Preliminary study of water mist suppressing ghee flame in historical building in the northwest China

In order to protect historical buildings in the northwest China from fire, the most of which are temples for Buddhism, water mist suppression system is chosen due to less damage on water-soluble decorations. This study is to investigate the feasibility and efficiency of water mist suppressing fire occurred in historical buildings. Eternal ghee lamp over the years is serious fire hazard for these temples. In this paper, the interaction of water mist and ghee flame under different external radiant heat fluxes is studied. Water mist was generated by a downward-directed single pressure nozzle. The heat release rate, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide concentrations, and other important parameters of the interaction under various experimental conditions were measured with cone calorimeter. It is indicated that water mist can assuredly suppress ghee flame. But ghee combustion is enhanced for a short time just on discharging water mist, and then ghee flame is extinguished quickly under continuous water mist application.