Radial jet due to plume impingement on a horizontal surface

Results of a theoretical and experimental investigation into the properties of a thermal impingement current are presented. The current is generated by a plume from a fire impinging on a horizontal ceiling. Axisymmetric plume and gravity-current similarity solutions are used to relate the current velocity, depth and temperature to the fire strength and ceiling height, and to discuss the convective heat transfer to the ceiling. Experimental results of current temperature and heat transfer to the ceiling are used to verify the model, showing how the heat transfer scales with the similarity velocity and temperature difference.