ADMS-Fire

Advanced software for modelling dispersion from fires

What is ADMS-Fire?

ADMS-Fire is a model of dispersion and deposition from fires. It uses the ADMS dispersion model coupled with a fire source model to predict dispersion and deposition of contaminants from open tyre and other scrap fires.

The types of incidents modelled by ADMS-Fire are tyre and other scrap fires on open sites. The contaminants of concern are those that could potentially have a food safety impact, namely PAHs, dioxins/furans and heavy metals; ADMS-Fire can calculate the dispersion and deposition of these or any other contaminants for which emission data are available.

Who uses ADMS-Fire?

The model was developed with financial support from the UK Food Standards Agency who use ADMS-Fire as part of their emergency response modelling capability.

Why use ADMS-Fire?

ADMS-Fire has a user-friendly Windows interface, making it easy to set up the model and view results, and the model is quick to run. The input data are arranged with a two-tiered approach: there are default options with a small number of choices, ideal for rapid data entry and for use by non-specialists, e.g. in emergency situations; there are also user-defined options, allowing a custom run to be set up, e.g. for use in post-incident analysis or What if? scenarios.

The system has a number of distinct features:

• Advanced dispersion model in which the boundary layer structure is characterised by the height of the boundary layer and the Monin-Obukhov length, a length scale dependent on the friction velocity and the heat flux at the surface.
• Default and user-defined options are used throughout when inputting data for a run. The default options offer a simplified choice, ideal for the dispersion non-specialist and for rapid data entry. The user-defined options give control over the values of almost all the input parameters.
• Default meteorological data are provided as one of the default options. These meteorological data cover a range of meteorological conditions, corresponding approximately to the seven Pasquill-Gifford stability categories A-G.
• A meteorological pre-processor, which calculates the boundary layer parameters from observational data, i.e. wind speed, day, time, cloud cover, etc., or from wind speed, surface heat flux and boundary layer height. The processed met data are saved in the .mop output file.
• A contaminant file, containing a list of pre-defined contaminants with associated emissions data. The user can select from this list when inputting emissions data. The user can add new contaminants or change the contaminant properties by editing the file.
• A fire source model, calculating dispersion source parameters from the properties of the fire. The input to the model consists of the type and quantity of fuel, its properties and the emission characteristics of the fuel when it burns; the output of the model comprises the geometry, efflux and emission characteristics of the dispersion source, suitable for entry as a point source in ADMS.
• ADMS-Fire has a built-in line-plotting facilities for rapid and flexible analysis of results.