Measurements of the upstream turbulent flow during wind tunnel simulations of agricultural field burning

Mean streamwise and vertical velocities as well as streamwise and vertical turbulence intensities were measured in a combustion wind tunnel used to collect pollutant emission data for agricultural field burning. Objectives were to compare the flow field upstream of a fire to that without a fire present and to compare the wind tunnel flow upstream of a fire to field conditions. Vertical centerline traverses with an anemometer were conducted for 32 separate wind tunnel operating configurations (wind speed, position in the tunnel, with or without fire, ceiling position, and floor condition) with one replication for each configuration (total of 64 traverses). Certain configurational changes in the wind tunnel had substantial effects on the flow held. Turbulence intensities and velocity profiles (as modeled by the log law-of-the-wall to determine z(0) and u* values) in the wind tunnel were comparable to those in the held as reported in the literature. Velocities and turbulence intensities were generally higher, however, with a fire present in the tunnel and all other conditions constant.