NIST Technical Note 2031 - Temperature Field Measurements using Thin Filament Pyrometry in a Medium-Scale Methanol Pool Fire

Aug 28, 2026

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Measurements were made to characterize the time-varying temperature field in a medium-sized methanol (CH3OH) pool fire burning steadily in a quiescent environment. A digital camera with optical filters and a zoom lens recorded the emission intensity of 14 µm diameter Type S silicon-carbide filaments positioned horizontally at different heights above the fire. The system observed filament emission only above 1150 K. Thousands of 30 Hz video frames were collected, and a 50 µm thermocouple provided 3400 independent temperature measurements at locations in the high-temperature zone. A correlation was developed between radiation-corrected thermocouple PDFs and camera grayscale pixel intensity. Assuming a Gaussian temperature distribution, a fitting routine determined.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages24

Reading Time1 h 0 min

AccessFree to download

Background

Experimental Method

Exhaust Hood and Compartment

Pool Burner

SiC Filaments

Thermocouple Temperature Measurement

Pyrometry Calibration Strategy

Thermocouple Radiation Correction

Camera

Results and Discussion

Thermocouple Temperature and Filament Intensity

Estimate of the Temperature Field

Changing Temperature Field

Summary and Conclusions

Acknowledgements

References

NIST Technical Note 2031 Temperature Field Measurements using Thin Filament Pyrometry in a MediumScale Methanol Pool Fire Zhigang Wang Wai Cheong Tam Ki Yong Lee Anthony Hamins This publication is available free of charge from: [https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.TN.2031](https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.TN.2031) NIST Technical Note 2031 Temperature Field Measurements using Thin Filament Pyrometry in a MediumScale Methanol Pool Fire Zhigang Wang* Wai Cheong Tam Ki Yong Lee** Anthony Hamins Fire Research Division Engineering Laboratory permanent addresses: * University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China ** Andong National University, Andong, Republic of Korea This publication is available free of charge from: [https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.TN.2031](https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.TN.2031) November 2018 U.S. Department of Commerce Wilbur L. Ross, Jr., Secretary National Institute of Standards and Technology Walter Copan, NIST Director and Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology Certain commercial entities, equipment, or materials may be identified in this document in order to describe an experimental procedure or concept adequately. Such identification is not intended to imply recommendation or endorsement by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, nor is it intended to imply that the entities, materials, or equipment are necessarily the best available for the purpose. National Institute of Standards and Technology Technical Note 2031 Natl. Inst. Stand. Technol. Tech. Note 2031, 24 pages (November 2018) CODEN: NTNOEF This publication is available free of charge from: [https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.TN.2031](https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.TN.2031) This publication is available free of charge from: [https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.TN.2031](https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.TN.2031) Table of Contents 1. Background............................................................................................................................................................ 1 2. Experimental Method ............................................................................................................................................2 2.1 Exhaust Hood and Compartment .........................................................................................................................3 2.2 Pool Burner ..........................................................................................................................................................3 2.3 SiC Filaments .....................................................................................................................................................4 2.4 Thermocouple Temperature Measurement ..........................................................................................................5 2.4.1 Pyrometry Calibration Strategy ....................................................................................................................5 2.4.2 Thermocouple Radiation Correction.............................................................................................................5 2.5 Camera ................................................................................................................................................................6 3. Results and Discussion .............................................................................................................................................6 3.1 Thermocouple Temperature and Filament Intensity ............................................................................................6 3.2 Estimate of the Temperature Field..................................................................................................................... 11 3.3 Changing Temperature Field ...........................................................................................................................

FAQs

What fire configuration was used for temperature-field measurements?

The study investigated a medium-scale, steadily burning methanol (CH3OH) pool fire in a quiescent environment, using a 0.30 m diameter pool burner.

How was temperature measured using thin-filament pyrometry?

A digital camera with optical filters and a zoom lens recorded the high-temperature emission intensity from 14 µm diameter Type S silicon-carbide filaments oriented horizontally at various heights above the fire.

How were camera and thermocouple measurements connected to estimate the temperature field?

A correlation was developed between probability density functions of radiation-corrected thermocouple measurements and the camera grayscale pixel intensity for the same fire locations, then a Gaussian fitting routine was used to determine the temperature field.

Aug 28, 2026

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