Three-dimensional model of the thermal state of firefighter in the heat protective gear

Abstract

Fires in petroleum products storage facilities are the largest, most complex and hazardous kinds of emergencies. A considerable amount of liquid fuel is concentrated in the tank stocks which includes tens of thousands of tons of substance; that is why during the fire hundreds of thousands of cubic meters of toxic gases are released, as well as a huge amount of heat. The elimination of burning in such conditions requires a significant amount of fire extinguishers and human resources for its overcoming. Such situation identifies significant risks of inj uries to the personnel of the fire and rescue units. The statistics show the presence of a large number of heat-related injuries, such as burns, heat strokes, body overheating, loss of consciousness and, sometimes, deaths [1]. On mentioned potentially dangerous objects the most significant factor in the effectiveness of fire departments is the firefighters' expert knowledge on choosing the appropriate level of protection. Therefore, the research oriented on a firefighter safety during fire suppression is actual. Conducting a full-scale experimental work during studying thermal conditions in such circumstances is too expensive, thus, the simulation with the help of using modern mathematical methods is almost the only approach to reflect the impact of fire hazards on a firefighter.