisering van die ruimtelike hitte-vloedvariasie op ’n oppervlak wat met die eH-TRIS getoets is. Die voordeel van die stelsel is dat die hittevloede wat vrygestel word meer akkuraat beheer kan word, meer konsekwente ruimtelike variasies in hittevloed geproduseer kan word, laboratoriumveiligheid word verbeter en die stelsel is aanpasbaar by verskillende konfigurasies en opstellings. Die primˆere nadeel van die stelsel teenoor die gas H-TRIS is dat dit laer maksimum hitte vloei bereik. Die bekosbaarheid, die vinnige opstelling van toetse en die verskeidenheid van materiale wat getoets kan word, maak die H-TRIS een van die meer suksesvolle toetsmetodes vir modulering inligting.en_ZA
dc.description.versionMastersen_ZA
dc.format.extentxviii, 134 pages : illustrationsen_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttps://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/130260en_ZA
dc.language.isoen_ZAen_ZA
dc.language.isoen_ZAen_ZA
dc.publisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch Universityen_ZA
dc.rights.holderStellenbosch Universityen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshFire testingen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshRadiant heatingen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshMaterials -- Dynamic testingen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshCombustionen_ZA
dc.titleDevelopment and automation of an electronic H-TRIS fire testing systemen_ZA
dc.typeThesisen_ZA
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