A bushfire wind tunnel

The CSIRO Pyrotron is a 25 metre long fire-proof wind tunnel with a working section for conducting experiments and a glass observation area.

The Pyrotron is used to study the combustion and spread of fires in bushfire fuel under controlled conditions.

The facility enables close observation of combustion mechanisms not possible in the field. It is used to study:

the mechanisms by which bushfires spread

thermokinetics - the chemistry of combustion - of bushfires

fuel consumption, emissions and residues under different burning conditions.

Expected research outcomes

This national research facility is building upon CSIRO’s 60 years of experience with large-scale field experiments. It is enhancing research on bushfire behaviour by enabling observations of flame propagation and behaviour not possible in field experiments due to fire intensity, heat, lack of access and safety concerns.

The Pyrotron is assisting with:

"The Pyrotron is used to study the combustion and spread of fires in bushfire fuel under controlled conditions.

better understanding of the physical processes involved in the behaviour and spread of bushfires under a range of conditions

better models of fire behaviour to improve effectiveness and safety of fire-fighting

improved design and execution of large-scale field experiments

better understanding of likely emissions from bushfires in different fuel and burning conditions

improved knowledge about the likely behaviour of bushfires under future climate change.

Technical details

The Pyrotron was officially opened in October 2008. It was constructed at the CSIRO’s workshop at Black Mountain, Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory, and cost A$190 000 which was funded by the CSIRO.

Features of the tunnel:

dimensions:

25 m long

4 m² in cross section

constructed of 3 mm aluminium

working section constructed of 5 mm aluminium

wind:

2 tonne fan capable of shifting 22 cubic metres of air a second

variable wind speed of up to 5.5 metres per second, equivalent to wind speed of around 60 kilometres per hour in the open

fuel bed:

1.5 m wide by 4.8 m long

lined with ceramic tiles

LPG line ignition source

toughened-glass viewing doors for observing the fire

artificially illuminated, so that the fuel will be visible against the light from flames

holds up to 15 kg of dry fuel spread to around 2 cm deep, being roughly equivalent to an average forest fuel load of 25 tonnes/ha

can accommodate different fuel types, such as small logs, leaves, forest litter or grasses

instrumentation and observations:

a wide range of sensors in the working section ensure correct and accurate measurement

data is captured by a multi-channel data acquisition system that provides real-time output of sensors to a multi-display system